What is Salvation?

Harvest podcasts between Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org… Turner Bibles to Romans chapter 5 the title of my message is what is salvation, quick question.

How many of you are saved here today raise a very and you know your Savior tournament. Okay, good, very good. Now here's my follow-up question do you do why do we really fully understand all that salvation is read an article recently in USA Today about various people that it won the lottery, but never went in claim their prize. In other words, they bought the winning ticket, but somehow they weren't paying attention or whatever and they did not get that in Norma's prize that was theirs for the taking of one individual one $46 million. He beat the odds 76,275,360 to 1 to win this incredible jackpot, but he missed the deadline and the prize went unclaimed and apparently according to this article is happened quite often. A few years ago in California, a $25 million prize went unclaimed by the way, this is not an endorsement of the lottery back. Frankly, I can't think above better way to waste your money than the buy lottery tickets okay but there's a unilateral ball that went got. Here's my point, though. This in Norma's prize worth millions of dollars. You have the winning ticket and you did not go in claim what was rightfully yours got a surprise waiting for you. That's of greater value than millions and millions of dollars.

It's called salvation is called salvation and for some it's unclaimed for others it's unused for many of us unappreciated and perhaps somewhat unknown to we really grasp. Do we really understand all that salvation is what God is given to us when we put our faith in Christ. As you know recently.

We did a series on the last days and it seems as though people can't get enough teaching on this particular topic. I will use terms like Armageddon and the millennium of the second coming of the rapture and the antichrist, and so forth. All we just want to know everything we can know about those things and that's fantastic, but there are other terms we know very little about the quite frankly have a greater impact on our life. Words that will we care that we think all I don't know if I really want to know that much about it.

Words like regeneration, salvation, justification, adoption, those are big words in the Bible and every one of those words I just mentioned are a part of what happens when a mineral went woman puts her faith in Jesus Christ… Talk about this incredible gift God is given to each about that we call salvation. First of all, what is it, how do you get it. And once you get it.

Can you lose it. The very word salvation says it all away. People use the word you know you probably been approached by someone came up to you with a wild eyed look in their face and they say our use, i.e. they always have to say, where do such as are your favorite friend are you sigh, he brought now as you know what's wrong with you.

Nothing form upon the and it seems a little overly dramatic doesn't say God say we have the use that term. I mean it's not like I was out frowning that see your or I was in a burning house and I had to be saved. I was a reasonably good person now. I put my faith in Jesus and no question I'm going to have a no no, wait a second saved is the perfect term to use because your faith was worse than being out at sea and was worse than being in a burning house. You literally were pulled out of the flames by Jesus Christ himself. When you were say. It's a big deal. A really big to listen to this salvation covers your past, your present and your future. First of all, when you are saved. In other words, when you put your faith in Jesus Christ that covers your past God forgives you of all of your sin and you need to know that when you put your faith in Jesus the devil going to be there to attack that in a whisper in your ear the same thing that he said to our first parents in the garden did God really say what you thought he said you remember, became the adamantly even challenge the word of God and of the same way after you put your faith in Christ will come you and say do you really believe God is forgiven a creep like you do you really believe that you're going to go to heaven when you die what you're not worthy.

You don't deserve it. You're not good enough, and so forth. And I'll address those issues and in a moment, but he'll challenge it and it is then that we base our salvation, not on our feelings in the moment, but on the fact of what the word of God says when you put your faith in Christ. The Bible is adamant in saying you are saved, it is your present possession.

You can know that you know personified tenses. 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. Jesus said in John Jesus said in John 524 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in him whom God is said, has eternal life doesn't say will hope they have. Or maybe we'll get some date. He says if you believe in me you have eternal life, and one of the most often quoted assurance versus first John five these things we write to the believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Salvation covers your past you are say number two. Salvation covers your present not only of God saved you would listen to this God is saving you saving me from what saving me from using the power and control of sin. Second Corinthians 110 says that God delivered us from so great is that it does deliver us, in whom we trust and will still deliver us. Yes, God has saved me. God is saving me every single day.

