Welcome to “Learning and Living the God-centered life”

Carmel Baptist Church

www.learningandlivingtheword.com

January 18, 2009

When class ended last Sunday here was the last statement from the power point study notes.

The validation of your salvation or the validation you are on the road that leads to life (entering narrow gate and on narrow way) and building a house that will always stand depends on your obedience to the word of God!

Matt. 7:28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

Matt. 7:29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

amazed (ekplesso) to be struck with astonishment (Thayer) or to strike with astonishment (Strong’s)

This word is used 13 times in the NT

12 times in the gospels

1 time in Acts 13:12

But each time the word is used it is in the context of the teaching of Jesus

Question - is this our response when we come away from our learning the word of God?

In teaching over the years I have watched people respond with:

Rebellion

Complacency

Anger

Defensiveness

Incredulousness

When you read this section of Scripture regarding a road that leads to destruction and a road that leads to life, how does it impact you?

Does it strike us with astonishment or amazement?

And if it doesn’t then why not?

The validation of one’s salvation is dependent upon their obedience to the word of God.

Matthew 7:24-25"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

James 1:19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

James 1:20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

James 1:24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

The word for doers (4163) is the Greek word poietes. This is from the Greek word poieo (4160).

This is the same word we find in Matthew 7:24:

Matt. 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Delude is the Greek word paralogizomai which means to miscalculate or falsely reason.

Thayers - a. to reckon wrong, miscount: Demosthenes, p. 822, 25; 1037, 15. b. to cheat by false reckoning (Aeschines, Aristotle); to deceive by false reasoning; hence, c. universally, to deceive, delude, circumvent: tina, Col. 2:4; James

Strongs - misreckon, i.e. delude: beguile, deceive.

Isn’t this the very problem with those in Matthew 7:21-23 who are self-deceived into thinking they are qualified to enter when in fact they are not.

What is the self-deception or delusion? Religion or Legalism - the person for whom the Christian life is trusting in all that they do. I go to church, I read my Bible, I give to the church and I pray on a regular basis. It is the act of doing in order to merit God’s approval.

Illustration - the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15The prodigal is lost in his badness but the elder brother is lost in his goodness

The delusion comes from a twisting or distorting the word of God.

Therefore what we learn incorrectly we live incorrectly.

The validation of one’s salvation is dependent upon their obedience to the word of God.

Salvation and it’s three aspects:

Justification (something that happened) - you were justified (Romans 5:1)

Sanctification (something that is happening) - you are being sanctified (1 Cor. 1:2)

Glorification (something that will happen)- one day you will be glorified (Romans 8:18, 1 John 3:2)

JU

ST

A

IC

FI

TION

1

2 God’s glory

SA

NC

TI

F IC

AT

IO

N

3

1 to 2 = man’s standing with God (righteousness imputed)

1 to 3 = man’s state on earth before others (righteousness imparted)

Our status - God’s righteousness

Time line

Our state - becoming what we are

Justification refers to my status (righteousness)

Sanctification to my state (becoming what I already am)

Justification is about God's attitude toward me changing

Sanctification is about God changing me

Justification is about how God looks on me

Sanctification is about what He does in me

Justification is about Christ dying for my sins on the cross;

Sanctification is about Christ at work in me by the Holy Spirit transforming my life

Justification

Legal Standing

Instantaneous

Entirely God's work

Perfect in this life

Same in all Christians

Happens from outside

Sanctification

Internal Condition

Progressive throughout life

We cooperate

Not perfect in this life

Greater in some than others

Happens from inside

So how does a person hear and become obedient to God’s word?

Mark 1:15 - The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Do you know is amazing to me, according to the authoritative word of God, when Jesus invited men to receive the gospel

He demanded that they REPENT AND BELIEVE.

When the Lord Jesus Christ preaches the gospel He doesn’t invite but rather He commands!

Let re-read the passage in a “seeker-friendly” context (WARNING)

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; let me invite you to prayer this prayer and make a decision for Me.

Turn to Acts 2:29-40

The Greek word for repent (verb form) is 3340. metanoeo; from 3326 and 3539; to change one’smind or purpose: repent(26), repented(5), repents(3).

This word occurs in the New Testament 34 times but only once in the epistles and that is in 2 Corinthians 12:21

Strong’s definition - to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction): repent

Thayer’s definition - to change one’smind, i.e. to repent (to feel sorry that one has done this or that, Jonah 3:9), of having offended someone, of (on account of) something 2 Cor. 12:21; used especially of those who, conscious of their sins and with manifest tokens of sorrow, are intent; on obtaining God’s pardon; to repent clothed in sackcloth and besprinkled with ashes, Matt. 11:21; Luke 10:13. to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

The Greek word for repentance (noun form) is 3341. 3341. metanoia; from 3340; change of mind, repentance: repentance(22).

This word occurs 22 times in the New Testament

Layman’s Definition for Repentance:True repentance is a change of direction. It involves turning away from sin and toward God---replacing sinful actions with righteous ones. Genuine repentance springs from heartfelt sorrow over sin because it is against God and then leads to real change in the way a person thinks and lives.

Litmus Test Question

When someone comes and says I now have a new relationship with the Lord, here is an important follow up question.

Do you have a new relationship with sin?

Sometimes we see faith named as the only thing necessary for salvation such as:

John 3:16

Acts 16:31

Romans 10:9

Ephesians 2:8-9

Other times you will see repentance named alone such as:

Luke 24:47

Acts 3:19, 5:31, 17:30

2 Corinthians 7:10

Sometimes both are named, such as:

Acts 20:21

Therefore genuine faith always involves repentance and vice versa.

Repentance as we have seen by the definition includes a change of mind that ends up trusting God.

Types of faith that don’t bring about salvation

demonic faith - James 2:19

faith without works - James 2:14, 17

faith that is vain - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2