Work Out Your Salvation

How many of us just can’t wait to wake up strap on our boots and go to our jobs in the morning or come back home and have a list of work to do on the fridge?

Some people might enjoy working or have a job they really love but it is probably not a big percentage.

Most people cannot wait to retire so they can relax and do what they want to do.

There is a rare breed that works really hard and does above and beyond what they are expected but sadly most of us do the bare minimum to get by.

When we start a new job we usually work really hard for the first couple weeks or even months.

We learn everything we need to know, focus on what needs to be done and get to know our co-workers.

Once we have the job secured we kind of sit back put it on cruise control and do just enough to get by. Some of us end up doing absolutely nothing.

The Church can be the same way. Once we are baptized we are on fire and excited to tell others about our great discovery.

It feels like we found the greatest treasure on earth.

It is exciting to be a new Christian and we can’t wait to dive in and do all we can to help the church.

The bible has a lot of exciting things to learn and we want to convert everyone we know and come across.

But after a few years that pearl has lost it’s luster and we get frustrated, fall back into certain sins, get tempted by the world, and get lazy.

Some of us even quit and go back into the world.

Just like the parable of the soils we can be choked out by the things of this world.

Just like at school how many of us are content with being an average student.

One of my old preachers had said he was asked by people what is the least amount of work i have to do to make it to heaven.

Is that the attitude we want to have as a Christian we should be asking what is the most i can do for God.

We might even use the denominational excuse that we are not saved by works to be lazy and barely do anything.

Is it true that we are not saved by works? Can you be saved by sitting back and doing nothing and just accepting Jesus in your heart.

I think some of the denominational belief about works has crept into our church and caused some confusion.

I know it did with me i was actually doing this sermon on something completely different and i had so much information on works i changed my sermon to just that.

Let’s take a closer look at works and what role they play in our salvation and our Christian walk.

I think all of us know here know that we cannot work hard enough on our own merit to be forgiven of all the sins we commit.

It doesn’t matter how many hail Mary’s you say on the rosary or how many homeless you feed you cannot earn your way into heaven.

On the other end of the spectrum some religious groups say all you need is faith to be saved. (faith only)

This stirs up a lot of confusion and the bible also seems to contradict itself at first glance.

Paul says you are not saved by works that you should boast.

But James says that Faith without works is dead.

You cannot be saved by a dead faith can you?

So which one is it? Do works play a part in our salvation or are we saved completely by faith alone.

I was honestly a little confused on this topic myself after being a Christian for 20 years.

I generally had the right idea on this subject but didn’t understand fully understand the role of works in the church.

I think the devil realized he can’t completely stop the church so he has done a great job in stirring up as much confusion as he can concerning religion.

Some of the denominational views can slowly seep into the Lords church and confuse us about the truth.

We need to realize that the bible will never contradict itself and with a deeper study on any subject we can find out Gods true meaning.

If God did contradict himself he would be a liar and the bible would lose all credibility.

The bible is the truth

And we need to rightly divide it.

This is one of the biggest arguments among churches today.

Certain denominations like the protestants and the methodists believe in faith only salvation.

On the other hand the catholics believe in faith and good works leading to salvation.

The faith only crowd will argue that baptism is a work and therefore not essential for salvation.

They will quote the verse we mention earlier as part of their argument.

The problem is there are different kind of works.

The term works is used in two senses. There are the works that are the devices of men and the works of God.

It is true that you will never be saved by works of merit where all the good works you have done are added up to the point you are owed salvation.

If you have sinned once you are guilty of all no matter what good you have done in your life.

The works of man’s device allow glorying, but salvation does not come through that type of work.

Man is saved by the works of God which is walking in the way appointed by God and by doing the things he has commanded.

People want to argue that baptism is a work but did you know that believing in God is also a work.

It is not mans work but it is a work of God vital for salvation.

Repentance is commanded by God and therefore also a work!

We can’t forget about confession it is also a work that needs to be done to be saved.

Even though these things are commanded they do not cause the doer to be owed salvation.

They are works of God that we are ordained to do in order to receive salvation but at the end of the day salvation is still granted by God’s grace.

