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. Living
Hope Fellowship Church
Basic Bible Study Course
SALVATION
(LESSON
#18), PART #6
COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST
OUTLINE:
1.
WORTHY
2. COUNT THE COST
3. CAN GOD TRUST YOU?
4. CAN YOU TRUST GOD?
5. HOPE
6. RESPONSIBILITY
7. AUTHOR AND FINISHER
8. STRUGGLE AND STRENGTH
(Webster's
Dictionary)
COMMITMENT:
a pledge or promise
COMMIT:
to give in charge or trust. deliver for safekeeping
RESPONSIBLE:
expected to oblige or account for something, to someone. Involving
accountability, obligation, or duties.
COVENANT:
A solemn and binding agreement made by two or more individuals,
parties, etc. to do or keep from doing a specified thing.
- the promises made by God to man.
WHAT
IS A "COMMITMENT TO CHRIST"?
A commitment
to Christ means you have come to Jesus and asked for forgiveness
of sins, recognizing that your life is no longer yours to
live any way you want to (1 Cor. 6:19-20, Galatians 2:20,
2 Cor. 5:15). You have committed your life to him and believe
him to work in you as you live for him (Philippians 2:12).
Jesus
said in John 3:16 that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
COMMITMENT
BASICS:
1. You
make a choice. Read Deuteronomy 30:19. Choose blessing or
cursing.
2. Commit
your mind and heart to that choice BECAUSE you have hope!!!
Believe and trust God to keep his end. Numbers 23:19.
3. Daily
keep that commitment (1 Cor. 15:31). Take up your cross and
follow Jesus daily (Luke 9:23). Overcome the devil, fear,
doubt, and all struggles (1 Cor. 10:13). God gives grace to
help in time of need (2 Cor. 12:9).
4. Obtain
the promise of eternal life and all the blessings he will
give us right now if we obey him. God has prepared wonderful
things for those that love him (1 Corinthians. 2:9-10).
1. WORTHY
Many
think they are not worthy to be saved. They think they have
sinned too much for Jesus to forgive them. Don't limit our
great God. The plan of salvation is simple. If you cannot
seem to believe God for salvation ask him to deliver you from
unbelief. The devil is a liar (John 8:44). The devil wants
you in hell and will lie any lie to keep you from going to
heaven. We must believe Jesus is bigger than the devil, mankind,
the world, and all things. God is the Creator of all things.
We must believe God is able to save. God cannot lie.
Jesus
died for all (John 3:16) and is no respecter of persons (Acts
10:34). Some, after believing they are saved, sin, and then
cast away all hope of salvation. READ THE WORD OF GOD. Many,
many times God punished his people for sins. Read how many
times he brought them back to him! He even tells us to forgive
each other 70 X 7 times and don't think it will stop there
because Matthew 6:14-15 says that if we forgive not men their
trespasses, our Father will not forgive our trespasses. We
are left no excuses for sin (1 Cor. 10:13) and 1 John 2:1
says that if we sin, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ. He
will intercede to God for us if we ask forgiveness.
There
is a difference between humility and unworthiness. Read Hebrews
Chapter 4. It says that Jesus has made us able to come boldly
to the throne of grace for mercy and grace to help in time
of need. Because Jesus covers us with his blood, we are clean
in the sight of God. Christ Jesus has reconciled us to God,
making us worthy to be saved. God so loved us that he SENT
his son to die for us. God WANTS us to be saved. By Jesus
he has made us worthy of the promises in his Word. What we
do with our salvation will determine whether we STAY worthy.
Read Romans 8:18, Ephesians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, and
2 Thessalonians 1:5 & 11.
That
ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge
of God; Colossians 1:10.
John
the Baptist knew that he was called of God. He knew Jesus
was the Son of God. He humbled himself to Jesus and obeyed
him when he baptized Jesus. John the Baptist said that he
was not worthy to bear the shoes of Jesus (Matthew 3:11).
Jesus said this about the man who thought himself unworthy:
Verily
I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath
not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding
he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
he. Matthew 11:11.
