Working Out Your Salvation
Sunday, September 21, 2008
FOUNDATIONS OF MY FAITH
MY ABSOLUTES–THINGS I CANNOT COMPROMISE
WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION
Foundation Scriptures: Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV
Working out my salvation.
- The moment you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, you become a new creature—your Spirit is made brand new; re-created; eternity comes to live in your heart; eternal life is yours. You are translated out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of light. Heaven is now your destination and your new home!
- Your soul—mind; will; emotions—needs to be renewed. This is your responsibility. You work out your salvation by submitting —spirit, soul and body—to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
- James 1:21-27
- Don’t be a fake. Be real—with God, yourself and others.
- God wants a pure heart more than mere good works.
- God is full of mercy and grace, but it is a mistake to take God’s grace and mercy for granted.
- Hebrews 10:26-29
- God is kind, gracious and loving, but He is also righteous and He expects righteousness from us.
I must walk in love and forgiveness.
- If you don’t forgive, the Father cannot forgive you.
- Mark 11:25-26 AMP - And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.
- Luke 17:3-4
- Ephesians 4:32
I must not neglect fellowshipping with the Saints.
- You are not the only one out there—no man is an island.
- God wants us to look out for one another.
- Each of us needs to experience truth and grace—people who will tell us the truth and confront the sin in our lives, and people who will love us, accept us, forgive us and encourage us in our walk with God.
- Hebrews 10:23-25
- Work to live in harmony with each other.
- Romans 12:16
- 1 Corinthians 12:25
- Love each other.
- John 13:34-35
I must read the Word and pray daily.
- Fellowship with God through His Word and prayer.
- John 15:1-8
- Talk to the Lord. Listen for His voice. Spend time in His presence. Stay hooked up to Him.
I must be involved financially in Kingdom business.
- Tithes—local church.
- Malachi 3:8-12 AMP - Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
- Offerings—local church and missions.
- 2 Corinthians 8:12-15
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-12
- Poor and needy.
- 2 Corinthians 8:7
I must live my life as a daily witness to Jesus, my Lord and Savior.
- Acts 1:8 AMP - But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
- Sharing Jesus by my actions.
- 1 John 3:18 AMP - Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).
- Sharing Jesus by my words—witnessing.
- Proverbs 11:30 NKJV–The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
N.B. (Important note) I must be a soul–winner!
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the