Baptism is a work of faith

People will argue that the latter part of the verse doesn’t include baptism therefore it’s not vital for salvation.

That is because belief is a prerequisite for baptism.

What is the point of being baptized if you do not believe in Jesus! You would not do it.

Baptism, along with repentance, is an act of faith where someone receives (not earns) forgiveness of sins.

It is not a work of merit.

Washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit refers to baptism

God is at work in baptism not us.

God makes us alive in Christ and forgives us of our sins. It is not earned.

If you go to the hospital and have surgery who is doing the work you or the surgeon.

You have to trust and obey the surgeon and lay on the table but he is doing all the work.

When we are saved God is the surgeon operating on the sins of the flesh giving us the circumcision of Christ.

In circumcision the foreskin only was put off; in Christian regeneration "the body of the flesh" is spiritually put off.

The old self is buried and the new self risen to walk in newness of life.

The old body is gone the new is here!

Sadly many people reject baptism because they see it as something you do.

But in reality baptism is the most passive act of faith required of us by God.

Faith, repentance, and confession are all acts which require much from the worker while baptism is something done to us.

Even Martin Luther who who came up with the phrase salvation by faith only said this.

“Yes, it is true that our works are of no use for salvation. Baptism, however, is not our work but God’s.”

After we are added to the church by God can we sit back and coast our way into heaven?

Can we rely on Just faith alone to grow as a Christian and help others get saved?

There is only one place in the bible that mentions faith only.

To be Justified by God you need works along with your faith.

Faith and works go hand in hand. They build off each other.

We have the notion that we shouldn’t be doing works because we are not saved by our works.

The problem is we cannot help someone out or convert them with faith alone.

If a starving homeless person came to you asking for food and you told him I believe that you will be fed and walked away are you helping them out?

James demands his objector to show faith without works which is impossible.

Faith and works are so related, that one cannot exist long without the other.

Faith without works is dead; and on the other hand works, without faith is also fruitless.

Works are something you can do that can be seen; these may be offered in evidence of faith which cannot be seen.

Faith, however, cannot be seen; one without works cannot offer proof of the faith which he claims to have.

If anyone disparages works he eventually must resort to doing them to prove that he has any faith at all!

The father of the Hebrew race Abraham was justified by works.

There was a definite time and place when he was justified and that is when he offered up his son.

If you are a Christian you are Abraham’s seed.

Therefore the principle illustrated in Abraham’s Justification applies to us today.

Our faith is made perfect by our works.

Although Abraham was earlier acknowledged as a believer and his faith accounted for righteousness.

It was not until later in Genesis 22 that the patriarch’s faith was made perfect in the act of obedience involving Isaac.

Works are vital in Gods plan.

Neither works nor faith operating alone can justify; each in cooperation with the other produces that status wherein God justifies.

James clearly shows in Abraham’s case that the patriarch’s faith did not reach its fulfillment until it had translated itself into action when he offered up Isaac.

God considered Abraham a friend because he was faithful and submitted to Gods will.

The same goes for us today. Jesus said.

Faith blesses only when it leads to the faithful obedience to Gods commands.

Not everyone who calls on Gods name will be saved but those who do his will.

If we love Jesus we will keep his word.

So what does that mean for us as Christians.

It means quit being lazy, quit making excuses get out there and do God’s work!

Work for the Lord and not for men.

Devote yourselves to good works.

Let men see your good works so they can glorify God.

Do not just be hears but doers of Gods word. As Bo Jackson would say just do it.

Let us work towards being rich in good works not rich in material things.

By doing good works you are laying up treasures in heaven.

We need to work out our salvation.

We have very few workers for a great harvest.

The field is ripe to harvest!

In the natural realm the harvest is slow but in the spiritual realm you can harvest immediately after sowing.

We receive wages when we reap and we gather fruit for eternal life.

Let us sow the seed of the kingdom and spread the gospel.

There is only one name under heaven that offers salvation.

Jesus is knocking won’t you let him in.

Those that overcome he will give the right to sit on his throne.

We can have victory through Jesus.

You have heard the Gospel and are offered the Free gift of eternal life.

If you would like to become a Christian or need prayers now is the time to come forward.