This is the eleventh and final sermon in a series of messages designed to enlarge our concepts of what God has provided for us in and through Jesus Christ. He came to do something more than give us a ticket to heaven.
Salvation in the past tense—the new birth, or justification by God—is wonderful. Blessed indeed is the person who can look back and say, “I have been saved. I have committed my life to Jesus as Lord and Savior and experienced the joy of forgiveness and the privilege of becoming a member of God’s family.”
Salvation in the future tense, which includes the promise of victory over death and the grave and the privilege of fellowship with the Father and the saints for eternity, is certainly a great salvation that brings joy to each believer. The New Testament calls this glorification. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee to each believer of the final redemption from the consequences of sin.
Salvation in the present tense—called sanctification in the New Testament—is also part of God’s plan for each of his children. It is not God’s will that his children live under the dominion of evil. Jesus Christ came to save us from the power and practice of sin as soon as we experience the new birth; this protection continues until either death or Jesus’ glorious return.
Last week we talked about the necessity of spiritual growth. Today I want to talk about some of the hindrances and obstacles that must be overcome in order for us to grow spiritually. We need to recognize some of the things that could block our pathway to spiritual maturity.
Click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript to hear an audio recording of the sermon.
Salvation in the past tense—the new birth, or justification by God—is wonderful. Blessed indeed is the person who can look back and say, “I have been saved. I have committed my life to Jesus as Lord and Savior and experienced the joy of forgiveness and the privilege of becoming a member of God’s family.”
Salvation in the future tense, which includes the promise of victory over death and the grave and the privilege of fellowship with the Father and the saints for eternity, is certainly a great salvation that brings joy to each believer. The New Testament calls this glorification. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee to each believer of the final redemption from the consequences of sin.
Salvation in the present tense—called sanctification in the New Testament—is also part of God’s plan for each of his children. It is not God’s will that his children live under the dominion of evil. Jesus Christ came to save us from the power and practice of sin as soon as we experience the new birth; this protection continues until either death or Jesus’ glorious return.
Last week we talked about the necessity of spiritual growth. Today I want to talk about some of the hindrances and obstacles that must be overcome in order for us to grow spiritually. We need to recognize some of the things that could block our pathway to spiritual maturity.
Click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript to hear an audio recording of the sermon.
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 2:1-12 NIV Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Text:
Our text today is the same one as last week.
(1 Peter 2:2 NIV) “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”
Introduction
As we said last week a Christian life starts with a spiritual birth experience. You cannot begin a spiritual life merely by making some good resolutions or joining a congregation of believers. Spiritual salvation is much more than developing excellence of character or being a member of a church.
Until you experience a birth from above, you are in spiritual death. You do not have the life of God in you. Until you are born of the Spirit, you are like an unfertilized egg with the potential for spiritual birth. God uses his divine Word to fertilize that spiritual egg to bring you into his family. Some people refuse to receive God’s Word in faith; consequently, they deprive themselves of this spiritual birth.
Last week we talked about the necessity of spiritual growth. Today I want to talk about some of the hindrances and obstacles that must be overcome in order for us to grow spiritually. We need to recognize some of the things that could block our pathway to spiritual maturity.
1. We have a fallen human nature that makes spiritual growth difficult.
Have you ever known someone who had a congenital defect that prevented him or her from growing to maturity? Most of us have been acquainted with at least one child who had a birth defect that prevented growth to normal maturity. In a very real sense, all of us have a spiritual defect that discourages us from being who God wants us to be.
I've said this many times before, God wants us to be conformed to the image of Jesus. He wants us to be like Jesus but we have a spiritual defect that must be overcome.
First of all we are all sinners. By using the term sinners, I'm describing a condition of our being rather than just describing our conduct.
Romans 5:12 NIV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
Each of us has within our innermost being a fatal flaw. Because we are sinners, we find it much easier to choose the path of rebellion to that of obedience. Our natural tendency is toward rebellion.
Paul described it this way;
Romans 7:7-20 NIV What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So what's the answer to overcoming this obstacle?
Romans 7:25 NIV Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
If we fail to recognize the presence of our sinful nature, we may have an overly idealistic concept of self. This oversight can contribute to a negligent, drifting life that does not rise to its spiritual potential.
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
1 Peter 2:1-12 NIV Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Text:
Our text today is the same one as last week.
(1 Peter 2:2 NIV) “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”
Introduction
As we said last week a Christian life starts with a spiritual birth experience. You cannot begin a spiritual life merely by making some good resolutions or joining a congregation of believers. Spiritual salvation is much more than developing excellence of character or being a member of a church.
Until you experience a birth from above, you are in spiritual death. You do not have the life of God in you. Until you are born of the Spirit, you are like an unfertilized egg with the potential for spiritual birth. God uses his divine Word to fertilize that spiritual egg to bring you into his family. Some people refuse to receive God’s Word in faith; consequently, they deprive themselves of this spiritual birth.
