Gtcotr/ws072413
Time and history in
this world are divided into two distinct periods
·
BC
– Before Christ
·
AD
– Anno Domini, The Year of Our Lord
The Bible is also
divided into two periods representing two distinct covenants
·
The
old covenant was written on tables of stone and secured by the blood of bulls
and goats.
·
The
new covenant is written in the hearts of Believers and is secured by the blood
of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.
·
The
first covenant was aimed at sin and based on law.
·
The
last covenant was aimed at righteousness and based on grace.
·
The
old covenant brought judgment and demanded death.
·
The
new covenant brought forgiveness and granted life.
·
We
know the first covenant as “The Old Testament.”
·
We
understand the last covenant to be “The New Testament.”
·
The
Old Testament covers a period of approximately 4000 years. It is a picture of
God bringing Messiah to a lost world.
·
The
New Testament covers a period of only about 40 years. It is the simple account
of what one small prayer group did to fulfill the Great Commission which was
left to them by Jesus.
All mankind can be
divided into two distinct groups.
·
Those
who do not believe that Jesus is Messiah, Son of God and Savior of the world.
Some of these people are good people and some of these people are wicked and
evil. However, all are without a Savior, both good and bad, and therefore they
are left to pay for their own sins and stand in danger of eternal damnation
·
Those
who believe that Jesus is Messiah and have embraced Him as both Lord and Savior.
·
The
Lost who are still living under the law of sin and death
·
The
Saved who are covered by the grace of God
·
Those
merely born of the flesh and will of man
·
Those
born again by the Spirit and the will of Almighty God
·
The
children of this world and The Children of God
The life of every
Born Again Believer is also divided in two periods.
·
The
time past when they were lost in sin, separated from God and damned to hell
·
Life
since they were saved by grace, reconciled to God and destined for heaven
Although
every person who has believed in Jesus as Messiah and received Him as Lord is
saved and on their way to heaven – not every Believer lives their life as a
fully devoted follower of Christ. Some Christians are:
·
Spiritually cold: They may not be
doing anything wrong or sinful but they do not pray, read their bible, attend
Church or witness.
·
Spiritually lukewarm: These Believers
are only going through the motions of Christianity with no constant heart. Their
commitments are dependent on what else they may want to do that day. They are
“on again – off again” followers of Christ. Sometimes they pray, sometimes they
don’t. Perhaps they attend Church, or maybe more than one Church, but have a
loose commitment to the place God has set them. These Believers are up and down
in their passion for Christ and have other interests which parallel and compete
for the call of God on their life. Not bad people, but simply inconsistent and
undependable … there, but not really there … often disconnected from the real
life and joy of fully following Christ. These Christians confuse the lost,
aggravate God, and cause more trouble for the Church than do the spiritually
cold Believers who never attend.
·
Spiritually
backslidden:
These Christians are those who live life no different from the lost. Their
thoughts, words, and deeds belie that they are born again. Although Children of
God, they have gone back to serving their own desires and live like children of
this world. The heart of God is broken for these prodigal children and all
heaven rejoices when even one repents of their sin, returns to the Church, and
recovers their life in Christ.
The
Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation as Jesus dictated. When addressing
the Church at Ephesus, Jesus clearly expected them to live life as fully devoted
followers.
Revelation 2
4 "Nevertheless I have this
against you, that you have left your first love.
5 "Remember therefore
from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come
to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you
repent.
Remember;
Repent; and Recover yourselves … God still expects and deserves our devotion to
Him above all else. Thankfully we have the New Testament as a pattern example.
The first Church was filled with new Believers who lived their life devoted to
Christ.
Key Scripture: Acts 2:42 “And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers.”
In
order to live life as a fully devoted follower of Christ and insure we do not
become lukewarm, grow cold, or backslide into old habits, bad thoughts or a
sinful lifestyle, we must develop and maintenance our devotional life.
Important Points
1. A steadfast devotion to the Bible
a. Nothing can replace
the reading, the study, and the instruction of God’s Word.
b. Without devotion to
the Word we will become lukewarm.
2. A continuing devotion to prayer
a. Communication is
essential in every relationship …
b. Especially in our
relationship with our Heavenly Father
3. An unwavering devotion to Church
a. If we want to be
like Jesus we must attend Church – He did!
b. Jesus still attends
Church today – “where 2 or more …”
c. Jesus died for the
Church and is coming again for the Church.
d. Church is the Body
and Bride of Christ and the family of God where we fellowship and break the
Bread of Life together.
Supporting
Scriptures
Revelation 3:15 Matthew 18:20 Luke
4:16
Luke 15:7 Hebrews
8:6&10 Colossians
3:1-3
Hebrews 10:25 Mark 1:21 Mark
3:1
