The Biblical Worldview on Salvation: Your Personal Relationship with God

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The husband chooses to not go to church because his wife is the only one there. Only more you need your relationship with God after Greg Laurie God wants to one-on-one relationship with each of even if others don't need to focus on the board. Only you work out yourself and the electric company right connected directly your neighbors connected directly to running an extension cord neighbors which I hope what we each needed direction. Ritual connection to our heavenly father today have a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out how that sheds light on Paul's out our own salvation and your long Philippians 2 verse 12. Therefore, my beloved, because you've always obeyed God as in my presence only, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and do his good pleasure.

Work out your own salvation. One is that me and means only you can work out your salvation want to be nice if you could hire someone to work out for you so you know what I don't work out wanted to go work out for me but you can't do that you have to go work out for yourself some work out your own salvation. This is not something someone else to do in your place.

This is something you must do for yourself.

It's a personal choice but Paul frozen an interesting thought.

In verse 12. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but more in my absence. So basically Paul is writing to the believers here in Philippi from a prison. He's been arrested and he can go and be with them as he was in the past and so he misses them and they miss him so basically say no because I'm not with you, but I still want you to work out your own salvation. I think the new living translation is helpful here. Or Paul says dearest friends. You're always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you but now that I'm away.

You must be even more careful to put into action, God's saving work in your lives.

So here's what Paul is saying, in effect, buys you need to grow up spiritually, you can build your spiritual life on me don't even for a moment think you guys can go this furtive cruise control. If I'm not personally there for you because it God that works in you.Paul, I'm not doing the work in your life God is doing the work in your life. I bring this up because sometimes we can allow people to take the place of God in our life. Husband chooses to not go to church because his wife doesn't go anymore or maybe the kids don't go to church because their parents don't go anymore.

Listen, you need your own relationship with God. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling civic Greg. My parents were hypocrites. Or, I saw a hypocrite in church you get over Rhett's grow up, put your faith in Christ and follow him some Paul think it can't be all about me being there with you because I won't always be there with you but the Lord always will be there with you.

So, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Some misunderstand this. Paul did not say work for your own salvation because salvation is a gift of God, by the way, this is a gift that grows more valuable. With the passing of time it saw that it becomes more valuable. It always was, but were just discovering the value of it because it salvation God gives us saves us from our past, our present and our future.

First, it saves us from our past sins we committed the wrongs they have done. It's removed. It's taken away as a raised we been given a clean slate. As I pointed out, but I would saves us from our present.power of sin in my life. I I have God's power to overcome it.

And lastly, it saves me from a future judgment so that's why the Bible calls it such a great salvation. You see the value of it. More more with the passing of time and so Paul says, work out your salvation don't work for it.

It's a gift to you from God. Ephesians 2 says, by grace you been saved through faith, not of yourselves.

It's a gift of God so what does it mean to adjusting the bird, the Paul uses carries the meaning of work to full completion work the full completion your salvation. There's work involved in the Christian life as I play out as I discover, would God is done for me. It doesn't say send out your own salvation says work out your own salvation. Going back to the analogy of a gym. Are you going you work out to get into better shape.

The more you do it the better the results will be. Maybe it's because you're having issues the other day. I literally thought I might be close to having a heart attack and the reason is, as I was feeling pressure on my chest and so then I googled symptoms imparted to get this pressure in your chest, and the pressure grew stronger as soon as I read that little Philip Bennett said nausea and I was nauseated.

The second I read and I'm not nauseated. Get out so I'm going to see my doctor so I called him up again to come over right now and I came over and he hooked me up from EKG and an eccentric, you're absolutely fine and then about a week later I got the bill and I did have a heart attack. So what happened was a I've been playing racquetball. I used to do that. Years ago I started playing again because I keep cardiovascular okay I hate treadmills. I hate stationary bicycles and all that pedaling you know and and so revocable fund because I will go to any link to cheese a stupid ball around the court and it is a good workout.

I sweat a little bit more and also what I do is I fall and I I ship the wall really hard chasing the ball and that's why felt the pressure might just but I'm okay for now but you know something just to check up on those things in your doctor will say you need an exercise regimen. See go to the gym.

Here's a problem where people hang out in gym, you don't talk another just strange people. There's a person who sweat soul over everything. One is with them. Are you one of those people please stand up. I want to talk one of those sweaters I need seriously. You know they they get up from the equipment. The whatever it is you know there'd there just perspiration all over the floor thinking you'd like to get to Helen, wipe up after yourself you know whether the guy that screams every rep because he's lifting too much away, said to know. Still, you need to get in there and do what you can so you work out to get in shape and the same is true of the spiritual life. I'm not working for God's given me the salvation. It is my blood work it out or discover what it actually means for me about the phrase of Paul uses. Therefore, workout is a phrase that's also used to explain working on mine you going to do mine in extracting this over the gold or whatever is in the mind many years ago in California we have the California gold rush, and other was a lot of gold on this day there's gold in them thar hills.