And yes, he will save me in the future as well. From what from future judgment. Romans 59 says since we've been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will save us from God's judgment for since we were restored to printer with God by the death of his son. What were still his enemies. We will certainly be saved from eternal punishment by his life. God is save me God is saving me and God will get save me in the future, but what does it mean to be saying one is that incompetence what is out include. Let's unpack. Let's wrap this thing and open it up and lay all of the pieces out before us and see what salvation actually is. Let's look know it. Romans five verses one and two. Paul writes, therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through the we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in the global hope of the glory of God. Paul tells us that we are justified up before I get to that very important word limit contrasted with another word we need to know about called regeneration okay when you believe in Jesus you are written generated to be saved is to experience regeneration that we as interchangeable terms like born-again believe in saying regenerated. So when you put your faith in Christ. God is regenerated you you pass from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God from hell to heaven.

Now contrast that with those words that were going to talk about identified here in Romans five the word justification regeneration has to do with what takes place in the believer's heart. Listen.

Justification concerns are standing before God. Regeneration is God's answer to the problem of spiritual death.

Justification is the answer to the problem of kilts. We don't want to rush over this.

We wanted to get in the word justify that are group just saying about carries a twofold meaning. First of all to be justified means that you are forgiven of all of your sin when you put your faith in Jesus Christ. All evidence of sin and guilt is completely wiped out. So don't rush over that. Think about it for a moment, let it sink in.

When you believe in Jesus you are forgiven. Let me ask you a question. How many of you have ever done something you're ashamed yeah me too.

I've done things I wish I've not done I said things I wish I had not said things I wish I could take bad, but I can't is a will, that's the end of that. No, actually it is because when a person is justified.

God forgives this thing. He wipes this thing out. Acts 1338 says brothers listen and this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins and everyone who trusts in him is free from all guilt and is declared righteous or is justified something the law could never do. Speaking of our sins.

God says in Hebrews 1017.

I will never again remember your sins and your lawless fee over in Jeremiah 5020.

It says in those days the look I am over the side of Israel's guilt and will find nothing but search nook and cranny for a trace of Judah sin again.

They will find nothing. Those people that I've disabled start out with a clean slate. I love that when you like a clean slate. Wouldn't you like a fresh start. That's what happens when you believe in Jesus were told over and Micah 718 to 19. Where is there another God like you who part the sins of the survivors among his people. He does not stay angry with his people forever. He takes our sins and throw them into the depths of the ocean we have any scuba divers out there return is okay a couple any snorkelers out there. People that use the bathtub. The rigid I scuba dive every now and then and I member years ago I was over in Hawaii a diving with some friends and we went down that deep were probably about maybe 15 feet under the surface and you know you're going to cruise along there you can see the ground below you and and it was getting deeper and deeper. In other words, the ground was getting further and further down in. We stayed at our same death and then we came to this one point where there was this massive cliff that just dropped off and you couldn't see any. And I kinda just went out a few feet of disorder looking at nothingness and it freaked me out and I turned back one back to the you know I just I started thinking of the story of Jonah and the whale therein.

Then I thought of the job movies and then I started hearing didn't didn't didn't didn't didn't didn't. I just cannot freak me out a little bit. I couldn't see the bottom. Now it didn't change my situation but it was so deep now God is taking your sins and a cousin to the depths of the sea are gone there forgiven and listen to this are not just forgiven their forgot their forgot. Now that doesn't mean that God is a lapse in memory all I can remember know he technically knows what he is shows to not remember you. A lot of times when you're married you say you forgive but you don't forget now. Do you as you bring up things that were said 20 years ago will remember what you said this to me was that like 20 years ago.

Yes it was and it was like yesterday I thought you forgive me.

I did but I don't forget.

Let's not rule forgiveness now is it we should not choose to remember what God has chosen to forget what we dredge up old sins. Why do we have to keep reliving those things again can you not accept the fact that when you have salvation in Christ. You are justified, which means that God is taking your sin and he is forgiven and forgotten as Corrie 10 boom used to say God is taking your sins. He has thrown them into the sea of forgetfulness, and he has posted a sign that says no fishing allowed. Let it go put it behind you.