Last week we talked about the necessity of spiritual growth. Today I want to talk about some of the hindrances and obstacles that must be overcome in order for us to grow spiritually. We need to recognize some of the things that could block our pathway to spiritual maturity.
1. We have a fallen human nature that makes spiritual growth difficult.
Have you ever known someone who had a congenital defect that prevented him or her from growing to maturity? Most of us have been acquainted with at least one child who had a birth defect that prevented growth to normal maturity. In a very real sense, all of us have a spiritual defect that discourages us from being who God wants us to be.
I've said this many times before, God wants us to be conformed to the image of Jesus. He wants us to be like Jesus but we have a spiritual defect that must be overcome.
First of all we are all sinners. By using the term sinners, I'm describing a condition of our being rather than just describing our conduct.
Romans 5:12 NIV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
Each of us has within our innermost being a fatal flaw. Because we are sinners, we find it much easier to choose the path of rebellion to that of obedience. Our natural tendency is toward rebellion.
Paul described it this way;
Romans 7:7-20 NIV What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So what's the answer to overcoming this obstacle?
Romans 7:25 NIV Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
If we fail to recognize the presence of our sinful nature, we may have an overly idealistic concept of self. This oversight can contribute to a negligent, drifting life that does not rise to its spiritual potential.
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
2. Poor listening habits prevent spiritual growth.
Jesus told this parable once to illustrate the importance of listening.
Matthew 13:1-9 NIV That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
In this parable, Jesus illustrated how the farmer sows his seed on various kinds of soil. The condition of the soil in which the seed is sown largely determines the end product. Jesus closed this parable with the command, “Whoever has ears, let them hear”.
Later Jesus explained the parable and described how different people hear and respond to the truth of God.
Matthew 13:18-23 NIV “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
What Jesus was saying in this parable was that only the person who really hears and responds will have an abundant harvest and grow and mature spiritually.
So let’s examine ourselves.
A. Are you a wayside hearer of God’s Word?
Like the seed that fell along the path.
Matthew 13:4 NIV As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Do you refuse to let God’s Word penetrate your heart and produce the desired effect?
B. Are you a rocky ground hearer?
Matthew 13:5-6 NIV Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Do you permit God’s Word to enter your heart only in a superficial way?
C. Do you let the cares of the world choke out the Word of God?
Matthew 13:7 NIV Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Does what’s happening in COVID-19 and the restrictions associated with it cause us to retreat into our personal shells and be unfruitful. Do we forget the commandment that we should love everybody, even our enemies.
Are we frustrated because of what’s happening with racial injustice issues and differing political ideologies so that our witness for Christ is affected.
Does your desire to make your personal point cause you to be unfruitful?
Or;
D. Do you hear and respond to God’s Word like seed planted in good, rich soil?
Matthew 13:8 NIV Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Do you let his Word germinate and grow and produce a harvest?
How you hear and respond to God’s truth will determine the extent of your spiritual growth.
3. The world and all it's material resources around us can be an impediment to spiritual growth.
The Apostle Paul said that we shouldn’t really be concerned about temporary things;
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
John makes it plain in
1 John 2:15-16 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
John warned us about caring too much for the things of human existence that will not last.
When he said “Do not love the world or anything in the world”, he was referring to society as it ignores God and rebels against him. John was pointing out the perishable nature of many material things that the unbelieving world considers to be of extreme value. He urged believers to think about and to live for things that will last forever.
In the parable of the sower, which I read earlier, Jesus warned about letting the desire for riches and the cares of the world choke out the Word, which brings growth.
4. Our human tendency to procrastinate hinders growth.
I’ve talked a couple of times, including last week, about our need to hunger and thirst after righteousness. I’ll repeat what I said last week,
Matthew 5:6 NIV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
As hunger and thirst are the most highly developed of our natural appetites, this hunger and thirst refers to "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings."
Just as physical craving is urgent, and calls for instant gratification, there is a spiritual craving that is equally, if not more intense.
We're not to hunger and thirst after happiness, but after righteousness.
Jesus was actually asking, “How much do you want righteousness? As much as a hungry person wants food? As much as a thirsty person wants water?”. If you do, Jesus said that you will be blessed, or happy.
5. Satan is an obstacle to our spiritual growth (1 Peter 5:8).
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Those who ignore or joke about the devil are deceiving themselves and depriving themselves of the resources that God has made available for living a victorious Christian life. Satan would like to see to it that all of us remain in spiritual infancy.
Each one of us is responsible for overcoming the obstacles to spiritual growth. We will remain in spiritual infancy if we neglect the means of individual spiritual growth and postpone responding to opportunities for growth provided by the church.
A few weeks ago I said in a sermon I said that a great way to stimulate spiritual growth in the present is to be involved with the church. I realize that during COVID-19 our involvement may be different but we still need that involvement. Whether it’s by phone or social media, or outdoors in parking lots.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Conclusion
We must be constantly alert so that others’ faults and mistakes will not cause us to stumble on our way to spiritual maturity. We cannot be held responsible for the actions of others, but we are responsible to God for our own growth.
