Laying Aside Guile

 

1 PETER 2:1-2

SUBJECT: GROWTH THROUGH PERSEVERANCE

THEME: because God is always in control and our hope is in Christ, we are admonished to never despair or backslide due to difficult and unfair circumstances. We should rather strive to grow spiritually and persevere in practical righteousness. We must lay aside wrong attitudes because they hinder our spiritual appetite and growth.

INTRODUCTION: How should I conduct myself when life seems to fall apart?  What does God expect of us when things are unkind, unfair, and filled with unwanted pressures? 1 Peter 1:6-7, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Pursuing the will of God despite our pressures is God’s answer, but how do we do that?

1) There is a tendency to quite living for God resorting to the world’s way of handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments. In such times we need to refocus ourselves and adjust our perspective to live more completely up to God’s expectations in the realm of our emotional life. 

2)  Instead of becoming cold towards God in our trials, we must maintain a correct attitude and spirit toward Him and others. Sometimes it is very easy to put on a smile and go through the motions, but to be real in our spirit, attitude, and heart is a different matter. Trials can be real opportunities to grow spiritually but we will have to be especially attentive to the purpose of living for God during these hard times.

When you come to the point of quitting draw on God’s strength, you’ll build endurance in your life.

MESSAGE: 

STRIVE TO GROW IN THE LORD BY LAYING ASIDE HARMFUL ATTITUDES  1Pet. 2:1

There is a great temptation to take on non-Christian attitudes and to assume a hostile spirit when difficulties come our way.  Sometimes extreme adjustments, out of the ordinary pressures, and unfamiliar challenges can generate negative energies that will eventuate into hostility, irritability, and shortness of patience with others. In such times the child of God must resist the temptation to revert back to the old sin nature and actually take off the “Old Man.”

     B.  WE MUST LAY ASIDE ALL GUILE “And all Guile,” (1Pet. 2:1) 

         1. This is Any Form of Deceit, Dishonesty and Trickery.  Guile, or deceit in words and the ability to cunningly mislead innocent people. This type of person would cleverly play on the gullibility of others or manipulate people for personal gain. They are crafty, duplicitous, insidiously cunning; they have very little, or no integrity and they are not worthy of trust. Rom 1:29, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

DECEPTION: Trickery, fraud, double-dealing, lying, cheating, are all the practices of one who deliberately deceives. This is the practice of deceiving people or using other dishonest methods to achieve one’s aims, or the ability to deceive people for this purpose.

ILLUSTRATION: These are the people who will falsely income tax returns, cheat on exams, lie about their age, bribe government officials, manipulate people out of their savings, pull shady business deals, falsely a report, misuse allocated funds, and lie about their past accomplishments. Keep the extra change from the cashier, or who will shortchange a customer. God says take this mentality off like a filthy garment because it defiles the character of the Child of God.

              i) The Deceit of Flattery.  Ps. 55:21

They sometimes will approach people with words of Flattery. 

Psalm 55:21, The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Psalm 34:13, Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

              ii) The Deceit of False Promises.

They will make False Promises, they will tell half-truths and use suggestive language to mislead people. They carefully select their words to shroud or cover their true meaning.

             iii) The Deceit of Falsehoods.

They comprehend falsehoods and deception, which is a crafty imposing upon another's ignorance or weakness, to his manipulations.

             iv) Deceitful Living Has Serious Consequences.

Psalm 36:3, The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

                   a)  The Most Devastating Loss Associated with Deceit Is the Dulling of Spiritual Awareness and Sensitivity.

                  b)  Guilt Associated with a Known Deception Will Cause the Christian to Withdraw from God's Presence. (They quit church, stop reading the Bible and praying, they avoid Christian fellowship, and dissolve spiritual obligations.)

                 c) Deception Becomes Easier. Once withdrawn, subsequent deceptions become easier, less conviction is felt, and life is eventually full of defeat and frustration.

                 d) Deception Destroys Trust and Leads to Hypocrisy and a Critical Spirit.

No one is immune to the temptation to deceive, particularly when money is concerned. God's Word gives us guidelines for making decisions despite our normal reactions.

Proverbs 4:24, Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Psalm 120:2, Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

        2. The Scripture Teaches That Internal Reality is Much Greater Than External Images. A camera commercial states, “Image is everything.” Our culture boldly emphasizes image over substance! (Consider movies, TV shows, music, and politics.)

            i) Words Are Important—Immensely Important.