As Paul said, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to the things that are before my computer keyboard. I have a key and has the word delete on your Vicki as well. Right.

Maybe you're working on a document and you write some things that I don't want to use this and so you highlight it and you hit the delete key.

No more than that text go. I have no idea. I don't really even care you probably go to the same place at all those socks go.

What is it you only lose one saw, even though the set and you know I don't know about you but I always keep the other saw Tomei drive single saw is just waiting for the return of its me know. One day the prodigal sock will come back the other day I was walking down the street I saw sock lying in the gutter that that's where they go. There is the prodigal sock right there lay in their anyway so I don't know where these things go, but I'm just glad they're gone to God forgives and God forgets no that's only part of justification that denotes the negative part of who God is taken away. But listen. Justification is a positive sign, as well positive side as well, which includes what God is done and given to us a technical definition of the word justified is to put one's account to put the one's account.

Listen when God justifies a person does so by placing to his or her credit, the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This balances the moral and spiritual budget for us.

If you will love you 39 since we been found in him, not having our own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. Now that is not a gradual process. It doesn't take place over a period of time. It's instantaneous. God removes your sin and then he puts the righteousness of Christ in your account… Illustrated. Let's say that you somehow got yourself in debt for $10 million and you were going go to prison for it is a matter of fact, and there was an article in the paper with your photo there saying that you are in debt for all of this money and and you will get a B sentence that day, and let's just say you are in the courtroom and Bill Gates shows up.

I don't know Bill Gates is still the richest man in the world. I know we is one of the richest and so he heard about your plight catering to deal with the judge were he would pay all that you owed plus interest. And so, with one stipulation, he said you had to use a PC computer the rest of your life you get rid of your Mac and those are two great and I messing up my own illustration oculus Lavaca so Bill Gates pardoned you for $10 million you think say thank you Mr. Gates I appreciate that.

And then as you're leaving the car… Oh by the way, check your balance of the bank. Why would I do that already know what it is. Check it again so you're on the way home go by the ATM machine you punch in your code and you have 20 million bucks in the bank.

That's justification. God removed all of your sending forgiven and then he put the righteousness of Christ into your account for the future that support a lot of people don't always know about the wonderful amazing thing that God is done for each of us. How is this done is done through my good works that outweigh my bad works hardly this is done through the sufficient death of Jesus Christ on the cross when he met the right just the man of God were told over and second Corinthians 521, he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. John MacArthur defined justification as follows on the cross. God treated Christ as if he had personally committed all the sins of every sinner would ever believe, so that he could treat believers if that is if they had lived Christ's perfect life, repeat that again.

Listen on the cross.

God treated Christ as if he had personally committed all the sins of every sinner who would ever believe, so that he could treat believers as if they had lived Christ's perfect life. See that's how God sees me now in Christ not be in my good word for me in my accomplishments know he sees me in Christ with his righteousness in my spiritual bank account. Let me illustrate it again. I heard the story about about wealthy, successful, well-dressed lawyer walking on the street. There was a homeless guy begging as a lawyer walked by. He stopped for second term rents. Excuse me.

You look familiar to me. We know each other guy said yeah Steve English third.

Remember I do remember you, Steve. Wow could see that Stephen fallen on hard times. So the attorney pulled out his checkbook wrote a check for $500. He said listen, the watch they have this you don't have to explain to me how you got the pleasure out right now I want to give your fresh start.

Let the past be in the past. I hope this helps and the Lord leaves and steeped in tears filled his eyes was such a generous gift and the next day, the attorneys walking on that same street in their Steve still begging as a way what happened. Steve did you drink the money up the jet way went up in the Steve said will actually I never cashed the check lawyer said why not.

