August 14, 2011
Morning Service

We have been studying the commonly known prison epistles of the Apostle Paul.  Paul was imprisoned at Rome around 61 – 63 AD.  This is where, and when he wrote his letters to the churches of Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Philemon.  Tonight we will look at the letter of Philemon, it is one chapter, and we will see what the Apostle has for us from this letter.

            This morning we are reviewing the plan of salvation.  It has become our custom, and we think it is a good one, to have a baptism class when someone shows an interest in becoming a Christian.  You have heard me mention before that just as the elements in our communion service are more than just bread, and fruit of the vine, baptism is more than just being dunked under water.  Both of these religious rights have a lot to do with our salvation.

 

Salvation:  What do we mean?  What does it mean to be saved, and from what?

 

1. Jesus said this;  Mat 10:17 KJVR  “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;”  Jesus was telling His disciples what was going to happen to them in the days to come.  Then He said;  Mat 10:22 KJVR  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
2. Jesus teaching concerning the rich;  Mat 19:25 KJVR  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
3. And again;  Jesus talking about the end times;  Mat 24:13 KJVR  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

So we can see that Jesus is saying there is something that mankind needs to be saved from.

 

I suggest to you that there are two things;

1. Gal 1:4 KJVR  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver ( or save ) us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
2. John the Baptist said it right off in his ministry;  Mat 3:7 KJVR  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Rom 1:18 KJVR  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 5:9 KJVR  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

We can see that just from these few Scriptures that by becoming Christians, and trusting in the saving grace of God that we can be saved from, this present evil world, and the wrath of God that is coming on the children of disobedience.

 

But let’s build our faith that we can know that we are saved.

• Listen to Paul in his letter to the Thessalonicans;  1Th 5:9 KJVR  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2Th 2:13 KJVR  But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Salvation or being saved from this present evil world, and the wrath of God which is coming on this world of ungodliness.

 

NOW LET’S BUILD OUR FAITH ON HOW WE GET SAVED:

 

·                     Listen to Paul; 2Th 2:14 KJVR  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

·                     Rom 1:16 KJVR  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

SO WE GET SAVED BY HEARING, AND BELIEVING THE GOSPEL THAT THE APOSTLE TEACHES?  YES!,  AND BY THE WAY THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOSPEL;  Gal 1:8 KJVR  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

 

Oh, there is such a wealth of Scriptures that will build your faith on knowing that you have obeyed the gospel, and are a child of God, therefore, being saved.

 

Jesus commissioned His Apostles to go and preach in His name; Commonly known as the great commission.

• Mat 28:18-20 KJVR  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
• Then back a few chapters when He told Peter;  Mat 16:15-19 KJVR  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  (18)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (19)  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

THEN ON THE FIRST PENTECOST AFTER THE RESSURRECTION OF THE LORD PETER USED THOSE KEYS, WHEN HE HAD JUST PREACHED HIS FIRST SERMON, AND BROUGHT CONVICTION UPON THOSE THAT HEARD IT;  THEY ASK THE QUESTION;

• Act 2:37 KJVR  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Peter’s reply, using the keys, or authority that had been given to him by the Lord;

• Act 2:38 KJVR  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

IS IT REALLY THIS SIMPLE?  LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

 

We just looked at two of the clearest examples in the Acts of the Apostles while studying the letter to the Philippians;

• Lydia, and her household;  Act 16:14-15 KJVR  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.  (15)  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And the Philippian jailer, and his household;  and the jailer ask the all important question “what must I do to be saved.”  Paul’s reply, and actions;

• Act 16:31-33 KJVR  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  (32)  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  (33)  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

SO WE CAN SEE THAT IN ORDER TO BE SAVED FROM THIS EVIL PRESENT WORLD, AND THE WRATH OF GOD TO COME ON THIS WORLD OF UNGODLINESS, WE MUST;

·         HEAR THE GOSPEL,

·         BELIEVE THE GOSPEL,

·         RECEIVE THE GOSPEL INTO OUR HEARTS, AND MINDS,

·         REPENT OF OUR PAST SINS,

·         CONFESS JESUS AS THE VERY SON OF GOD,

·         BE BAPTIZED,

THESE STEPS OF OBEDIENCE CHANGE YOUR POSITION IN LIFE.  AFTER DOING THESE THINGS YOU ARE NOW A CHILD OF GOD.  UPON DOING THESE THINGS YOU WILL WANT TO SERVE THE LORD TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, AND TALENTS THAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU.

 

UPON COMPLETION OF THESE STEPS YOU HAVE STARTED YOUR WALK WITH GOD AND, YOU WILL ALSO LEARN, AS YOU STUDY, AND ARE TAUGHT,  THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO COMMUNE FAITHFULLY, AND DO GOOD WORKS. 

ALMIGHTY GOD, QUICKEN THESE WORDS TO OUR HEARTS, AND HELP US TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE.