MACON TRANSITIONAL CENTER - July 20, 2014
Wayne, Julia and I went to Macon TC for Sunday morning service. We had a great service with the 10 men who attended. The praise and worship was really good but then Stephen, one of the residents, sang a special. I asked him if he would take over the praise and worship when he is ready and he happily agreed.
Wayne brought the message on Salvation. He told them that so many different ideas are out there on salvation which makes this a difficult subject but we must know the truth. Martin Luther reached a truth about grace. Today the "grace message" in some realms has gone as far as to say you are "saved by grace" and that's all you need - you don't sin anymore so you can live how you want and you are "covered." Wayne said, "my goal for you is that when you stand before God you will not have excuses."
Wayne brought the message on Salvation. He told them that so many different ideas are out there on salvation which makes this a difficult subject but we must know the truth. Martin Luther reached a truth about grace. Today the "grace message" in some realms has gone as far as to say you are "saved by grace" and that's all you need - you don't sin anymore so you can live how you want and you are "covered." Wayne said, "my goal for you is that when you stand before God you will not have excuses."
Wayne, Julia and I went to Macon TC for Sunday morning service. We had a great service with the 10 men who attended. The praise and worship was really good but then Stephen, one of the residents, sang a special. I asked him if he would take over the praise and worship when he is ready and he happily agreed.
Wayne brought the message on Salvation. He told them that so many different ideas are out there on salvation which makes this a difficult subject but we must know the truth. Martin Luther reached a truth about grace. Today the "grace message" in some realms has gone as far as to say you are "saved by grace" and that's all you need - you don't sin anymore so you can live how you want and you are "covered." Wayne said, "my goal for you is that when you stand before God you will not have excuses."
It's easy to say that salvation is a relationship with God but what does that relationship look like? Wayne used his and Julia's relationship as an illustration. He can easily describe his relationship with his wife, but how do you describe a relationship with Someone you cannot see, feel, hear, etc.?
What was the purpose of Christ's death on the cross?
Isa 59:2 says we are separated from God by our sin.
2 Cor 5:18 says many times that we are reconciled
Salvation -
Romans 10:9 - we talk, read and write in past, present and future
If you confess (present) and believe (present), you will (future) be saved
When does salvation come?
Matt. 10:22, Matt 24:13 and Mark 13:13 (words of Christ) - those who endure to the end shall be saved
Heb 3:6 - those who hold firm to the end will be saved
Heb 3:14 - made partakers with Christ if hold fast to end
Rev 2:10 - be faithful to death
1 Pet 1:3-5 - end time
1 Pet 1:30 - end time
Paul said, I ran the race, I fought the fight
Obviously we have to believe in Christ (John 3:16). What does that mean?
Matt 7 says many will believe and confess, but not make it.
John 3:36 - if you don't obey Christ you are not saved
Repentance and Born Again - work hand in hand
Luke 13 - unless you repent
John 3:3 - born again
What is born again? We don't look like the world or live like the world but live according to the Scriptures.
1 Pet 1:22-23 - Peter says we need to purify our souls through obeying and to love one another with a pure heart
John 2:29 - practice righteousness
active verb - what YOU do
passive verb - what someone does to you
We have to make a choice to practice (active) righteousness
People in the world cannot see Christ without His mirrors (the believers).
I John 3:4-9 - whoever commits sin commits lawlessness
We often think of Christ coming to take away our sin. If we believe Christ will take away our desire for drugs, alcohol, etc., we will probably fall. He does take away things at times, but not always. We have a choice. Wayne used the illustration of his alcohol addiction and his love for Julia that gave him the desire to quite. It wouldn't have meant as much to her if she could have just taken it away from him. Christ can take it away, but if we really love Him, we should have the desire to work at giving up the addiction because of our love for Him.
1 John 5:18 - when you are born of God, you do not sin - keep yourself.
Will we still sin? Yes, but we strive not to. If we are aware of a sin we do, we need to stop.
I John 4:7 - love others unconditionally even those who despise you and persecute you
What is repentance?
Some say it means to turn your path around - do a 180. Some say it means to change your mind. However, you can say I am not going to do something and then do it a week later, so you really didn't change your mind. We need to totally change our path or way.
Romans 7:7 - Paul asks if the law is sin. Certainly not, I would have not known sin without the law.
There are many types of law which makes it confusing. In this case Paul is talking about the Ten Commandments.
Romans 6:15-19 - what does it mean not to be under the law?
Law and Love
As parents we have laws (rules) for our children. If our children never obey us or want to be with us, do they really love us? Christ aid, if you love me, keep my commandments.
A lot of people today say that the Ten Commandments are not anymore - Christ gave us two new commandments to follow. This is not true. These "new" commandments are in the Old Testament in Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18.
Christ also said he who does not love me does not keep my commandments. A commandment is a divine rule.