He said what I went out of that bank and here I am in these tattered clothes and an you know, obviously I don't have any money and and I look at all those well-dressed people in there and I thought that they would take one look at me and think that I for just check and it never give me the money, maybe even call the police on me. I just didn't think it would work so I never cashed a check that you gave to me and the attorney said Steve lesson. What makes said check good is not your clothes are your appearance would make such a good is my signature that you go in cash it in the same way the devil comes to you and says we are not worthy to go to God you're not good that's not what gives me access to God. It's based on the signature of Jesus Christ written in blood over my life.

When he gave me salvation. Which means that I can go to God any time. This is what God has done for each of us and when I think about the fact that God has forgiven me and I think about the fact that he is twice the righteousness of Christ in my spiritual bank account.

It causes me to have peace with God. Go back to Romans five again.

Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Also we have access by faith into this grace in which we are saved and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God to I don't have to live in constant fear of what God thinks about me. I don't have to do things to earn his approval.

I don't have to worry about were under the spending eternity.

This is all covered in Christ, and that gives me peace and inner peace that says no matter what happens the big things are covered so I don't have to sweat the small stuff. Oh sure, we all have our trials in our tribulations and our heartaches but we also know that we are saved and say in the Lord's protective care and we know that the Lord can take these odds and ends of life, and would seem to be mistakes or tragedies and bad things Eddie can bring glory to his name through them for you as promised in Romans 828 that he can cause all things to work together for good to those that love him. Another called according to his purpose. So I have salvation you have justification we all have keys. Let's look at what else God is given to us. Go back to Romans 51 and two again, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith. I want to underline those three words access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Listen peace with God takes care of our past. He will no longer hold our sins against us, but access to God takes care of our future, we can come to him any time for the help that we need in the hope of the glory of God takes care of the future. Knowing unjustified and I have free access into his presence so much that God is done for me and if that was it. It would be plenty. But as they say in those commercials on TV but wait there's more.

There's a lot more. Not only is God justified me. Not only is God forgiven me. God has adopted me into his family is adopted me regeneration has to do with the change in nature. Justification has to do with a change in standing adoption has to do with the change in position a change in position when I'm adopted into God's family. I become his child as though I work born into that family. In fact, the word adoption used in Scripture means the placing of a son or a daughter. Ephesians 15. This is unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family and bring us to himself through Christ because this gave him great pleasure. Galatians 44 says when the time was just right, God sent forth his son, born of a woman to redeem those under under the law, that we might receive the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry slavery was, the biblical times got out of the slave market and purchased a man or a woman to work for you, so here's a picture that is using the word redeem because that word there redeem in the Galatians 4 port means to buyout of a slave market to. Here's what it looks like Jesus Christ went down to the slave market there you were up on the auction block. He paid the price for you and then he took you and Margie straight down the court room and adopted you as a son. So not only did he forgive you and partly was a slave and take you out of the bondage or rent.

But then he placed you in this home is his own son or his own daughter.

That's amazing.

I can stand in awe of God would have the power and the desire to do something like that for me, but by adopting me God is basically saying don't just stand in all of me. Come close to me to buy adopted me say I want relationship with you again coming back to Galatians 4 we been bought out of the slave market and we receive the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father, you don't necessarily know that means very tender intimate friends. When Jesus was in Gethsemane and he was sweating as it were great drops of blood. According to Dr. Lou as he contemplated the hoarders wars of Calvary. Jesus the son of the father said, Abba, father, it's tenderness, it's closeness, it's intimacy and here's what the Bible is saying. Not only can Jesus say that to the father.

You can mail to remember after he was resurrected. He said to Mary.

I now go to my God and your God, to my father and your father. It was unthinkable to a Jew living in this time to address God Almighty. As father. This is what happens of the new covenant, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I got into this relationship with God or he is adopted me into his family and I can cry, Abba, father, I don't know what kind of father you had on her. I never really had a debt for the most part growing up. As I told you before my own story. My mom was married and divorced seven times at least lease that we know of a lot of guys in between there and you know I got to a point where I got tired of calling strange men. Dad and my moment to call him daddy and I think after the second one.