What we say and the way we say it expresses what is most personal and intimate in us. But mindlessly repeating holy words no more creates a relationship than saying “I love you” twenty times a day makes us skilled lovers.

      ii) The Outside Is a Lot Easier to Reform than the Inside.

Going to the right church and saying the right words is a lot easier than working out a life of fair treatment, honesty, integrity, and love among the people you work and live with. Showing up at church once a week and saying a hearty amen is a lot easier than engaging in a life of daily prayer and Scripture meditation that develops into concern for souls, holiness, and injustice.

      iii)  Are the People Who Do this Deliberately Trying to Pull the Wool over the Eyes of Their Neighbors and Fake God into Blessing Them? Some are, but for most I don't think so. I don't think they are trying to get by with anything. I think they have lived for so long based on outward appearances that they have no feel for inward reality.

We live in a culture where a new beginning is far more attractive than a long follow–through. Images are important. Beginnings are important. We Say, “A first Impression is a lasting impression.” 

      iv) But an Image Without Substance Is a Lie.

A beginning without continuation is a lie. This is the important message true Christians must grasp, or we are living in guile and deceit. We must learn to recognize the importance of internal substance and reality and put away images that deceive.

1 Thess 2:3-4, For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: (4)   But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

2 Cor 8:20-21, Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: (21) Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Yes, reality is more important than shame because pretense involves deceiving on purpose including actions and appearances that look real but are fake fabrications. Many live in denial to avoid dealing with the realism of their emotional pain. Nevertheless, God still calls believers to live without hoaxes because this is a more truthful, more honest, and more compassionate way to live.

CONCLUSION: How does God expect me to conduct myself in troubled times? We must lay aside wrong attitudes of the heart because they hinder our spiritual appetite and growth. Let Us Lay Aside Wrong Attitudes!

1. God expects us to take off some things. He expects us to grow spiritually even in hard and unfair situations. 1 Peter 2:1-2, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: Certainly, there is great concern for living to please the Lord among His people!

2. We must not resort to the world’s way of handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments.  We no longer allow anger, revenge, backbiting, and resentment to prompt us to vent our frustrations. We do not have to relinquish our fellowship with the Lord. We must not stray away falling behind harboring wrong attitudes that hinder our spiritual progress. In such times we can refocus and adjust our perspective to live more completely up to God’s expectations choosing the power of the Spirit and refusing to be controlled by our emotions!        

3. When life seems to fall apart we find the strength to live Godly, Pure and Clean inwardly in this polluted unfair world by submitting to the control of the Holy Spirit (Temperance). Galatians 5:22-25, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

Temperance is the ability to harness and control our passions, attitudes, feelings, and desires, and is also known as spiritual self-control. 

4. Thank God for trials instead of spending your energy avoiding them because he uses them. Adversity helps us develop endurance, and endurance is a powerful weapon to have in our character arsenal. Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (Perseverance/Endurance); [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Endurance Sustains Courage. A burst of courage for fifteen minutes is good, but it is not enough to carry you through. Endurance gives staying power to discipline. It is important to understand delayed gratification (Self Discipline) and to make advance decisions, but these are not one-time actions. Endurance turns your vision into reality. Without it, visions are no more than pipe dreams.

If you are at a quitting point right now, count the cost very carefully before throwing in the towel. Quitting is not glamorous. It does not develop your character. God does not call it blessed. In most cases, you will regret it for the rest of your life. But when you come to the quitting point and then, drawing on God’s strength, you build endurance in your life.

Laying Aside Malice

1 PETER 2:1-2

SUBJECT: GROWTH THROUGH PERSEVERANCE

THEME: because God is always in control and our hope is in Christ, we are admonished to never despair or backslide due to difficult and unfair circumstances. We should rather strive to grow spiritually and persevere in practical righteousness. We must lay aside wrong attitudes because they hinder our spiritual appetite and growth.

INTRODUCTION: How should I conduct myself when life seems to fall apart?  What does God expect of us when things are unkind, unfair, and filled with unwanted pressures? 1 Peter 1:6-7, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Pursuing the will of God despite our pressures is God’s answer, but how do we do that?

