Tuesday, April 29, 2014

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

The Philippian Jailer
"What must I do to be saved?"

This was the question of the Philippian jailer, and it seems like the simplest question. Ask any child in your average Sunday School class and they'll probably get the answer right.

Yet there are also a lot of people out there who would confuse and complicate the answer (some intentionally, others not so). But with lives literally hanging in the balance, clarity on answering this question cannot be overemphasized.

Recently I received this very question in response to a video I recorded last year for Redeemer addressing the question, "How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins?"

He asked,
What exactly does the Bible say that a person absolutely must do in order to achieve salvation.  And could you cite the verses that confirm this?

( I can't figure out if a person needs to be baptized, or if he must believe that God in the body of a man was executed as payment for our sins, or of you just have to believe in God, or if you just have to try to be a good person.)
This is certainly not a comprehensive list, but these are the most explicit verses I've found declaring what you must do to be saved. (Feel free to comment below with any I've missed!)
    But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
(John 1:12-13 ESV)

    Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9-13 ESV)

    Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25-26 ESV)

    Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:37-38 ESV)

    Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
(John 3:36 ESV)

    And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
(Acts 16:29-31 ESV)
It seems to me the harmony of these verses is this:

Believe Jesus was who he said he was and is (God) and receive (or trust in, which means you repent and turn from trusting in yourself) what he said he would do (die for your sins, rise again, give us his Spirit) to be saved, and consequently some of your first acts of obedience should be baptism and professing (confessing) with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord".

Or to be less wordy: Believe Jesus was who he said he was (God) and receive what he said he would do (die for our sins, rise again, give us His Spirit) to be saved. 

Feedback: How would you answer this question? What words or phrases would you add or omit to my answer? What verses might you add to my list? 

The Big Story: God : Sermon Recap

Genesis 1:1

Big Idea:
What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. - A.W. Tozer

From: "The Big Story: How the Bible Makes Sense Out of Life"

SERMON AUDIO
WORSHIP SET-LIST

Here are some highlights from the message. If you share any of these on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) please use this link as a reference: http://ow.ly/wi1iw
  • God doesn't show up and start offering arguments for his existence. Instead, he reveals himself and expects us to adjust to this truth. (Gen. 1:1)
  • The perfectly happy trinitarian God didn't create out of need. He created out of the overflow of his love and joy. 
  • God reveals himself. If we respond and obey, he will reveal more of himself. 
  • The more you make life all about you, the more miserable you will be.
  • When our view of ourselves is too big and our view of God is too small, it messes everything up.
  • God is always in control and working, sometimes you just have to wait to see it. 
  • God's goodness to you is not predicated on your goodness, and that is good news. 
  • Everyone has a relationship with God. The only question is this: will it be as judge or as father?

You Hold It All - Desperation Band
You Hold It All Lyric Video from Parallel Media on Vimeo.

Monday, April 21, 2014

The Big Story: Sermon Recap

Matthew 11:28-30

Big Idea: Everyone believes a story that makes sense of their life. God's story is a better story.

From: "The Big Story: How the Bible Makes Sense Out of Life"

SERMON AUDIO
WORSHIP SET-LIST

Here are some highlights from the message. If you share any of these on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) please use this link as a reference: http://ow.ly/vZJrf
  • When we turn to Jesus, we exchange "do better, try harder" for "it is finished". 
  • When we think we must live to keep God happy, this will ultimately lead us to either pride or despair.

Man of Sorrows - Hillsong

Friday, April 18, 2014

Free books and music to carry you through to Easter

Easter is impossible without Good Friday, and Good Friday is empty without Easter. Here are a few free resources to help you reflect on both this weekend:


Free Books
Okay, so I know that two of these books are actually one cent, but I figured you'd want to know about them anyway. Feel free to leave a comment below if you're like "No! One cent is too much to pay for a whole book!" and I'm sure some Good Samaritan will be happy to spot you the cash.
Alive: A Cold-Case Approach to the Resurrection
FREE
Crucify!: Why the Crowd Killed Jesus
FREE
The Work of Christ: What the Events of Jesus' Life Mean for You
$0.01

Old Story New: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God$0.01




Free Music
A three-song EP featuring an awesome treatment of The Old Rugged Cross and two originals including one I wrote called "He Is Risen Indeed".

Monday, April 14, 2014

It's Time For Rest: Sermon Recap

Exodus 20:8-11

Big Idea: Rest is necessary to stick with your priorities.

From: "It's Time"

SERMON AUDIO
WORSHIP SET-LIST

Here are some highlights from the message. If you share any of these on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) please use this link as a reference:
  • The longer we carry the burdens of life without turning to God for rest, the more numb and wearied we become.
  • When we look for rest apart from God, we are looking in all the wrong places.
  • Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and the Lord of rest. If we have not experienced rest, then we have not gone to Jesus.
  • When we rest, we stand back and enjoy God and the work God has done for us.
  • When we remember the Sabbath, we remember the perfect, complete work Jesus accomplished on the cross.
  • We need freedom from a life that is unraveling to a life held together by the gospel.
  • God did not rest because he was fatigued but because he was finished.
  • More than a commandment, the Sabbath is a gift.
  • You may say you don't have time to take a Sabbath. In fact, you don't have time not to take one.

Restless by Audrey Assad

Monday, April 7, 2014

It's Time For Discipline: Sermon Recap

1 Corinthians 9:23-27

Big Idea: The key to keeping "first things first" is discipline.

From: "It's Time"

SERMON AUDIO
WORSHIP SET-LIST

Here are some highlights from the message. If you share any of these on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) please use this link as a reference: http://ow.ly/vwYwW
  • Discipline requires a decision ahead of time to stick with it when things get tough. 
  • Self-control is giving up the good and the better for the best.
  • Arranging your life around convenience always gives you an out, but arranging your life around commitment says "I'm all in". 
  • There is always something we give up in order to gain something of greater importance and value.

How Great Thou Art by Paul Baloche


The Time Is Now by Phil Wickham

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

It's Time For Priorities: Sermon Recap

Ephesians 5:15-21

Big Idea: How can we live by Biblical priorities?

From: "It's Time"

SERMON AUDIO
WORSHIP SET-LIST

Here are some highlights from the message. If you share any of these on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) please use this link as a reference:
  • Urgent things often demand our attention but don't always need it. Important things always need our attention but don't often demand it. 
  • Don't view your life as hours passing by, but as opportunities passing by. 
  • Procrastinating on the most important things in life is just another way of saying no to God. 


Called Me Higher - All Sons and Daughters
Or for a better live recording of the same song (with no video), listen here: