Saved

Read:    Eph. 2:8-9         Saved by grace through faith
             Jn 10:9               I am the gate…he who enters will be saved
            Acts 2:21            Everyone who calls…will be saved
            Titus 3:3-7          He saved us…
            Rom. 5:9            Saved from God’s wrath
            John 3:36           Do not experience God’s wrath

Q: What assurance do these texts give the  Christian?

ILL: Adrian Dieleman, in Leadership Journal tells the following story.  ‘A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window. The little boy, who was allergic to bee stings, was petrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. "Do you see this?" he asked. "You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you." We do not need to fear death anymore. Christ has died and risen again. He has taken the sting from death.’

Q: What is the ‘sting of death’?

Q: According to these texts what then does God save us from?

    He also saves us from fear.
        Fear of death as the punishment for our sins.
        Fear of experiencing the eternal wrath of God for our current sin life.
        Fear of God watching for us to slip up so he can punish us.

ILL: R. Larry Moyer,  in Preaching Today wrote… ‘Several years ago, a businessman found out about an elderly widow who was unable to pay her rent. Feeling pity for her, he went to some of his friends and asked them if they would be kind enough to contribute something to help pay her rent. They responded, and he got two months' rent. He went to the widow's house that week to deliver the money. Although he knew she was inside, when he knocked he got no answer. He knocked a second time and still no answer. He knocked a third time, still no answer. He knocked a fourth time. Not knowing what else to do, he returned to his business.
   A couple of days later, he saw her downtown on the sidewalk looking destitute. He walked up to her and said, "Ma'am, some friends of mine and I found out about your situation. We want to help. We got enough money together to give you rent money for two months. I came to your house to give it to you this week, but I knocked several times and got no answer." She took a gasp of breath and put her hand to her face. She said, "Oh, I thought you were the landlord coming to evict me."  God is not out to punish. God is out to pardon.’

Has God tried and tired to get your attention by knocking on the door to your heart? Has He tried to tell you that you have no need for fear, no need for worry, no need to wonder what happens when this life is over? Has He tried and tried to assure you that you are truly and forever saved..but you just couldn’t believe Him because you were expecting bad news?

 Bob George reminds us that it is amazing how many Christians live in fear of God’s anger. You can be a serial killer or terrorist and the message to you is ‘God loves you and Jesus died for your sins. All you need to do is accept him by faith and you will be saved’. But Believers have been told, ‘You filthy backslider. You better clean up your act or God’s punishment will fall upon you’.

Q: Let me ask you. Does the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ end once
    you accept Jesus as Savior?  Then why do you think Christians live as if it does?

 The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ is SALVATION. Salvation from the penalty of your sin. Salvation from the guilt of your sin. Salvation from the power of sin. Because you are a really nice person? No! Because God showered His grace upon you by giving you faith to believe in Jesus Christ. You accepted that faith and were saved.  Now, we just need to accept His assurance by faith, that we have no need for fear or worry.

Justified

Read:    Rom. 5:18        Justified
             Acts 38:38-39  Justified from the Law
             1 Cor. 6:9-11   Justified in Christ
             Rom. 8:30        He justified us

Q: What does it mean that the Christian is justified before God?

Your sin slate has been wiped clean. Well, not really. Your sin slate has been removed. You no longer have a sin slate. As a Christian you have a slate of righteousness which was given to you by God which belongs to His Son, Jesus Christ. Your slates were exchanged when you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, to save you and to be your Savior.

In God’s court, you have been declared innocent of the guilt of your sin. You are justified to stand before Him, holy and perfect.

No Condemnation

Read:    John 3:18        Not judged
             Rom. 8:1-2      No condemnation
             Rom. 5:6-10

Q: What do these verses tell us about the Christians relationship with Almighty God?

No condemnation (katakrima, “punishment”) awaits those who are in Christ Jesus, as a result of their faith and identification with Him (cf. 6:13; John 5:24). They are justified, declared righteous, and therefore stand in His grace (Rom. 5:2) and not under His wrath (1:18).

Q: Why do you think so many Christians are afraid of God?
     Why do they believe they have to come before God with ‘fear and trembling’?

 I don’t believe the ‘fear and trembling’ that scripture speak about is terror of what God may do or think. I believe the proper understanding of ‘fear and trembling’ is respect and reverence, honor. And that’s a far cry from terror. But we have been taught by legalistic, pharisaical Christians that it means terror for our actions, attitudes and acts that are ungodly. And you gotta get it together and hope God is pleased.

 God is PLEASED! The Christian is free from God’s CONDEMNATION…. FOREVER! And that begins the moment they say yes to Jesus Christ by faith.

ILL: Bob George tells us ‘Let me paraphrase the Rom. 5:6-10 text. If God demonstrated His love for you in that, even when you were helpless, ungodly sinners, and His enemies, Christ died for you, how much more, now that you are members of His family!’

Q: Will the Christian ever face any judgment from God, any condemnation from Him, any jail time, yelling at,
     admonishing from God at any time? Why?

Isn’t that GREAT! The Christian is so blessed, so safe, so secure, so loved by God.