I said nothing to do that anymore because the men that were my life either mistreated me or they indulged me or they ignored me.

But there was only one man in my life growing up that ever treated me as a father ought to treat his son and his name is Oscar Lori and as a matter of fact he adopted me and hence my name so because of that, even though it is not my biological father I think of him as my father to this day, and he's now in heaven along with my mom and along with my son but I'm glad he adopted me, but it's even greater to know that I can adopted by my father in heaven and he's adopted you as well is adopted, all of us. Three important things you need to know about being adopted by God number one you were adopted by God in you: father, you need to know that God understands you he understands you some 103 13 says is a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear, for he knows how we are formed remembers we are dust.

Parents know their children don't think and we look at our kids and we know what's up. We know and they're doing well. We know when they're not doing so well.

We know when they've done something wrong. They get this look on their face.

We know these things we understand and we care even when our children have failed to care for them, we hurt for them. Their pain becomes our pain if they're hurting were hurting. We want the best for them. We look out for their welfare. We think about them.

We pray for them, we lose sleep over them.

Don't wait so we have compassion on our children how much more our father has compassion on us because we been adopted number two because you been adopted by God he will take care of you.

He will take care of you. Jesus in Matthew 632, said the pagans run after all the things that this world offers but your father knows you need them.

Jesus was talking about nonbelievers only think about what they're going to eat what they're going to drink of what the going aware it's not funny. It's 2000 years later and that still all nonbelievers think about. He says you know what your father knows you have need of those things that you need to focus on. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things virtually drink and where will be added to you.

Listen, God will take care of you. Your is child number three God loves to bless you, your father loves to bless you. Matthew 711 Jesus says if you then were evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. Then Jesus said in Luke 1232 dear not, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give to you the kingdom. Listen your father is not stingy at or about your earthly father, but your heavenly father is generous, your heavenly father loves to lavish things on you, your heavenly father loves to bless you.

Dislike maybe you like to bless your own kids, you know, I recently entered into the mysterious pink aisles in the toy stores had never tried those aisles before nothing there much interested me because they were all for girls and I was a little mystified by all these dolls and pink things you know because I two boys and buying gifts for them is very easy because I still like toys. I would just go play with things and this is cool I get a form and they generally like what I like sports says a lot about me that is in it, but shopping for girls different girls like different day for impotency basing to really be in the been little princesses now dull day. I didn't know that before little outfits and dresses in and you know the scepters and crowns in they want to rule us, even when their little you see it is a foretaste of things to come. But you know as I begin to examine this world and learn more about it with my granddaughters.

I kinda like that to him having fun with that. You know, and I'm there with my granddaughter Stella were doing little outfit changes in the little castles and princes things and all that. Every now and then I'll not sit down like a boy but that will put it back up and you know how it is put. Listen, it's my joy.

It's like the light think of anything I can restrain myself doesn't want to spoil, but the Lord loves the bless us. This is the great thing we are justified. We are forgiven we are adopted. It's all been given to us by God. So what am I supposed to do with all of this this great thing called salvation. Should I just put it up on the shelf and look at it and admire it.

People come over. He took took this out this is salvation is is not cool. Look at it from the single look at it from that angle business on amazing how we can do that we need to explore it. We need to understand it. We need to appreciate it, then you know what we need to work it out. We need to work out our salvation. I didn't say work for your salvation. It's a gift from God to you, but you need to work it out in your life because were told over in the book of Philippians chapter 2 verse 12 the 13 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you both to will and to his good pleasure. Work out your own salvation. You know you have to work it out for yourself. Someone else can work it out for you like that one guy that always was boring and he just was a worrywart and one day his friend Solomon notice he didn't seem to be worried about anything at all is that you know you don't seem to be all stressed-out like you normally are sublime.

Not since advice is why worry anymore if you don't worry anymore. I just stop worrying says I actually took it out on the paper and hired someone a worry for what you not on the paper you I did one of the ads they wanted someone to worry for me I will pay you $10,000 a week to $10,000 a week you make that kind of money to pay this guy that's for him to worry about. He can get someone else to worry for you and you can't get someone else to work out for you to be nice I need to get a better shape. Listen, I want to go run 20 laps right now and go to some crunches and other stuff that hurts. Tell me how he's going to get in shape, but you're not going to. You have to do your own working out.

