Where are we #11

Where are you

When we come to church – the first thing that we think about is being saved so that we don’t have to go to hell – and another thing that we often think about is worshiping the God that saved us . . .

We know that salvation is “a gift” that we receive from God through repentance (as we turn away from our sins) like turning our backs upon

something that we no longer approve of . . . we know that THE KEY which gives us “access” to eternal life is also a gift that we have named FAITH 

– and that we first receive this “gift of faith” (which is the KEY that opens the door of salvation) - as we HEAR the Word . . .

The Word which brings this “saving faith” to us – is not the word of man – but rather it is the Word of God . . .

Romans 10: 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.

It does not matter who we are or what we are – if we gain access to the KEY (through faith in the WORD) – and then if (because we believe) we use that key to open the door of salvation as we repent of our sins and 

trust in Jesus . . . God has promised to hear us when we call out to Him – and when He hears us - He will save our soul . . . 

Every nation on the Earth is subject to the same God – As far as being “subject” unto God - there is no difference between one nation and any other . . . God is over all men – and God is over all nations . . .

Salvation is a gift that is freely offered to the men of all nations – God is no respecter of persons . . . but He is rich unto ALL (no matter what nationality) that calls upon Him . . . 

For WHO-SO-EVER in any nation – for who-so-ever in any station in life – that shall call upon the name of the Lord – they will be saved . . . regardless of where they live – regardless of the color of their skin – regardless of their wealth or regardless of their lack of wealth . . .

 14 How then shall they call on him (for this salvation) 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?

No matter where we live – no matter what we do – no matter (our circumstances in life) . . . if we call out to God “in faith” – He will save 

our souls . . . BUT how will any man “know” to call out unto God for salvation if he “has no faith” to place in God . . . If he has never gotten 

ahold of “the key” – then how can he unlock the door that is separating him from the promise of God’s salvation . . . how will he ever find this faith 

to believe – if he never hears the gospel . . . and how can any man hear the gospel – if there is no-one to preach that gospel to him . . .

 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.

 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

So having “heard” the Word of the gospel – and having “accepted” that Word . . . we now turn our attention (now that we are saved) to the concept of WORSHIP . . . and we know that worship

includes all of the things that churches so often disagree on . . . such things as – baptism – The Lord’s Supper – what it actually means to live right

So now that we are saved – we no longer have any need to fear hell – so with this fear out of the way - what should the goal of our life be now?

(As a child of God) our goal in life should be to worship the God that has saved us – and to worship Him the way that HE wants us to worship

Proper worship does not save our soul – and improper worship does not condemn our soul . . . proper worship pleases the God that has already

saved our soul – while improper worship is a thing that DISPLEASES the God that has already saved us.  So depending upon what we do in our 

churches regarding baptism, the Lord’s Supper and what we define as an appropriate lifestyle . . . we either please the Lord or we displease the Lord . . .

“To please” our savior with the proper TYPE of worship is a thing that will result in us being “one of those” that are being addressed in Matt 25

21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

This individual was considered a “good and a faithful servant” not because he had been born into this household . . . but he was a good and a faithful

servant based upon something that he had done AFTER becoming a member of this household “while waiting” on his Lord to return.

But to displease our savior with IMPROPER worship – this will result in us being described in the following verse . . .

26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Now I want to point out here – that both of these servants were part of the same household – they both answered to the same “Lord” and they both had the same responsibility to that Lord . . . the same Lord overall . . .

The thing that made this particular servant “wicked and slothful” was not the fact that he occupied a different type of position than the “good and

faithful” servant occupied – but the thing that made him “wicked” instead of “good” was clearly his behavior while “waiting” on his Lord to return.

After learning what “his Lord” expected of him – one of the servants met those expectations while one of them did not meet those expectations.

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed . . .

Mt 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Now of these three men that are mentioned – there was a point in each one of their lives – where (because of their behavior) each of them would

have been viewed as “wicked and slothful servants” – and then with the passage of time . . . if we looked at these three men again – these who

were once “wicked and slothful” – would now be seen as good and faithful . . . two of them were “wicked and slothful” FIRST and after they repented they became “good and faithful” . . . But 

the life of Demas was lived in the reverse order – he began his “Christian walk” as a good and faithful servant – but he ended that walk as wicked and a slothful servant.

Where are we in our “Christian” walk?