John 3:4 - sin is lawlessness
Matt. 7:22-23 - those who break God's laws do not belong to Him
Heb 10:26-29 - if we sin willfully after knowing the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin. This says worse judgment if we continue in sin.
Rev. 22:14 - blessed are those who do His commandment - will enter in
Christ is our groom. Modern day relationship with God: Say good morning, eat breakfast, go off to work, come home, get on computer, watch TV, maybe hang out with friends, go to bed and say good night. We go on like this day after day, but that's okay because I have two hours for you on Sunday. That is not a relationship.
We need to have true repentance and a true relationship with our Father and quit "playing church."
We ran out of time. Everyone in the room said they were saved, so we took prayer requests and Wayne closed in prayer.
Wayne brought the message on Salvation. He told them that so many different ideas are out there on salvation which makes this a difficult subject but we must know the truth. Martin Luther reached a truth about grace. Today the "grace message" in some realms has gone as far as to say you are "saved by grace" and that's all you need - you don't sin anymore so you can live how you want and you are "covered." Wayne said, "my goal for you is that when you stand before God you will not have excuses."
It's easy to say that salvation is a relationship with God but what does that relationship look like? Wayne used his and Julia's relationship as an illustration. He can easily describe his relationship with his wife, but how do you describe a relationship with Someone you cannot see, feel, hear, etc.?
What was the purpose of Christ's death on the cross?
Isa 59:2 says we are separated from God by our sin.
2 Cor 5:18 says many times that we are reconciled
Salvation -
Romans 10:9 - we talk, read and write in past, present and future
If you confess (present) and believe (present), you will (future) be saved
When does salvation come?
Matt. 10:22, Matt 24:13 and Mark 13:13 (words of Christ) - those who endure to the end shall be saved
Heb 3:6 - those who hold firm to the end will be saved
Heb 3:14 - made partakers with Christ if hold fast to end
Rev 2:10 - be faithful to death
1 Pet 1:3-5 - end time
1 Pet 1:30 - end time
Paul said, I ran the race, I fought the fight
Obviously we have to believe in Christ (John 3:16). What does that mean?
Matt 7 says many will believe and confess, but not make it.
John 3:36 - if you don't obey Christ you are not saved
Repentance and Born Again - work hand in hand
Luke 13 - unless you repent
John 3:3 - born again
What is born again? We don't look like the world or live like the world but live according to the Scriptures.
1 Pet 1:22-23 - Peter says we need to purify our souls through obeying and to love one another with a pure heart
John 2:29 - practice righteousness
active verb - what YOU do
passive verb - what someone does to you
We have to make a choice to practice (active) righteousness
People in the world cannot see Christ without His mirrors (the believers).
I John 3:4-9 - whoever commits sin commits lawlessness
We often think of Christ coming to take away our sin. If we believe Christ will take away our desire for drugs, alcohol, etc., we will probably fall. He does take away things at times, but not always. We have a choice. Wayne used the illustration of his alcohol addiction and his love for Julia that gave him the desire to quite. It wouldn't have meant as much to her if she could have just taken it away from him. Christ can take it away, but if we really love Him, we should have the desire to work at giving up the addiction because of our love for Him.
1 John 5:18 - when you are born of God, you do not sin - keep yourself.
Will we still sin? Yes, but we strive not to. If we are aware of a sin we do, we need to stop.
I John 4:7 - love others unconditionally even those who despise you and persecute you
What is repentance?
Some say it means to turn your path around - do a 180. Some say it means to change your mind. However, you can say I am not going to do something and then do it a week later, so you really didn't change your mind. We need to totally change our path or way.
Romans 7:7 - Paul asks if the law is sin. Certainly not, I would have not known sin without the law.
There are many types of law which makes it confusing. In this case Paul is talking about the Ten Commandments.
Romans 6:15-19 - what does it mean not to be under the law?
Law and Love
As parents we have laws (rules) for our children. If our children never obey us or want to be with us, do they really love us? Christ aid, if you love me, keep my commandments.
A lot of people today say that the Ten Commandments are not anymore - Christ gave us two new commandments to follow. This is not true. These "new" commandments are in the Old Testament in Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18.
Christ also said he who does not love me does not keep my commandments. A commandment is a divine rule.
John 3:4 - sin is lawlessness
Matt. 7:22-23 - those who break God's laws do not belong to Him
Heb 10:26-29 - if we sin willfully after knowing the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin. This says worse judgment if we continue in sin.
Rev. 22:14 - blessed are those who do His commandment - will enter in
Christ is our groom. Modern day relationship with God: Say good morning, eat breakfast, go off to work, come home, get on computer, watch TV, maybe hang out with friends, go to bed and say good night. We go on like this day after day, but that's okay because I have two hours for you on Sunday. That is not a relationship.
We need to have true repentance and a true relationship with our Father and quit "playing church."
We ran out of time. Everyone in the room said they were saved, so we took prayer requests and Wayne closed in prayer.