1) There is a tendency to quite living for God resorting to the world’s way of handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments. Anger, revenge, backbiting, and resentment are the usual forms in which we vent our frustrations towards people. Backsliding is what happens to our fellowship with the Lord. When we are NOT growing as Christians, we are actually straying away, weakening, and falling behind.  Harboring wrong attitudes can significantly hinder our spiritual progress. In such times we need to refocus ourselves and adjust our perspective to live more completely up to God’s expectations in the realm of our emotional life.

2)  Instead of becoming cold towards God in our trials, we must maintain a correct attitude and spirit toward Him and others. Sometimes it is very easy to put on a smile and go through the motions, but to be real in our spirit, attitude, and heart is a different matter. Trials can be real opportunities to grow spiritually but we will have to be especially attentive to the purpose of living for God during these hard times.

When you come to the point of quitting draw on God’s strength, you’ll build endurance in your life.

MESSAGE: 

STRIVE TO GROW IN THE LORD BY LAYING ASIDE HARMFUL ATTITUDES  1Pet. 2:1

There is a great temptation to take on non-Christian attitudes and to assume a hostile spirit when difficulties come our way.  Sometimes extreme adjustments, out of the ordinary pressures, and unfamiliar challenges can generate negative energies that will eventuate into hostility, irritability, and shortness of patience with others. In such times the child of God must resist the temptation to revert back to the old sin nature and actually take off the “Old Man.”

     A.  WE MUST LAY ASIDE ALL MALICE “Wherefore laying aside all malice,”    

          1. Remember What You Have in Christ. “Wherefore” reaches back to the last chapter to continue a thought and to further substantiate an ongoing argument. 

               i) Remember Your Great Salvation.

Peter has admonished these Believers to Remember Their Salvation (2-3), their Hope (vs 3) and Security (vs 5) in Christ, their Inheritance (vs 4) that is being kept for them and they are being kept for that inheritance.  

              ii) Remember Your Godly Separation.

Peter has challenged them to live Holy (vs 14-17) in their corrupt world and to govern themselves with great reverence for God. Peter now continues by encouraging them to lay aside some things. This is practical righteousness, therefore prepare for instruction when you see the word “wherefore” in Scripture.

APPLICATION: God has a bases for this exhortation; therefore, we are obligated to take heed to every bit of council God gives us. We are admonished to live for the Lord since we are saved, regardless of our conditions or circumstances.  If God said it, we should obey him.

         2. Take Off the Wrong Attitude of Malice. “Laying aside all Malice” The allusion is to take off clothing items.

              i) “Lay aside” means to ‘stripe off’, much like you would take off a dirty or sweaty shirt. It means that we should cleanse ourselves of anything that defiles. We must cast off these things entirely; we are not to practice them any longer.

Accordingly, the garments of “malice” must be stripped off forever!  Our Spiritual hygiene is substandard when our attitude is dirtied by malice, and we need to cleanse it away. What does malice mean? Col. 3:8, But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.    

            ii)    External Malice: (Actions) Wicked Actions of All Kinds and All Forms of Evil. It is a word that accompanies all vices of people. The Greek word for malice includes evil of all kinds. This is External Malice! See the notes at Rom 1:29. Compare Acts 8:22, where it is rendered wickedness, and 1 Cor 5:8; 14:20; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8.

Rom 1:29-30, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents

Titus 3:3, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

            iii) Internal Malice: (Attitude) Deep Seated Feelings Against a Person; Lasting Hatred; Intense and Long-Lasting Bitterness Against a Person.

QUOTE: The word "malice" we commonly apply now to a particular kind of evil, denoting extreme enmity of heart, ill-will, a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification, or from a spirit of revenge—Webster.  It means wishing that something bad will happen to a person. This is Internal Malice!

                 a) Malice Inflames the Person to Do Mischief to Others.

                 b) Malice Inflames the Heart to Design Mischief Toward Others.

                 c) Malice Inflames the Heart to Delight in the Mischief That Befalls Others.

APPLICATION: The Child of God must lay aside ALL Malice.  Every wicked deed is to be taken off like clothing and every wicked desire is to be cleansed away because it defiles the Believer. We are to be unclothed of External wickedness and cleansed of Internal Wickedness. Peel it off like you peel a banana, and we are to clean it out like greasy pot. Romans 13:12, The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

ILLUSTRATION: George Washington Carver was refused admission at a university because he was black. Years later, when someone asked him the name of the university, he replied, “Never mind.  That doesn’t matter now.”  He harbored no malice.