That's why these things you see advertising TVL you hook it up later just teach you bad don't do anything I doesn't work that way. You need to work it out and so work out your own salvation.

What is that me a better translation of the phrase would be carried to the goal and fully complete in the phrase of Paul use their the original contact spoke up working on my mind.

Sort of like you're going into the mine your scene with their you're discovering that you're bringing it out in the same way were discovering all that God has for us and were letting it affect our life and listen if you are say it will affect you in the way that you live in. We look at other people and we say will are they stable. I don't know if they're saved or not. And someone will get angry. Take Judge not lest you be judged. I get so tired of nonbelievers quoting members is that the only verse non-Christians know Judge not lest you be judged. Usually say that when we say something to them like will you know you really shouldn't be doing or truck drivers to be judged.

Say judgment which Abijah yeah as the Bible says will charge almost every job will actually I am going to judge you, and you're going to judge me no great judgment was you know all but understand the Bible says judgment begins in the house of God. The Scripture says, are you not worthy to judge even the smallest matters. Of course we make judgments. Of course we make of valuations. The Bible tells us to do these things when Jesus says judge not lest you be judged to be better translated, condemned, not lest you be condemned. I am not in a position to condemn a person and by that I mean I am not in the places.

Eight. That person is going to hell. I can see their heart. I don't know what the final result of their life is going to be so. I leave that in the hands of God is not for me to make the final judgment, but I can make an evaluation. I can make a temporary judgment. Let's say it a different way instead of judging which is still valid.

Let's just say were all called to be fruit inspectors okay because Jesus said by your fruits will you be know the only way if I can tell if you're a Christian is not by what you say it's by how you live. Jane says you show me your faith by your words works.

Don't save a man but they're a good evidence that he or she is saying if I don't see any results in your life fruit in your life was a change in your life. I have to wonder if your say so instead of worrying about if other people are say but just think about ourselves and do a little personal fruit inspection here from first John enclosing our six quick litmus test to apply in our life asking ourselves the question, am I bringing forth the fruit of salvation or the evidence that I really encountered Christ number one your Christian you should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. First John 415 if anyone confesses that Jesus is the son of God.

God lives in him and he and God should confess that Christ is Lord, to be done that is a will people know I'm a Christian by the way that I live.

I try to be moral. I try to be compassionate.

I try to be caring of those things are not there needs to be a moment when you sit. I believe in Jesus Christ. I confess him as my Savior and Lord.

That's one of the reasons we call people forward publicly in many of our meetings. We don't believe that walking down, and I'll make some a Christian, but we believe that a bill confess Christ before men, he will confess them before the father. And this is a way to openly profess their faith is genuine. Did you confess Jesus is Lord number two. Do you will obey the commands of Christ do you obey the commands of Christ. First John 53 says this is love for God, to obey his commands and his commands are not burdensome to this is a problem for some they say they're a Christian but they disregard what the Bible says they say they're a Christian but they don't obey God's commands. Jesus said in John 15 you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you didn't say you're my friend to be due whatsoever you're comfortable with her.

You're my friends if you do whatsoever you personally agree with you, my friends, if you do whatsoever you find easy. No my friends if you do whatsoever I command you, and that brings us to point number three.

If you really are Christian, you will love and obey the word of God because first John 25 says if anyone obeys his word. God's love is completed. Him that's all we know we are in him, get obey the word of I don't read the word suffers after read God's word to know what his commandments are and then I can live accordingly. That's why Bible memorization is so important.

Remember, the psalmist said by word of I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Someone 1911 when you hide the word of God in your heart when you committed to memory. It's there to draw upon in times of temptation and trial. I think of Bible verses that I memorized as a teenager and I still remember today that is 10 years ago serious again 57 I memorized Bible verses 40 years ago as a 17-year-old kid that I still remember today, I still draw upon the day. What a great thing for all of us, especially you, that are young with such active minds to fill with the word of God in these Scriptures will be there for your lifetime. Number four.