No one can do your eating for you. No one can do your sleeping for you. No one can do your learning for you. And no one can do your growing for you. So let each of us determine that with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will nourish ourselves from God’s Word. We will avoid anything that could prevent us from becoming the competent, mature persons God wants us to be so that we can all fully experience our great salvation today.
Jesus told this parable once to illustrate the importance of listening.
Matthew 13:1-9 NIV That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
In this parable, Jesus illustrated how the farmer sows his seed on various kinds of soil. The condition of the soil in which the seed is sown largely determines the end product. Jesus closed this parable with the command, “Whoever has ears, let them hear”.
Later Jesus explained the parable and described how different people hear and respond to the truth of God.
Matthew 13:18-23 NIV “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
What Jesus was saying in this parable was that only the person who really hears and responds will have an abundant harvest and grow and mature spiritually.
So let’s examine ourselves.
A. Are you a wayside hearer of God’s Word?
Like the seed that fell along the path.
Matthew 13:4 NIV As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Do you refuse to let God’s Word penetrate your heart and produce the desired effect?
B. Are you a rocky ground hearer?
Matthew 13:5-6 NIV Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Do you permit God’s Word to enter your heart only in a superficial way?
C. Do you let the cares of the world choke out the Word of God?
Matthew 13:7 NIV Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Does what’s happening in COVID-19 and the restrictions associated with it cause us to retreat into our personal shells and be unfruitful. Do we forget the commandment that we should love everybody, even our enemies.
Are we frustrated because of what’s happening with racial injustice issues and differing political ideologies so that our witness for Christ is affected.
Does your desire to make your personal point cause you to be unfruitful?
Or;
D. Do you hear and respond to God’s Word like seed planted in good, rich soil?
Matthew 13:8 NIV Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Do you let his Word germinate and grow and produce a harvest?
How you hear and respond to God’s truth will determine the extent of your spiritual growth.
3. The world and all it's material resources around us can be an impediment to spiritual growth.
The Apostle Paul said that we shouldn’t really be concerned about temporary things;
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
John makes it plain in
1 John 2:15-16 NIV Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
John warned us about caring too much for the things of human existence that will not last.
When he said “Do not love the world or anything in the world”, he was referring to society as it ignores God and rebels against him. John was pointing out the perishable nature of many material things that the unbelieving world considers to be of extreme value. He urged believers to think about and to live for things that will last forever.
In the parable of the sower, which I read earlier, Jesus warned about letting the desire for riches and the cares of the world choke out the Word, which brings growth.
4. Our human tendency to procrastinate hinders growth.
I’ve talked a couple of times, including last week, about our need to hunger and thirst after righteousness. I’ll repeat what I said last week,
Matthew 5:6 NIV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
As hunger and thirst are the most highly developed of our natural appetites, this hunger and thirst refers to "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings."
Just as physical craving is urgent, and calls for instant gratification, there is a spiritual craving that is equally, if not more intense.
We're not to hunger and thirst after happiness, but after righteousness.
Jesus was actually asking, “How much do you want righteousness? As much as a hungry person wants food? As much as a thirsty person wants water?”. If you do, Jesus said that you will be blessed, or happy.
5. Satan is an obstacle to our spiritual growth (1 Peter 5:8).
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Those who ignore or joke about the devil are deceiving themselves and depriving themselves of the resources that God has made available for living a victorious Christian life. Satan would like to see to it that all of us remain in spiritual infancy.
Each one of us is responsible for overcoming the obstacles to spiritual growth. We will remain in spiritual infancy if we neglect the means of individual spiritual growth and postpone responding to opportunities for growth provided by the church.
A few weeks ago I said in a sermon I said that a great way to stimulate spiritual growth in the present is to be involved with the church. I realize that during COVID-19 our involvement may be different but we still need that involvement. Whether it’s by phone or social media, or outdoors in parking lots.
- If it hadn't been for the church, we would not know about God’s love and the great salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ.
- The church has been commanded to be an evangelizing force everywhere until Christ returns.
- The church has been commanded to baptize new believers.
- The church has been commanded to be a school of Christian discipleship. New believers need to be instructed and led toward spiritual maturity. It is God’s will that all believers become disciples or students of Jesus always learning of His love, mercy and grace.
- The church has been commanded to serve as witnesses for Jesus.
- Jesus wants the church to be communicators of God’s wonderful works revealed through Jesus Christ and experienced in our own lives.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
- Jesus saw the church as a spiritual temple with each believer a living stone.
- The church is the body of Christ through whom he continues to work in the world today
Conclusion
We must be constantly alert so that others’ faults and mistakes will not cause us to stumble on our way to spiritual maturity. We cannot be held responsible for the actions of others, but we are responsible to God for our own growth.
No one can do your eating for you. No one can do your sleeping for you. No one can do your learning for you. And no one can do your growing for you. So let each of us determine that with the Holy Spirit’s help, we will nourish ourselves from God’s Word. We will avoid anything that could prevent us from becoming the competent, mature persons God wants us to be so that we can all fully experience our great salvation today.
Sermon Audio
RSS Feed