 CONCLUSION: How does God expect me to conduct myself in troubled times? We must lay aside wrong attitudes of the heart because they hinder our spiritual appetite and growth. Let Us Lay Aside Wrong Attitudes!

1. God expects us to take off some things. He expects us to grow spiritually even in hard and unfair situations. 1 Peter 2:1-2, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2. There is a tendency to quite living for God and resort to the world’s way of handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments. But we no longer allow anger, revenge, backbiting, and resentment to prompt us to vent our frustrations. We do not have to relinquish our fellowship with the Lord. We must not stray away falling behind harboring wrong attitudes that hinder our spiritual progress. In such times we can refocus and adjust our perspective to live more completely up to God’s expectations choosing the power of the Spirit and refusing to be controlled by our emotions!  

The Key to Salvation

 

ROM. 10:4-15

SUBJECT: Salvation Through Faith

THEME: We receive God’s righteousness (salvation) through Faith in the complete work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior. 

RELEVANCE: Those who are saved believed on Jesus Christ and those who are lost stumbled at Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:30-33). The key to salvation is faith in Jesus Christ! Rom 1:16-17, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

A prayer burden for souls is essential to a church’s success in proclaiming the gospel and reaching sinners for Christ. 

INTRODUCTION: can we unreservedly entrust our eternal future with God?  Can we rest in God for our own eternal destiny? The truth is we can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Many people miss God’s salvation and blessings because they assume God is unfair, inconsistent, merciless or baseless. But there are five considerations we need to ponder.

MESSAGE:

I.  THE SOURCE OF SALVATION IS JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 10:4-5)

Rom. 10:4-5, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

         A.  AS INDICATED BY THE IDEA OF FAITH UNDER GRACE

Rom 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

ILLUSTRATION:  10:4 We might reword this verse to say that Christ is the end of the Old Testament Law to the believer after the Cross, as George Washington was the end of the British law to the American after the Revolutionary War. (See 2 Cor. 3:6-11; Heb. 7:11-19; Gal. 3:24-26; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14.)

This principle points us to Jesus Christ as the Source of God’s righteousness!  Secondly, when a sinner receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, the law nothing else to say to him.  Through the death of his Substitute, he has died to the Law.   He is through with the law and with the futile attempts to achieve righteousness through it. 

         B.  AS INDICATED BY THE IDEA OF WORKS UNDER THE LAW

Rom 10:5, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

              1. The Purpose Behind the Law Was to Show Sinners That They Are Sinners

The law reveals sin, to convict and condemn the transgressors.  It can never impart righteousness.  The penalty for breaking the law is death.  In His death Christ paid the penalty of the law which man had broken.

              2. The Purpose of the Law Was to Point Us To Christ Who Fulfilled It

This principle, like that of Faith, also teach us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Impossibility of living up to the law.

Gal 3:23-26, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25, But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

              3.  The Idea Behind the Law Is That Through “Doing” We’ll Have Life    Vs Rom. 10:5.

In other words, if a man can obey the law perfectly and perpetually, he would not be condemned to death.  But even if a man could do this from today forward, they still would have to die for the sins that our past.  Therefore, any hope of a man obtaining righteousness by doing is doomed to failure from the very outset.

Rom 3:21-28, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

II.  THE AVAILABILITY OF SALVATION IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 10:8) "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach" (Rom. 10:8).

God is saying that the Gospel is not hidden, distant, or inaccessible.  In fact, the opposite is true; the Gospel is nigh, accessible, and available to all—everyone. This is true because of two historical facts.

       A.   GOD SENT TO US HIS SON (INCARNATION OF CHRIST) (Rom. 10:6)

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)" (Rom. 10:6).

            1.  This Is Impossible for Man to Do

We cannot go all the way to Heaven to get Christ and bring Him down to the earth in order for folk to believe.

            2.  This Is Not Necessary for Man to Do

The fact of the matter is that He already came down from Heaven and was born into the human race.  We must accept this by faith. 

      B.  GOD MIRACULOUSLY RAISED HIS SON (RESURRECTION OF CHRIST) (Rom. 10:7) "Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead)" (Rom. 10:7).

