Widow
for a Season Studies
Study
on Security in Salvation and Process of Judgment
Genesis
15:6
Abraham
was counted righteous because he believed God.
Nothing else was required!
This was before any law was given by man – except rules given to
Adam in the garden.
Deuteronomy
6:25
Then
the law was given through Moses and man’s righteousness was based on his
keeping of the law.
What
was the purpose of the law?
Galatians
3:24
Not
salvation, but to lead us to Christ so that we could realize our sin and
choose to believe Him just as Abraham did.
Galatians
3:29
Philippians
3:8-11, 20-21
We
are sons of Abraham with the promise of salvation (this is our inheritance
as heirs or sons of Christ). This not because of physical genealogy, but a spiritual
genealogy with every soul ever created choosing to believe God just as
Abraham did.
THE
TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT GOD KNOWS WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE BELIEVED.
THAT BELIEF INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST BELIEVING THAT HE EXISTS.
James
2:19
Even
the demons believe in God and shudder, but that doesn’t save them.
1
John 4:1-3
They
will not confess Christ as God (Satan is their god).
Romans
10:9-10
Our
belief must be that when we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord we are
turning our will over to him giving him control of our life – that is
very different than believing in Him or just that he exists.
ONCE
WE HAVE MADE THIS DECISION, CHRIST DOES SOME EXCITING THINGS FOR US!
John
10:25-30
Once
we believe, we are His sheep. He
knows us, we know Him, and He gives us eternal life (if this can be
taken away then it’s not eternal).
Christ says that no one can change this promise – IT IS A
PROMISE OF GOD.
1
John 5:13
Jesus
wants us to know we have eternal life, not just hope we do!
Ephesians
1:13
He
gives us the promised Holy Spirit.
1
Corinthians 2:10-16
Role
of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians
4:30
The
Holy Spirit is our identifying mark, a sheep of God.
It is how we hear our Lord speak to us.
Ephesians
1:14
The
Holy Spirit is our guarantee or pledge by God of our inheritance of
salvation.
James
14:16-20, 26
Jesus
describes a covenant spiritual bond between us, Him, the Holy Spirit, and
God. This places us in a
oneness with God that cannot be altered.
John
16:7-14
The
Spirit is God’s communication tool.
Ephesians
1:13
We
are marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. THIS
SEAL OR MARK THAT IS DESCRIBED MAY ALSO HAVE TO DO WITH OUR NAME IN THE
BOOK OF LIFE.
2
Corinthians 5:17
When
we receive Christ we are forever altered.
1
Corinthians 6:19-20
We
have been bought and we become the spiritual house and dwelling place of
Christ.
Colossians
2:11
We
have turned our life over to Christ and He has:
·
Circumcised us (heart, not
flesh).
·
Baptized us spiritually
(not referring to water).
·
Cancelled certificate of
debt against us because of sin and nailed it to the cross.
·
Made us complete in Him as
head over all rule and authority.
THESE ACTIONS BY CHRIST TOWARD THOSE
WHO BELIEVE IN HIM ARE FINAL AND MOST ASSUREDLY UNCHANGEABLE.
1
John 3:2
When
Christ returns for us, we will see that we look just like Him and will
totally identify with Him in the oneness He created us to be in.
Other
ways He changes us:
Ephesians
4:22-24
Colossians
3:10-11
Ephesians
2:6
When
we receive Christ we are seated (our Spirit) with Him in heaven at the
right side of God. This is
true because our names are listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Luke
10:20
This
is addressed to the disciples (obviously believers) that were sent in
groups of two into the cities where Christ was about to visit (Luke 10:1)
they are told to rejoice that their names are already written in the Book
of Life.
Revelation
13:8
The
names of the saved have been recorded in the Book of Life since the
foundation of the world.
Revelation
3:5
No
names will be erased from the Book of Life.
SO WHERE DO WORKS FIT IN?
James
2:17
James
says faith without works is dead.
John
6:28
The
apostles of Christ were also concerned about their works but there is only
one work that God wants.
John
6:29
To
do the work of God is to believe on the one He sent.
Isaiah
64:6
All
our righteous deeds are just filthy rags to God.
Luke
17:10
Even
if we were perfect and did everything without error in what God asked we
would be called unworthy because we only did what was due.
Ephesians
2:8-9
Only
God’s grace saves us so that no one is tempted to boast that they are
worthy because of works.
WORKS THAT WE DO MUST BE AN OVERFLOW OF
OUR BELIEF OF FAITH!
2
Corinthians 5:1-10
All
Christians will face God in a judgment of our works.
1
Corinthians 3:6-15
Our
works will be used by God to reward us.
1
Corinthians 4:5
The
judgment of our works will be tied to our motives.
1
Corinthians 3:15
Even
if our works do not stand the test we will not lose our salvation.
2
Corinthians 5:8
To
be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
For the Christian the judgment of our works for reward may be
immediate; as soon as our soul leaves our body.
THEN WHEN CHRIST RETURNS THE MASS JUDGMENT
OF THE LOST WILL BEGIN
Revelation
20:11-15
This
judgment is the “Great White Throne Judgment.”
1
Corinthians 6:2-3
We
as saints will take part in that judgment.
1
Thessalonians 4:14
1
Corinthians 5:8
Christ
will come at a time appointed by God and the Spirits of those who have
died and are already with Him (seated now at the right hand of God).
Acts
1:9-11
They
will come in the air.
1
Thessalonians 4:16-17
Christ
will call for the physical bodies of the Christ-followers who are with Him
to rise and their bodies will be transformed (see 1 Corinthians 15).
At that time those Christ-followers who are on the earth will rise
up to join Christ as well.
Revelation
20:11-15
1
Corinthians 6:2-3
Finally,
we will take our place in the judgment of angels, the Word, and all who
chose to live by the law and not be faith in Jesus Christ.
Widow
for a Season Studies
Study
on Role of Ambassadors for Christ
As
Christ followers we are new creatures in Christ and have been given a
mission from God as ambassadors for Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
How
do we perform this role as new creatures in Christ?
1.
Righteousness is transferred to us from the cross
(verse 21).
2.
Christ dwells in us (Ephesians 2:22).
3.
Holy Spirit is a guarantee that gives us confidence.
(Ephesians
1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:22)
4.
We represent Christ as citizens of another world.
(Genesis
11:9-10, 13-16, Philippians 3:20)
5.
We live a duel life.
(Ephesians
1:20, 2:6, 2 Corinthians 10:36)
Let’s
look closer at this mission:
Ministry
of Reconciliation/ 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
God
uses us as reconciled and forgiven children to draw others into that same
relationship (see also study on forgiveness, chapter 1).
1.
Matthew 9:37-38
2.
John 4:35
-
As laborers in God’s fields we receive wages and are gathering fruit for
eternal life; we sow and reap with other saints together and all these
things are for God’s glory.
God
has given us power for this mission:
Philippians
3:12/ What has Christ laid hold of you for?
1
Corinthians 2:5/ As We speak the gospel to others we are to
rest our faith in
power of men to perform the work.
Our job is
to believe and allow the Holy
Spirit to reveal
God to others through us as we
walk with God
(John 6:28-29).
Will you let this change your
life?
1
Corinthians 2:10-16/ Have the mind of Christ.
1
Corinthians 3:16/ It is God’s Spirit that gives power (our
oneness with Him).
How
do we develop a character that is useful to God for this mission?
1.
Be looking for the activity of Christ in others.
John
6:44
2.
You shall be HOLY for I am HOLY.
1
Peter 1:16
3. Spend time with
God.
