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I’m. NOT. Good!. I’m Not Good If…. I Have Not Obeyed The Gospel Of Christ: We often make the mistake of judging our spiritual state by our physical state: Health, finances, general morality, family… We’ve got control
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I’m NOT Good!
I’m Not Good If… • I Have Not Obeyed The Gospel Of Christ: • We often make the mistake of judging our spiritual state by our physical state: • Health, finances, general morality, family… We’ve got control • It’s when we start to see the frailty of life and have problems arise that we start to see our need for God… Why? • Don’t make Laodicea’s mistake – They thought they were good because they looked good. Looks are deceiving! • We need Jesus because we’re not good. That’s why we obey the gospel. None are righteous (Rom 3:9-21) • The Great Court Scene – All have sinned. None are righteous. The verdict is guilty. The penalty is death. • We say, “Im not that bad…” – But we’ve all sinned and that destroys our righteousness. Still condemned, still lost • Jesus paid the penalty for our justification…come to Him!
I’m Not Good If… • I Have Not Obeyed The Gospel Of Christ: • Paul describes our state and relationship to God when we are outside of Christ (Romans 5:6-9) • Feel the strong language – Weak, ungodly, unrighteous, sinners, enemies, deserving of God’s wrath • Before Christ, this was us and there was nothing we could do about it. God had to act on our behalf in Jesus. Good? • This can all change through Jesus… Why would you stay in this lost state without fellowship with God? • You aren’t good because you are dead and living among the fellowship of the lost (Eph. 2:1-5)
I’m Not Good If… • I Am Living In Religious Error: • Our culture says everyone is good as long as they are sincere and religious. • “As long as you worship Jesus…” – “We all believe in the same God” – “You have your faith, I have mine” – “We’re all going to the same place, just taking different paths” • Churches resemble more of a buffet line than a pillar and ground of truth… Instead of church houses we have club houses. You can find any practice & any doctrine! • If you question the beliefs and practices of others you are labeled as unloving, intolerant, Pharisaical, & a legalist • We’re told not to judge, as long as they believe in Jesus • Yet Jesus prayed for complete unity among His disciples (John 17:20-23). Paul said there should be no division (1 Cor. 1:1). There is one Lord, God, faith, baptism (Eph. 4:1-6)
I’m Not Good If… • I Am Living In Religious Error: • You’re not good because it makes you guilty of living in lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23) • Are these religious? YES! Are they sincere? YES! Are they doing “good works?” YES! Are the saved? NO! Why? • Lawlessness – “Without-Law” – They were off in what they did. Something wasn’t right according to God’s will. • They looked God in man’s sight, but not in God’s sight. You need to know that authority is a salvation issue! • Road to salvation is strait & narrow… the road to destruction is wide and broad. Go against His laws & we’re not good! • If we don’t abide in the doctrine of Christ we aren’t good because that means we don’t have the Father or Jesus (2 John 9-11)
The Doctrine Of Christ Jesus The Father No Father Faithful Submission To God’s Will And Laws No Jesus No Salvation
I’m Not Good If… • I Am Not Taking My Own Faith Seriously: • Sometimes we feel we are good where we are at in our spiritual growth, development, and service: • We get a false sense of security from our successes of the past • We may feel we are doing enough… more seems unnecessary • We get complacent by comparing ourselves to others • Not good because we aren’t growing. Its uselessness, blindness, sin, & hopelessness (2 Pet 1:5, 8-11) • May reject the concept of “once saved always saved” & all the while live out the concept by acting like we get a pass • It’s not just about desiring growth, its about doing what it takes to grow… we are to “make every effort” • Faithfulness, fruitfulness, maturity, strength over sin, and hope of heaven are not accidental… Product of growth!
I’m Not Good If… • I Am Not Taking My Own Faith Seriously: • Our faith is inactive and uninvolved (James 2:14-17) • May reject the idea of “faith only” but do we live it in a practical way… as if works & obedience aren’t all that important • Context: Not treating others with partiality, being merciful, serving others by providing needs… It’s faith in action! • Faith that doesn’t is dead faith… It’s useless. Saying, “I’m a believer” is meaningless. We live the false doctrine! • This kind of faith will not save us… We’re lost. Not Good! • Appreciating grace means pursuing the kind of good works God has prepared for us to walk in. If not, I’m not living in grace! (Eph. 2:8-11; Ti 2:11-14)