            1.  This Is Impossible for Man to Do

We cannot go even into the depths of the Grave to bring up Christ again from the dead.  This is humanly impossible!

            2.  This Is Not Necessary for Man to Do

It also is not necessary for us to raise Christ from the grave, He already accomplished this.  We must accept this by faith.  The Incarnation and Resurrection are two elements of the saving faith in the Gospel. The Righteousness of God is nigh, near, accessible, intelligible, and easily understood! It is communicated in the gospel, to be saved a person must accept the Incarnation and the Resurrection.

III.  THE PROCEDURE OF SALVATION IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

        A.  CONFESSING THE LORD JESUS

I Jn 2:23, Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth (Confess; Rom. 10:9) the Son hath the Father also.

              1.  To Confess the Lord Jesus is the same as acknowledging that the Babe born in Bethlehem’s manger is the very Lord of Glory, that the Jesus of the NT is indeed the Lord Jehovah of the OT.

              2.  To Confess the Lord Jesus is to acknowledge Him as the Supreme Sovereign over all Humanity and not merely the Jews. One must deal with Him if they are to be saved; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! 

              3.  To Confess the Lord Jesus is NOT an act of 100% Submission to Him as a Condition of Salvation. Yes, He is Lord of all and Yes, He is Jehovah God and every repentant sinner must acknowledge this!  However, to require total commitment of every aspect of ones life as a condition of salvation is not scriptural.  The problem is, we don’t even know yet all that He requires of us, so to what degree do we submit?  When we present the gospel, the sole condition for salvation must be maintained based on faith for justification.

         B.  BELIEVING WITH THE HEART UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Rom 10:9-10, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

                  1.   The Element of Heart-based-Faith in the Resurrected Christ   vs 9

God has raised Christ from the Grave as proof that Christ completed the work necessary for our salvation, and that God is satisfied with that work.  Believing this with the heart means that we trust God through our mental, emotional, and volitional powers.

                  2. The Exercise of Heart-based-Faith to have a Righteous Status   Vs 10

Saving faith consist in the personal appropriation of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We receive credit for righteousness through faith in Him!

                  3.  Some have made oral confession a condition of salvation based on 10:10: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The Bible, of course, does not impose this limitation. Paul evidently was stressing the same truth found in James 2:20; that is, a genuine possession of Christ in one's heart will surely lead to a confession of Christ with one's mouth. The fruit will prove the root. (See Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 12:42-43; Matt. 12:34.) The method, then, of righteousness, is faith in Christ not a work of confession; however, confession is the natural result of saving faith in the heart!

IV.  THE RANGE OF SALVATION IS ANYONE WHO BELIEVES (Rom. 10:11-13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

Paul had earlier shown that all were lost. He now says that all can be saved. Compare the "whosoever" mentioned here with that in Revelation 20:15.

God’s glorious salvation is for all people, both Jew and Gentile.  There is no difference (vs 12) or no distinction as far as the availability of salvation is concerned.  Here we see the universal scope of the grace of God.  Even the phrase “Lord over all” (vs. 12) strongly implies that Salvation is to Jew and Gentile alike.

Rom 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1 Pet 2:6, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Acts 10:43, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 

John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

APPLICATION: The scope of the gospel clearly includes all who will believe on Christ.  This refutes the teaching of a limited atonement by the Calvinist and it also refute the teaching of the Universalist who claim we all are going to be saved eventually and are going about it differently.  To the Calvinist God says “whosoever”!  And to the Universalist God says “whosever believeth!”

V.   THE PRESENTATION OF SALVATION TO OTHERS (Rom. 10:14-15)

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:14-15). 

There are three reasons why God sends preachers, pastors, evangelist, and teachers.

       A. A SINNER MUST CALL UPON THE LORD TO BE SAVED.

       B. A SINNER MUST BELIEVE IN ORDER TO CALL.

       C. A SINNER MUST HEAR IN ORDER TO BELIEVE.

APPLICATION: How often do we share Christ with others?  How often do we present the gospel?  I realize that some have greater opportunities than others but are we taking advantage of the opportunities we have?  What about at work on breaks or during lunches? What about neighbors and associates? Are we using our social media platforms to share the gospel?  Maybe keeping track of our own personal efforts is a good idea?  Be a witness of Christ!