If you're really a Christian, you will be unhappy or miserable when you are sending you will be unhappy or miserable when you're sitting first on 39 says everyone who is been born of God does not continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him is not able to habitually sin because he's been born of God, the Bible does not teach it.

If you are a Christian you will be sinless, but it does teach if you're a real follower of Jesus, you will sin less and less and less with the passing of time to wrongness in the Bible even says that we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

But we shouldn't use that as an excuse for godless behavior. The fact of the matter is this a true believer should be unhappy when they're sending. If you can go and do something. God is told you not to do without any discomfort without any conviction in your heart. I suggest you may not be a child of God. At the very least your very disobedient child of God that is going in the wrong direction to talk about that in our next message we talk about backsliding because can we lose our salvation. Once we have it canopy loss.

If so, how and what is it mean to backslide and want you backslidden can you come back to Christ again is are important questions I've annoyed with the answers are the good questions. I have a few ideas talk about the next type but my point is you should be uncomfortable when you are living in sin.

And if you're comfortable there. Something is not right. Also, we are told that if we are really say we will keep ourselves from the devil key personnel from the double first John 518 whoever is born of God does not habitually sin and he that is been born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not know when John wrote that the child of God keeps himself. He wasn't suggesting that Christians keep themselves say because that is the work of the Holy Spirit who is sealed us.

The Scripture clearly teaches that it is God that keeps us first Peter 15 says work By the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last five or By God.

However, the Bible also teaches we should keep ourselves in the love of God, according to June. We don't keep ourselves say what we do keep ourselves safe is a difference God saves me God keeps me safe but I keep myself say see when Jesus said the Lord's prayer our father worked in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Then he went on to say deliver us from evil. Using pray Lord keep me from the evil one. Another way of saying that is Lord help me to have the good sense to stay away from situations where I know I can fall.

Help me to be careful.

Lord, there's your part you're keeping me but help me to keep myself as close to you as I possibly can. Coming back to that phrase we read in Philippians work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Another way to translate the carrier to the goal and fully complete the goes on the say for it is God that works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure listeners God's part and there's Greg's part. There's God's part and there's your part. God does this saving but you need to stay as close to you him as you possibly can in number six and lastly, if you really say you will love other Christian you love other Christians. First John 51.

Everyone who believes that Jesus Christ Jesus is the Christ is born of God in everyone that loves the father loves his child as well.

Do you love Christians do love to be around Christians is he I find that relationships affect me and there's some people when I'm around them.

I just come closer to God.

But a conversation with a friend of mine the other day. Last night, and I frozen talk with them for 10 minutes. I felt like I was closer to God because this man represented Christ very well and what he said to me, and then there's other people what I'm around them. Well hello I put it just kind of a track to pull me away there might be a relationship with a person that when you're with that person and slowly are hostile to your beliefs, but there's something about what they say and what they do, that makes the world a little more attractive then make sure faith a little less important and begins to diminish your commitment spend most of your time with Christians not not saying you should isolate your self in the world and never of a conversation with anyone that does not know the Lord.

We want to influence people. We want to affect people we want to call others to Christ.

Forget we want to be careful to not be drug down either were told over and second Peter 222 run from anything that stimulates youthful lust.

Follow anything that makes you want to do what is right pursue faith and love and peace and enjoy the companionship of those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart lesson, to be straight with you. I know there are weird people in church. There are, let's be truth.

You know why because the church is a place it says to anyone you can believe become a part of the family of God. Know what I was in school I hung around cool people you know why because I thought I was cool to and I only wanted to be around people that I like that. I related to that were like me and then I became a Christian. All of a sudden here's all the strange people and I'm related to them now but just what they look at me and said I was a strange person they were related to one day at dawn.