A centurion
told Jesus that he was not worthy for Jesus to come under
his roof (Matthew 8:8). This man said he knew about authority
and knew Jesus had the authority to command the healing of
his sick servant from right there and it would happen. Jesus
said this of him:
"When
Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed,
Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no,
not in Israel." Matthew 8:10.
What
will make you unworthy? Not putting God first makes you unworthy.
Putting yourself, loved ones, or any thing before God is sin
(Matthew 10:37). Read the first commandment of the ten that
God gave to Moses. Sin makes you unworthy, but God has made
the way to be forgiven of sin and thereby to escape hell.
Despising the grace of God will make you unworthy of it. Read
Hebrews 10:29. What will a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Matthew 16:26)
If we
don't bear the cross and follow Jesus, we are not worthy of
him (Matthew 10:38). All are called to the marriage supper,
but not all are obedient to God (Matthew 22:8 and surrounding
scriptures).
The prodigal
son said he was no more worthy to be called a son, but the
Father restored him (Luke 15:21 and surrounding scriptures).
Luke
21:36 admonishes us to watch and pray so we will be worthy
to escape all the evil things to come, and to stand before
Jesus.
2. COUNT
THE COST
When
God drew you unto repentance and salvation, was there a struggle
between what you wanted and what you knew you must do? We
must be broken: we must give up our will, knowing that whatever
the cost, it will be worth going to be with Jesus. Heaven
and hell are real. We will be rewarded according to our works
(Romans 2:6).
God has
given to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). He
said in (Deu. 30: 19) to choose life or death. There was a
time of ignorance when God winked at things, but no more (Acts
17:30). Now he commands all men every where to be saved.
For which
of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first,
and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish
it? Luke 14:28.
Peter
wanted to know how much it was going to be worth to follow
Jesus the rest of the way (he had already started to follow
him).
(28)
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
(29) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is
no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife,
or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, (30) Who shall
not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the
world to come life everlasting. Luke 18:28-30.
Paul
said he had finished his course and a crown of righteousness
was waiting for him.
(7) I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8.
Consider
this account in the Bible and know that if you have failed,
try again. God's mercy is abundant (Isaiah 55:7). It is worth
all to get eternal life.
(28)
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came
to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
(29) He answered and said I will not: but afterward he repented,
and went. (30) And he came to the second, and said likewise.
And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. (31) Whether
of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him,
The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That
the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before
you. Matthew 21:18-31.
(46)
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which
I say? Luke 6:46. Read from Verse 46 through 49.
What
is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when
God taketh away his soul? Job 27:8.
We that
are saved have made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ. Jesus
said we must deny ourselves and follow him daily. Read 1 Corinthians
15:31, Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:36, and Luke 9:25.
And he
said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke
9:23.
3. CAN
GOD TRUST YOU?
Behold,
he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not
clean in his sight. Job 15:15. Read John 2:24-25.
God knows
every heart. Read Jeremiah 17:9-10. God is seeking someone
to serve him and worship him in spirit and in truth (John
4:24). All are called to come and be saved. Jesus gives us
power to overcome the devil and become trustworthy. Have you
ever told the Lord you would serve him? Are you being faithful
to that statement? The Bible (Matthew 26:41) tells us to watch
and pray that we enter not into temptation. The Bible says
we are not ignorant of Satan's devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
God wants us to be trustworthy and obedient servants.
The Bible
in Luke 12:47 says that the servant who knew his Lord's will
and did it not shall be beaten with many stripes. In Matthew
21:18-31we read about counting the cost. One said he would
go, but didn't. Another said he would not go, but repented
and went. Can we be trusted any better than they? Jesus said,
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15. We are
required to be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2 & Psalms 101:6).
Don't be double minded (James 1:7-8).
Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Read
James 4:8, Matthew 25:21-30, Luke 12:42-43, Luke 16:10-11,
Titus 1:9, and Luke 8:11-15.
4. CAN
YOU TRUST GOD?
God is
not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that
he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or
hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19.
God cannot
lie (Titus 1:2). You may say that you have prayed before and
God did not answer. God heareth not sinners (John 9:31). If
you are saved, but have sinned and not got it under the blood
of Jesus by repentance, don't expect God to answer your prayer.