CONCLUSION: Taken as a whole, people do not seek after God. Regardless of their claims…. They are satisfied with their own pagan religions. They make baseless assumptions about God’s goodness and judgment. But many people will respond when they hear the gospel! Relatively speaking the Gentiles responded more favorably than the Jews, and it may surprise us how open people are to the gospel.  While the Gentiles were flocking to the Lord, Isaiah portrays Him standing with outstretched hands, pleading with the Nation of Israel, and they only response is disobedience and stubborn refusal.  God is still yearning for His earthly people, and I believe He wants to use you and me, us gentiles to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We should not only appreciate the Jews, but we should love them for Jesus’ sake and send the gospel to them! The same can be said for people all around the world.

The teaching for receiving God’s righteousness (salvation) is by Faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ and not even the best of human efforts. This is why many people are presently unsaved because of unbelief. We can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Many people miss this simple reality, God’s salvation, and multiplied blessings because of their lack of faith in Christ and not the unfairness or inconsistency of God.

      1.     Do you have the righteousness of God?    

      2.     Are you trying to establish your own righteousness?

      3.     Are you merely hoping for positive results in the end?

      4.     Are you praying for someone specifically to be saved? Do you have anybody that you are earnestly pleading with God to save? 

      5.     Are we witnessing to whosoever?

      6.     Are you presenting the Gospel faithfully?

      7.     Are we exploring new ways or methods to present that same old ‘good news’?

Exhibiting Discipline I

 

Phil 3:12, 15-16

 

SUBJECT: Spiritual Progress

THEME: Fulfill God’s purposes as we exercise discipline to run our race. 

RELEVANCE:

We must not allow our behaviors to be unruly, disorderly, disobedient, uncontrolled, disingenuous-not serious, or of embarrassing manners that derail our progress in Christ. To be winners who fulfill God’s plan, we must remain discipline throughout our race. 

INTRODUCTION:

Having seen achievement, we look now at the final ingredient in this formula for spiritual maturity and progress. Discipline is necessary to reach new heights in spiritual triumphs and finally reach the finish line of life as a winner.

Again, we are considering our need to grow spiritually by making continual progress. All of us want to be “winners” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved. But what is essential for winning?   

MESSAGE:

THE ESSENTIAL QUALITY OF DISCIPLINE. (Phil. 3:15-16)

ILLUSTRATION:  Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin when he encountered a very old man proceeding in the opposite direction.

“Who are you?” asked Frederick.

“I am a king,” replied the old man.                                                                                      

“A king!” laughed Frederick. “Over what kingdom do you reign?”

“Over myself,” was the proud reply.

“Reigning” over yourself requires personal discipline.  – John Maxwell

     1.  Note the Extreme Importance of Discipline to a Christian.

 Temperance– Discipline, or Self-control is the ability to resist immediate gratification for the sake of a higher goal– Self Restraint.  (Ac. 24:25; Ga. 5:23; 2 Pe. 1:6).

         A.  Great Christians Always Have Self-discipline—without Exception.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

2 Peter 1:6, And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

               1. Discipline is Produced by the Spirit.

Ga. 5:23 shows that “temperance” is produced by the Holy Spirit.

               2. Discipline is Produced by Personal Effort.

2 Pe. 1:6 shows us that it is a product of the Christian growth experience. 

APPLICATION: Therefore, we must diligently invest our hearts and minds to experience a development of temperance throughout the course of our lives by the power of Holy Spirit.  This wonderful quality will solve the Christian’s struggle with emotional outbursts such as wrath, rage, anger, fear, and jealousy and cause us to avoid emotional excesses of any kind. We will have the ability to say “no,” to sinful desires and we will know when to say, “enough” to too much of anything. Thus the Spirit-controlled believer will be consistent, dependable, under control, disciplined, and well ordered.

         B.  Unfortunately, Our Society Seeks Instant Gratification Rather than Self-discipline.

ILLUSTRATION: We want instant breakfast, fast food, movies on demand, phone apps for immediate transactions, and quick cash from ATMs. But spiritual success doesn’t come instantly. Neither does the ability to consistently grow in Christ.

QUOTE:  As General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “There are no victories at bargain prices.”

APPLICATION:   Because we live in a society of instant gratification, we cannot assume that most Christians have self-discipline—that they will be willing to pay the price of greater growth, ministry, and responsibility.