It was said so people came from around the country and even the world to to find their fortune in the gold was soon gone. I think people thought it was just like laying around on the street you know but they had to go to the minds and work at it in hopes of maybe discovering the mother load. So Paul say that's I come I go in there and discover all God is done for you extracted. Live it out understand it appreciated.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling know what that means is with self. This trust so I come with a reverence for God and a distrust of myself I can do this on my own strength. Paul explains it work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Some people say will God visit. Although I do nothing other say I do it all and God does nothing. Both of those views are wrong. God does it through you as you minded to discover it for yourself. Work out your own salvation with self. This trust, for it is God that is working in a moment. Pastor Greg points out how we can respond worse ritual adversary when he tries to convince those that were not really saved good insight coming up in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now. If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home dawdling mower taking a close look at Philippians 2 verse 12.

Today, which tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Here's Pastor Greg once again know what it says work it out with fear and trembling. I don't want you to think that Paul is suggesting that one can lose their salvation because I believe once your save your saved. That's what we call it eternal life and not temporary life, that's where you don't have to get saved again and again and again and again you don't have you be born again again again again again again you're born again once.

Now you can make a recommitment to Christ. If you need to, but once you have eternal life. It's a gift to you from God and I bring this up because sometimes even believers have known the Lord for years will doubt their own salvation and you need to know that the devil loves to challenge what God has said don't forget in the garden of Eden he came to Adam and Eve and he said did God really say what you thought. God said he challenged the word of God will do the same to young Christians, especially right after they believed feel safe. Do you really think your saved you really think Christ is coming to your life and it is then that I must stand on the promises of God. This is bringing that biblical worldview, not my emotions because my emotions to mislead me.

I don't feel safe today. Maybe I was my salvation last night.

No, no, it's still there, it still the gift of God, it still belongs to you and it is then that I come back to Scripture Scriptures like first John 510 it says.

Anyone who believes in the son of God has this testimony in his heart. Romans 816 says his spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

John 524 Jesus as I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and shall not be condemned.

He's crossed over from death to life and really my favorite assurance first first John five says these things we write to you that believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. So when the devil comes and says you're not saved you say to the devil I know I'm say because the Bible says these things we write you that believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and sometimes quote Scripture out loud to remind myself, even Jesus did that.

Remember when he was tempted in the wilderness the devil said to him, why don't you turn this rock into a piece of bread. Jesus says it is written, men shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Same says why don't you thought I don't worship me and Jesus says it is written usual works of the Lord God and him only shall you serve. The point is you come back with Scripture.

That's what I mean when I say think biblically let everything go to the grid of Scripture. Not sure emotions. This is something God has given to you so we may wonder well can you lose salvation, what you haven't already said I don't think you can. So what about those people that make a profession of faith and say their say and we even see some evidence, or so it would seem initially but then a month later two months later, maybe six months later they just walk away and they never come back so that someone was saved was no unsaved, I would suggest you of a person walks away and never comes back. They were never saved to begin with. Here's how you know who the real Christians are. It's where the end up. Christians can go astray Christians to be prodigal sons and daughters can think but God will call them and if the rule believers always come home again and if they never were believers.

They'll never come home because it never was there home were told over and first John 219 they went out from us, but they did not really belong to us for a clear belong to as they would've remained with us. Further, going out showed that none of them ever belong to us to sometimes people will make a profession of faith that is based on a motion Jesus talked about this in the parable of the sower, the Mark 416.

He said those that received the seed that goes on around that's embedded with rocks so it shoots up, but it doesn't take Rudy says these are those that hear the word of God with great enthusiasm but their shallow soil of character, so when the emotions were off for some difficulty arrives.

There's nothing to show for it. So these are the people that were never really believers at all.

It was just the whim of an emotion, so don't work for your salvation, work out your salvation and what an incredible gift. It is an all you have to do is receive it.

I just flew back from Hawaii visiting our church there and I had to get a plane ticket and I printed it out and I boarded my flight and they always check your ticket want to make sure you're in the right seat you cannot board a flight without a ticket. I use this analogy, a number of years ago to harvest Crusade and I was asking people.

Do you have your ticket to go to heaven and in Stella, who was then a little girl my granddaughter heard me say this, and she had a flyer that was given to her when she went in the event that she held it up and yelled out to me. I could hear she was so far away. I have Mike to get Bob because she said so to but really if you have your ticket is awarding me my ticket.

Do you know that your say you might say, well II think so and I think you'll know it and if you don't know it. Maybe you want and I don't want you to leave the service today without knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that your sin is forgiven is a okay how does this happen again. Remember, acts 13 says this man Jesus gives forgiveness of sins and whoever trusts in him is free from all guilt and he is declared right to so have you put your trust in Jesus again. Scripture says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved uses illustration of apartment there was a time I was out with my son Jonathan in the ocean am we got caught in a little riptide.

