Bible Study Lessons

(1---25)

 Part 1The Incredible Good News of the Gospel 

Part 2

Experiencing the Power of the Gospel

 Part 3Biblical Doctrines in the Light of the Gospel 

Part 4―Last Day Events (Eschatology)

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Conclusion of the matter

 

So, if the Law was not done away with, and keeping the Law doesn't save you, then what is it for?

 

You know, being a christian, brings with it a great responsibility for the believer!  You have a responsibility as an ambassador for Christ to live in a different way than the world.

 

II  Cor 5  (v. 20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us....

 

Reflect for a moment....what it means for Jesus to make us His representatives.  If you were to select a person to represent you such that the authority of your name could be used for any purpose, what level of confidence would you need to place in that person?...I’ve thought about that many times, because it is like an ambassador being sent to a foreign country and using the authority vested in his sovereign’s name.[1]

 

And because we are commissioned to be ambassadors, of what country land?

 

Phil  3  (v. 20) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ....

 

And then, if ambassadors representing our home country land, how should we behave?

 

Titus 2  (v. 11) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (v. 12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (v. 13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

Then shouldn’t we be living like we belong to that heavenly government?  Now, in this present age??   Do you remember what Christ said about Himself, while He was on Earth?

 

John 12  (v. 32) And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

 

If Christ being lifted up back then, will draw all peoples to himself, then how can he draw all peoples to himself in our day, if they can’t see him today?

 

He has to use you and me, Christ in you, His ambassadors!

 

Gal  2  (v. 20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 

So that when people look at you and notice that you are living by a standard of christian living, they can come to you to find out about Jesus, and be saved.

 

John 15  (v. 4) Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (v. 5) “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

As we allow Christ to reproduce His character in us, by writing the Law on our hearts, then His character will be reflected through us, drawing people to Jesus.

 

Heb 8  (v. 10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

 

How are they going to know that you are different than the world?  You will be keeping the commandments of God, that’s how they will know!

 

Eph 2  (v. 10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

Good works obviously are not done by a genuine Christian to earn merit.  They are the spontaneous result of a heart full of love for God and man.  A love relationship with Jesus motivates His followers to behave in a manner that is pleasing to God.  In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made this clear: "Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."[2]

  

The world needs to see Christ in us;  the works are the fruit of salvation!!

 

Titus 3  (v. 8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

 

So, we are to be careful to maintain good works, (Why ?) because, they are profitable to men.  (not believers!!)

 

God’s commandment-keeping people are described by the prophet as “men wondered at.”  We are to be a people distinct from the world.  The eyes of the world are upon us, and we are observed by many of whom we have no knowledge.  There are those who know something of the doctrines we claim to believe, and they are noting the effect of our faith upon our characters.  They are waiting to see what kind of influence we exert, and how we carry ourselves before a faithless world.[3]

 

Genuine justification by faith always produces works;  these works don’t save you, but rather they are the evidence & proof that you are abiding in Christ.

 

John 14  (v. 12) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

 

A faith that is not sustained by works is worthless.  Says the apostle,…I will show thee my faith by my works.  That faith if cherished in our hearts will necessarily draw after it the good works which justify and endorse the faith of the believer.  Good works are indispensable as the fruit of faith, and are the sure evidence that we have passed from death unto life, because we love our believing brethren.[4]

 

And if we are not doing the works to be saved then what are they for?

 

Matt  5  (v. 14) You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (v. 15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (v. 16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

That's right, doing good works causes the people watching you, to glorify the God of heaven.  And who do you think that they will goto, to inquire about being saved?

 

As Jesus stood before the Father in love and reflected His character, so we are to stand before Jesus in perfect love and reflect His character, in order that the world might be attracted to Him through us....So Jesus has chosen us to be living demonstrations of His love.[5]

 

Keeping the commandments, is not about you trying hard to be saved; It's about your responsibility as a christian, to reflect Christ's character, so that He can use your witness, your living differently than the world, to draw people to Him.

 

Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out....Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down....Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost....Rid me of myself, I belong to You....Oh, lead me....Lead me to the cross....        video ref. [6]

 

References:

1. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.82, Booklet.

2. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion's Gates, p.111, Hart Research Center.

3. E.G. White, Selected Messages (book 2) p.386, par.1

4. E.G. White, Bible Training School (1 Jun 1915) "The Work of Faith" par.2

5. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.70, Booklet.

6. Hillsong. "Lead Me to the Cross" with Lyrics. Online video. YouTube, 26 Aug 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_24IdbJ0Tw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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