         C.  When it Comes to Self-discipline, People Choose One of Two Things:       

               1. The Pain of Discipline Which Comes from Sacrifice and Growth or     

               2. The Pain of Regret Which Comes from the Easy Road and Missed Opportunities.

Each person in life chooses.

QUOTE:  In Adventures in Achievement, E. James Rohn says that “the pain of discipline weighs ounces. Regret weighs tons.”

Once again let’s turn our hearts to Christ, His Word, and the example of Paul— a Christian who was truly a higher achiever— as he shares more of the secrets to his personal success in growth and development.

     2. Discipline Yourself to Run by the Established Rules.  Vs. 15

Philip. 3:15, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

It is not enough to run hard and win the race; the runner must also obey the rules. In the Greek games, the judges were very strict about this.

          A.  Beware of Disqualification.

Any infringement of the rules disqualified the athlete.

               1.  Participate According to Established Spiritual Rules.

                     A.  A Disqualified Runner Did Not Lose His Citizenship (Though He Disgraced It).

                     B.  But He Did Lose His Privilege to Participate and Win a Prize.

ILLUSTRATION:   One of the greatest athletes ever to come out of the United States was Jim Thorpe. At the 1912 Olympics at Stockholm, he won the pentathlon and the decathlon, and was undoubtedly the hero of the games. But the next year officials found that Thorpe had played semiprofessional baseball and therefore had forfeited his amateur standing. This meant that he had to return his gold medals and his trophy, and that his Olympic achievements were erased from the records. It was a high price to pay for breaking the rules. (Thorpe's medals were reinstated in 1985 by the Olympic Committee.)

APPLICATION: We should run the race to win the prize, and this means participating by the spiritual rules laid down in this passage. We cannot loose our salvation, but we certainly can loose our reward (1Cor. 3:10-15).  Keep the Lord’s pleasure in mind as you run the race and not your pleasure.

               2. Emphasize the Importance of Obeying Spiritual Rules.

In Phil 3:15-16, Paul Emphasizes the Importance of the Christian Remembering the "Spiritual Rules" Laid down in the Word.

                      A.  The Christian Race Requires Discipline and Self Control.

QUOTE: “This word [self-control] describes people who are willing to get a grip on their lives and take control of areas that will bring them success or failure.”  — John C. Maxwell

APPLICATION:  To be disciplined means that we are “getting a handle on our self” in order to overcome sinful desires, spiritual pride, attitudes of self-reliance, spiritual laziness, extreme self-gratification, past failures and success, and overreacting.

                       B.  Spiritual Growth and Victory Requires Discipline and Self Control.

Therefore, discipline prepares us to fulfill God’s claims and will for our lives as we seek to practice what we have learned from His Word.  Discipline is the ability a person has to rule himself in following the example of Paul in Phil. 3:7-17.  It is the power to say “NO,” to rivaling desires that hinder our progress and say, “YES,” to everything God has outlines for our spiritual progress and success. This is key to our success. 

               3.  Practice Self Control–Discipline– to Remain in the Race.

1 Cor. 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

This is what Paul has in mind in this passage. The idea is that any athlete who enters a competition prepares himself to win by rigid self-control, strict conditioning, and rigorous training.

                       A.  Spiritual Growth Results from Discipline.  “. . . striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”

Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.

APPLICATION:  As Christians, we are running toward Christlikeness and our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, witnessing, and public worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Don't merely observe from the grandstand; don't just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently -- your spiritual progress depends upon it.

                       B.  Spiritual Growth Results from Self-denial.  “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:”

Any athlete who intends to win will prepare and restrict himself in all things: his diet, his activities, his associations, and probably even his friendships.  The winner knows that he must restrict himself in order to accomplish the ultimate task.

                            1.  At times we must give up something good in order to do what God wants.

                            2. Each person's special duties determine the discipline and denial that he or she must accept.

                            3. Without a goal, discipline is nothing but self-punishment. With the goal of pleasing God, our denial seems like nothing compared to the eternal, imperishable reward that will be ours.

ILLUSTRATION: Tenor Luciano Pavarotti is such a winner. He is often described by his admirers as “the new Caruso.” In a newspaper interview, the six-foot, three hundred-pound tenor asked: “Do you want to know the hardest thing about being a singer? It is to sacrifice yourself every moment of your life, with not one exclusion. For example, if it is raining, don’t go out; eat this, do this, sleep ten hours a day. It is not a very free life. You cannot jump on a horse. You cannot go to swim.”

