Marvelous Grace

What difference does it make if you believe you earn your salvation through good works rather than believe salvation is God’s free gift that cannot be earned?

Well, it turns out that there are some very important differences. Several of these differences show up in Second Corinthians chapter eight as Paul relates talks to the Corinthians about participating in the relief efforts for the Judean Churches.

The Role of Repentance

      One of the barriers to discipline is that we don’t want people to feel bad or get mad. Parents don’t want their child to cry. Churches don’t want members to be ashamed.

      But if anyone is going to be right with God the relationship starts with godly grief that leads to repentance that results in salvation.

The Role of Repentance

      One of the barriers to discipline is that we don’t want people to feel bad or get mad. Parents don’t want their child to cry. Churches don’t want members to be ashamed.

      But if anyone is going to be right with God the relationship starts with godly grief that leads to repentance that results in salvation.

Following Through

      Many people would like to have a relationship with God as long as he would not make any demands of them. They want to have Christianity, but also keep bits and pieces of their ungodly habits and worldly ways.

      But a relationship with God requires submitting to God to be transformed into the image of Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:1 -  Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Follow Through

It is one thing to say you are going to be a follower of Jesus. It is another thing to actually follow Jesus.  Don't just SAY it! DO it!  Follow through!

Motivations For Ministry

It is sometimes difficult to tell what is motivating people.

The false teachers in Corinth were evidently motivated by the desire for power, the desire to please people and the desire for a financial profit.

But the apostle Paul talks about different motivations that are important for any true follower of Jesus Christ.

Transformation

      We are often urged to become a better version of ourselves. You should be a healthier version of you, a more educated you, a kinder you, a more wealthy you…

      God does not want his people to be a modified version of themselves – he wants us to be transformed into new creatures in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 -  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Sermon In A Sack: Lamb Fleece

      The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were an object lesson that taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They taught that the wages of sin is death and that God would only accept a spotless sacrifice in our place. The life of the sinner is spared at the cost of the life of the innocent sacrifice.