Sermon Central
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Seven Responsibilities Of The True Believer
Contributed by Jonathan Stockton on Jan 5, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: We are called to salvation and then called to service. We have a duty to live for Jesus and be His people.
Seven Responsibilities of the true Believer
20 But ye, beloved, (1)building up yourselves on your most holy faith, (2)praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 (3)Keep yourselves in the love of God, (4)looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And (5)of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And (6)others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; (7)hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
1. Building up yourselves on your most holy faith
Romans 1:16,17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- We have peace with God through Jesus. Without his blood seal, we have no chance of surviving God’s judgment. (Filthy rags?)
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
– Because without this peace, we are as an unclean thing.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
– The correct righteousness, through our most holy faith.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This passage of scripture has the whole plan all rolled up in one place. Beware of the false gospel, the true faith defined, salvation, once for all and spread the word.
2. Praying in the Holy Ghost
– The method.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
– Through the Holy Ghost our prayers are strengthened.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
– An earthly reward and who couldn’t use some of those?
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
– Not only should we have a personal relationship through prayer, but we should pray together to strengthen each other.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
3. Keep yourselves in the love of God
– As the apostle Paul would say, ‘God forbid’!
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
