Sermon Tone Analysis

The Reward of this Relationship

We have looked at the amazing, out-of-this-world love of God and that, having experienced and received His love, we are the sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

We talked last week about the fact that God’s love works a change in our lives from the inside out.

Today, we are going to finish our study about the Result of His Love as we see the reward of our relationship, our responsibility in this relationship, and the resources we have been given in this relationship.

One of the most discouraging realities for a new believer is that we still sin from time to time.

Like we saw last week, that is no excuse, but is does help us understand the journey of the Christian life a little better.

In His timeless classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan tells about a man who flees the City of Destruction and finds salvation at the cross.

After his salvation, Christian begins his journey to the Celestial City where he will enjoy eternal life with His Savior.

Along the way, however, he is attacked by the Giant of Despair, tempted to dwell in the city of Vanity Fair, faced with philosophical intimidation by so called scholars, and even called on by friends and loved ones to turn back and end this ridiculous expedition.

Each of these situations he faced are pictures of what you and I face in our Christian lives as children of God.

We are surrounded by people and circumstances that attempt to pull us away from walking closely with Jesus.

Then, when we fall and sin, they point out our failure and rub it in our faces.

I hate failing!

I hate it every time I mess up.

I hate every time an impure thought crosses my mind or an unkind word or ungodly attitude rises up within me.

When anger takes hold and hurtful words spew, I grieve over my sinfulness.

Are you with me?

Do you experience this?

How many of you get victory in one area of your life only to find that there are seven other areas where you need to get victory?

Yeah! I’m there!

Last week, we talked about the victory we can have.

God’s Word gives us confidence that we can live in victory over sin and that one day, we will see that Blessed Hope!

Jesus is coming!

Jesus is going to take us out of this world to be with Him for eternity.

At a time of the Father’s choosing, Jesus Christ will come in the clouds.

As 1 Thessalonians tells us, there will be a shout, the voice of the arch angel, and the trump of God.

No, that does not mean President Trump!

In that moment (the Bible tells us it takes place in the twinkling of an eye), those who trusted Jesus as their Savior and have passed into eternity will rise from the grave.

God in His infinite power will give them incorruptible bodies (bodies that will not/cannot die or decay), and they will go to meet Him in the clouds.

Then those who are alive on earth who have trusted Jesus as their Savior will be caught up as join them.

Scripture says, So shall we ever be with the Lord.

What a comfort to know that one day, Jesus is coming to rescue us from this world of sin!

See, when He died on the cross, He did it to save us from sin and give us victory over sin.

At the moment of salvation, Jesus saves us from the penalty and power of sin.

For sin shall not have dominion over you.

For ye are not under the Law, but under grace

For sin shall not have dominion over you.

For ye are not under the Law, but under grace

As we yield our lives to Him daily, Jesus conforms us more into His image and saves us from the prominence of sin in our lives, and one day, He will save us from the presence of sin!

He will take us out of this sin cursed earth to live with Him!

This is the promise to all who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

This is the Reward of our Relationship.

Our Responsibility in this Relationship

The Resources of this Relationship

The reality of the imminent return of Jesus Christ is perhaps one of the greatest motivators for us to live holy lives.

1 John 3:

The Resources of this Relationship

1 John 3:7

1 John 3:4

We are the children of God

1 John 3:

We are not perfect

We are being perfected

Sanctification

Many years ago, the United States government found it necessary to train people in the detection of counterfeit currency.

Through the years, these men and women have become very proficient in telling the difference between the genuine and fake.

They realize that everything that looks like a $100 bill is not necessarily an actual $100 bill of US currency.

They realize that while many people may be deceived and try to spend that currency, it does not have the value of the genuine article.

Many years ago, the United States government found it necessary to train people in the detection of counterfeit currency.

Through the years, these men and women have become very proficient in telling the difference between the genuine and fake.

They realize that everything that looks like a $100 bill is not necessarily an actual $100 bill of US currency.

They realize that while many people may be deceived and try to spend that currency, it does not have the value of the genuine article.

If you were to print up your own money, making it look as close to actual American money as possible, and purchase a ticket to Hawaii, your intent may be to go to Hawaii but the result would be that you would go to prison.

Such is the case with many professing Christianity today.

They have something that looks similar to biblical Christianity, but a close inspection will reveal that these have sadly accepted a counterfeit which will not take them to Heaven.

God’s Word is very clear regarding salvation, what it means, and how we can go to Heaven.

As we read , we see the apostle states plainly that we are not perfect.

However, God is working in us to perfect us and to help us become more like Jesus Christ.

This work will not be completed until we see him face-to-face.

John says “and it doth not yet appear what we shall be…“

If you were to print up your own money, making it look as close to actual American money as possible, and purchase a ticket to Hawaii, your intent may be to go to Hawaii but the result would be that you would go to prison.

Such is the case with many professing Christianity today.

They have something that looks similar to biblical Christianity, but a close inspection will reveal that these have sadly accepted a counterfeit which will not take them to Heaven.

God’s Word is very clear regarding salvation, what it means, and how we can go to Heaven.

So what is real Christianity?

What is counterfeit?

How can we tell the difference?

How can we be assured that we have not excepted a counterfeit?

Let’s look at the word of God for our answer!

As we read , we see the apostle states plainly that we are not perfect.

However, God is working in us to perfect us and to help us become more like Jesus Christ.

This work will not be completed until we see him face-to-face.

John says “and it doth not yet appear what we shall be…“

So what is real Christianity?

What is counterfeit?

How can we tell the difference?

How can we be assured that we have not accepted a counterfeit?

How should we live as real Christians?

Let’s look at the word of God for our answer!

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Who is a child of God?

  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Who is a child of God?

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Who is a child of God?

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Every person is born into this world a sinner.

Scripture tells us that we all are born in sin.