You will be considered a sinner by God. When God saves us,
it is to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25), but if we turn around
and reject him by not repenting and quitting that sin, God
will reject us. Can God's people sin? Read 2 Chronicles 7:14
and Ezekiel 33. Read James 4:2-3 about asking and asking amiss.
Luke 11:9 speaks about doing more than just asking. Read Matthew
6:33. (Lamentations 3:21-23) Great is God's faithfulness.
God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). God says he changes not (Malachi
3:6). "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the
man that trusteth in him." Psalm 34:8. "Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Hebrews 13:8.
In Malachi
the Lord said for us to prove him (Malachi 3:10). Read these
scriptures about overcomers. Rev. 21:7, 1 John 5:4-5. Some
bondages are only broken with fasting and prayer (Isaiah 58:5-6).
Commit
thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring
it to pass. Psalm 37:5.
5. HOPE
You have
hope that you will be saved when you commit your life to the
Lord. That hope makes you willing to try to obtain that eternal
life he has promised. He is watching those who hope in him,
to help them (Psalm 33:18). Don't give up hope (Psalm 71:14).
To keep hope, don't forget what God has done and keep his
commandments (Psalm 78:7 & Psalm 111:4). Don't forget to study
God's Word (Psalm 119:114). Our God is the God of hope (Romans
15:13). We are not able to understand, except by the Spirit,
the things God has prepared for those that love him (1 Corinthians
2:9-10).
Be of
good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that
hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24.
(18)
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for
God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled
for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil; (20) Whither
the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 6:18-20.
6. RESPONSIBILITY
RESPONSIBLE:
expected to oblige or account for something, to someone. Involving
accountability, obligation, or duties.
COVENANT:
A solemn and binding agreement made by two or more individuals,
parties, etc. to do or keep from doing a specified thing.
By the
definition we know that a covenant is a serious and binding
agreement between at least two persons. You and God make an
agreement when you get saved. You ask for forgiveness and
he forgives you. He promises to keep you saved if you promise
to obey him. The list goes on because the Bible is full of
God's promises of blessings to the obedient and his promises
of cursing to the disobedient.
GOD CANNOT
LIE and will always keep his end of the agreement. Man is
flesh and is weak but His strength is made perfect in our
weakness so that is not an excuse (2 Cor. 12:9). As we yield
to him, we can walk pleasing and perfect before him, as he
has commanded (Matthew 5:48).
7. AUTHOR
AND FINISHER
Jesus
is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-6).
Read also Lamentations 3:32, 33, & 40. God is able to help
us keep the commitment we have made to Christ. Read Romans
11:22 & 2 Peter 2:21-22.
For the
which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am
not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12.
8. STRUGGLE
AND STRENGTH
Jesus
is our example. He struggled in the flesh. He could have called
12 legions of angels to help him, but he chose to finish the
plan of salvation for us (Matthew 26:53). In the garden he
struggled in prayer to God, but he prayed till God answered
and strengthened him (Luke 22:42-43).
(16)
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (17) For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians
4:16-18.
Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Hebrews 11:25. Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1.
We must
be stedfast in Jesus. Read Psalm 78:8 & 37, 1 Cor. 15:58,
Hebrews 3:14, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:13, 2 Corinthians
2:11. Refer to Lesson #8, IT'S HEAVEN OR HELL AND YOU CAN
KNOW THAT YOU ARE SAVED for more scriptures.
If you
have been obedient to the Lord in prayer and have gone according
to his word, then you may need to fast. Some bondages are
only broken with prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21 & Isaiah
58:5-6) Fasting God's way will loose bands of wickedness and
you can break every yoke. Break bonds with your commitment
and obedience to Christ. When you are COMMITTED, consecrated
(1 Chronicles 29:5 and Hebrews 10:19-23), and continuing in
Christ, you will grow in grace and knowledge of God. STAYING
SAVED: We must continue in Christ to be saved at the end.
References for staying saved: Hebrews 11:25-28, 1 John 17-9,
1 John 2:1-2, Hebrews 12:1-4.
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