The me I wasn't as cool as I thought I was and we all were those strange people that were welcomed in the God's family we need to love one another and know God will use people that are different than you to bring you closer to him and they will build you up and you will build them up and there's something wonderful. We gather together for fellowship and I'm amazed when I travel around go to what the report of the world. When I meet someone I've never met before, and we begin to talk about the things of the Lord there that immediate fellowship in connection that's like we've known each other for a whole life as a goalie.

The Lord could do this that special bond spend time with God's people. If your saved you want to do this you're looking for excuses to get out of fellowship. If you always have something you come away to go to church today that there was one drop of rain in LA I think. I'm not sure where it might not be good or all I can't today I have a little snow for all I can today.

I really I went last week, month was that I can remember not. You know you're making up excuses what's wrong with you should be looking for opportunities to go and be with God's people more, not less. Your saved you will do that same salvation. No one of the Bible calls it so great salvation. No one of the Bible asked the question how can we escape if we neglect so great salvation and the salvation God forgives me of all of my sin. He places the righteousness of Christ in the my account. He adopts me into his family give peace. He saved me he saving me he will yet save me. Why would anyone say no to that. And yet here it is offered to us as a gift and to reject it is so incredibly stupid. God says salvation. I bought it for you. I purchased it for you. I'll give it to you, will you take it what's holding you back from receiving the salvation well, you know, the forgiveness of all a bystander in the assurance that I go to heaven when I these are good things. No doubt, but in. I still cannot want to do this other thing it really is that other thing really so important is it really so fulfilling. Are you sure about that, would you stop and look at this for a moment say this is the ultimate deal of the century of all time being offered to me. How do you receive salvation will live a good life and if your good deeds outweighed your bad deeds work to get that son. The Bible is not true. You see, the only way you're going to be saved and forgiven is by taking multiple God is already done for you because Jesus died on the cross.

He paid the price for your sin he rose again from the dead, the stands at the door of your life, and he knocks and if you hear his voice and open the door. You can be saved, it can be yours now. Not a month from now. Not a year from now. Now you can leave here knowing your say I want to close by giving you that opportunity as we invite you to Christ in this closing moment of prayer. Let's pray father, thank you for the promise of salvation.

Thank you for all that it isn't all that it does all that you given to us who believe in you. Now help those Lord who do not have salvation yet to receive to receive it as a gift from you.

We pray, but I had to about riser closing were praying. How many of you would say today Greg I want salvation I want to be forgiven of my sin. I want to be justified before God. I want to be adopted into God's family. I want to go to heaven when I die, I am ready to say yes to Jesus and receive this gift of salvation you've been talking about. Pray for me that your desire. If you want Christ to come in the your line and you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to receive this gift today would you lift your hand up right now wherever you're sitting there, please join a prayer slipped her hand up wherever you are.

Pray for you today publish slipped her hand up her abuse, and God bless you up on the balcony.

Down here in the floor publish you one salvation today publish you during the middle you want to receive his forgiveness today lift her hand up a prayer for you publish anybody else there in the balcony publish you.

You whole bunch of you on the balcony. God bless you. I can see you outside of the amphitheater and I can see you up in the court but the Lord sees you. Would you just let your hand as well. Affect you want his gift today. Now you that a blood sugar can lead you in a prayer I want you to stand your feet right now you that just lift your hand saying that you wanted Christ to come in your life only to stand upright when you are don't be embarrassed to stand up, stand up, up in the balcony. Stand your feet, lead you in a prayer stand up, make your stand right now you're out in the court stand up there up in the eye and the amphitheater stand up now nominally doing this for anybody else stand up now.

Have you pray this prayer after me. Even if you didn't let your hand you want God salvation today stand up this final moment publish anybody else stand up now.

All right you that are standing on will lead you in this prayer, I would ask you to pray this prayer out loud after me. Pray this after me now Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you died on the cross and shed your blood for every sin I've ever committed. I churn from that sin. Now, save me Lord forgive me just a finding adopted me, receive me into your family. Thank you for this gift, the gift of salvation I receive it from you today. In Jesus name I pray, amen, she would just pray that