               4. Play by the Rules in Order to Win the Race.

2 Tim. 2:5, And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

                       A.   If the Athlete Breaks Training, He Is Disqualified.

                       B.   If He Breaks the Rules of the Game, He Is Disqualified.

Only the contestants who compete by the rules will win the crown at the end of the race.

APPLICATION: Each of us as Christians ought to be pressing on toward the goal of Christlikeness and eternal rewards.  As maturing believers, we should understand that we could not, in our own humanity, gain perfection and acceptance by God (Phil. 3:8-10).  Salvation and Sanctification come through faith and dependance upon the Lord.  Yet because of our love for Christ, we willingly pressed on to follow his example in order to become more like him in life, all the while knowing that we are promised that we’ll know him fully upon our death or his return for us in the Rapture. (W. W. Wiersbe)

        B.  Be Aware of Revelation.  Phil 3:15, “. . . God shall reveal”

in order to play by the rules we must turn to the rule book–the Word.  This verse betrays some of the problems that faced the Philippian church.

            1.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Pride.

Spiritual pride had found its way into some of the believers;

                     A.   Apparently a Few Felt That They Had Reached a Holier Status than Their Fellow Believers

                     B.   This Was Causing Them to Look down on Those Whom They Thought less "Mature."

APPLICATION: There is never room for spiritual pride nor a ‘holier than thou’ attitude toward younger and struggling Christians. Spiritual pride is a mark of spiritual immaturity and infancy!  Spiritual maturity is marked by humility and service to others.

Philip. 2:3-4, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Galatians 5:26, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6:1-2, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

            2.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Maturity.  Vs. 15, “As many as be perfect be thus minded”

                  A.  Notice Some Characteristics of a Faithful Mature Saint of God.

                        1.  They Depend on God!

Paul made it clear that those who were truly mature were those who realized their dependence on God.

                        2. They Determine to Press on!

They pressed on, not to make themselves good enough or to gain credentials by their accomplishments.

                        3.  Their Devoted to Knowing Christ!

Rather then spiritual pride, they pressed on to know their Savior better. This is their goal!

                   B.  The Goal of Every Believer Is Spiritual Maturity.

Col. 1:28, Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

                         1. The Word Perfect Means Mature or Complete, Not Flawless.

                         2. Paul Wanted to See Each Believer Mature Spiritually.

APPLICATION: Like Paul, we must work as wholeheartedly as an athlete, but we should not strive in our own strength alone. We have the power of his Spirit working in us. We can learn and grow daily, motivated by love, not by fear or pride, knowing that God gives the energy to become mature.

                   C.  Jesus Christ Is the Basis and Goal of Spiritual Maturity.

Hebrews 13:20, Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

The letter to the Hebrews is a call to Christian maturity. It was addressed to first-century Jewish Christians, but it applies to Christians of any age or background.

                          1.  Christian Maturity Means Making Christ the Beginning and End of Our Faith.

                          2.  To Grow in Maturity, We must Center Our Lives on Him,

                                 *  not depending on religious ritual,

                                 *  not falling back into sin,

                                 *  not trusting totally in ourselves,

                                 *  not letting anything come between us and Christ.           

                          3.  Christ is sufficient and superior.

            3.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Misconception.  Vs. 15, “Otherwise minded”           

Whatever problem of pride threatened to divide the Philippian church, Paul stopped it.

                    A.  God Will Show and Clarify Matters Concerning Spiritual Growth.

This was the final word on the matter; Paul invoked the illumination of God himself to clarify the truth of his words to those who thought differently. Those who were mature were to be committed to what Paul had said. And to anyone who thought differently about minor points, God would clarify the truth. God would lead them to the truth if they would keep their minds open.

                    B.  Are You Aiming for a Perfect Score with God?

Sometimes trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we can never please God with our lives. Paul used "perfect" (3:12) to mean mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit's power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ's provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel driven. (W. W. Wiersbe) 

CONCLUSION:

Hebrews 12:1-2,  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is an exciting experience to run the race daily, "looking unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1-2). It will be even more exciting when we experience all that the “high calling” entails when Jesus returns to take us to Heaven! Then we will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to receive our rewards! It was this future prospect that motivated Paul, and it can also motivate us.