He was a young guy. At this point and I was kinda keeping him above the surface and I couldn't believe I met a riptide because the irony is I like literally 12 feet from the shore. Something I can't get in a riptide this close to the shore and but I am and I can't get my feet on the ground getting pulled out is becoming a problem and I see a lifeguard met that there is no way on God's green earth, yell for help this close to shore and getting pulled out of this lifeguard sees me and she realizes I'm in trouble and she started swimming toward me. She got a little preserver. Since women are now know this is so humiliating and fun. I got my feet on this earth that a bouquet of okay thank you thank you and and I walked in and you know don't forget to get rescued. Our brother get rescued by a girl lifeguard and the guy right images with others mouth-to-mouth. The Bobby wanted to be a girl. That's all. But here's the point is I was too proud to call out for help. That's a lot of this could be many men, especially with sometimes all of it so I don't need to be saved. I'm good. Know you are good at all.

Your your situation is worse than a person in a burning building or in a combat zone. Your situation is worse than a person caught in a riptide if you don't have Jesus Christ living in you right now.

Bottom line you're headed to a certain judgment in hell and God does not want that. That is why he sent Jesus Christ died to save sinners like you and me you can be saved today. Forgiven of all your sin put all of your past behind you. Have a fresh start. A clean slate. Think about it. Then have the power you need in your life to live the life God is called� They can all happen and it doesn't take years. It doesn't take months. It doesn't take days, it doesn't take hours. They can happen just like that. If you'll just call out to him. So were going to close in prayer. I'm going to extend an invitation to anyone here if you don't know Jesus Christ as your own Savior and your Lord and your friend he can come in your life right now and forgive you all of your sins and give you that fresh start. You long for and give you the guaranteed hope of heaven.

If you don't know this for sure. Let's get this settled right here that's all praying father, thank you for the incredible gift of salvation. It is really the gift that keeps on giving.

And I pray for any here are listening wherever they are. If they don't know you yet.

If it not called upon your name yet.

Would you help them to do that right now.

I pray your Holy Spirit will speak to their heart. Jesus name I pray a Greg Lord important word of prayer. If you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning draws to a close yesterday were so excited make available your new book called Billy Graham the man I knew just so much research went into this book and you've thought a lot about Billy's life in the course of writing this if if he could somehow be with us right here right now for just a few minutes. What you think you would ask him well that's a good question. What I remember what I asked him when I had the opportunity.

I was in his home in Montreat, North Carolina, and I said, Billy. If an older Billy could speak to a younger belly.

What would he say and really without missing a beat, Billy said I would tell myself to breach more on the cross of Christ and the blood of Christ because that's where the power is, and that was something he lived by throughout his entire life as far as what I would ask Billy today will, of course, if he was with this back from the other side I would want to know a lot about the afterlife.

So Billy what seven lucky kid and you know what happened up there but you know as far as any I actually asked pretty much all of the questions I wanted to ask him and I talked about them in the book and I don't know that I would have anything new to ask him but just I think I would just tell him how much I appreciated him. I did tell him that when I spoke with them for the last time I told him I loved him. He told me he loved me. I don't see that the people lightly. By the way, and died.

So this I had those opportunities they have final conversations with him, but probably just say you know you you're going to be loved beyond the time you are on this earth and your legacy will live on and I want to just save you. Thank you for being a good example not only a great preacher thank you for being a good example in a good model of what it means to be a real Christian. While the book reflects that kind of spirit.

Pastor Greg, you look at the life of a good friend and mentor more than that.

It's an evangelist look at the life of history's greatest evangelists. It's a celebration of remarkable life. The title is Billy Graham, the man I knew Dr. Franklin Graham wrote this about the book. I've often said that the public, Billy Graham seen on Crusade platforms and television was the same private Billy Graham at home. This certainly is revealed in Billy Graham, the man I knew, which is based on breaks personal thoughts on the special time spent with my father and how his ministry impacted Greg's own life and evangelistic ministry. I'm grateful for Greg's friendship for his love for my father and for his proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ second mission to cover your way. Pastor Greg is making it available to thank you for your donation of any size. And please know there are no churches or large organizations covering all the expenses know it's only through the investments of listeners that these insights can come your way.

Each day, so thanks for being a partner with us with your donation today. Be sure to ask for Billy Graham, the man I knew you can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 24 hours a day, 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg as we get close to the end of today's program we want to give an opportunity for those who would like to to make a change in their relationship with the Lord. Yes. Can you help them with that, I'd be delighted to listen if you would like to accept Jesus Christ into your life right now.

By that I mean if you would like your sins are forgiven and have the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die. Would you pray this prayer with me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead. I'm sorry for my sin, Lord, and I turn from it now and I put my faith in you to be my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend. Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer in minutes. I want you to know on the authority of God's word that Jesus Christ has just come to take residence in your heart. The Bible says these things we write to the believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life lesson we want to send you some resources that will help you grow spiritually.

So here's David some details and let me say God bless you and welcome to the family of God as pastor Greg said we have some resources would like to send your way to help you as you begin to live the Christian life. We call this resource collection are new believers growth packet and will send it to you free of charge. Just write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or you can call us at 1-800-821-3300 where here to take your call around the clock again at 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org click the two words know God. Next time, Pastor Greg brings good insight on adopting the biblical worldview on fear and worry will tune in next time you're on a new beginning. Greg Laurie possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email devotions and harvest.org