Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Oct 7, 2007
“What We Do, Matters”
Faith – Works – Results
Eph 2:8-10; 1Co 3:10-15
Part 3 of 3
Ephesians 2:8-10 8
For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
·
GRACE – God’s Riches
At Christ’s Expense.
·
Real Faith is NOT
just something you SAY, FEEL, THINK or BELIEVE … Real Faith is something you DO
·
This morning let’s
look at “What we do, Matters” – individually & corporately what we do, MATTERS.
AS A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST –
we’re called to do Good Works!
I. God’s Will
(Perfect, dead center will of God
– not His permissive will)
Good Works…
(we are God’s workmanship… saved
to do good works)
·
GLORIFIES
God Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
·
Evident to Others
1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though
they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify
God on the day he visits us.
·
Requires
DILIGENCE 1 Corinthians 3:10
By the grace God has given me, I
laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But
each one should be careful how he builds. (Diligence – attentiveness,
carefulness, thoroughness, etc)
·
Builds Treasures
1 Timothy 6:18-19 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,
and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age,
so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
After a preacher died and went to heaven, he
noticed that a New York cabdriver had been given a higher place than he had, a
gorgeous mansion high up in the mountains. “I don’t understand,” he complained
to St. Peter. “I devoted my entire life to my congregation… This cab driver got
a beautiful mansion on the mountain top and I just got a little cottage down in
the valley” “Our policy is to reward results,” explained St. Peter. “You see,
every time you preached the congregation fell asleep BUT every time people rode
in this man’s taxi cab they prayed.”
II. My Choice
Personal Investment of…
Ø
My TIME
Ephesians 5:15-17
15 Be very
careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
Ø
My TALENT
Romans 12:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep
your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Ø
My TREASURE
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD
Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour
out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Are you using your time, talents & treasures for the
Lord or yourself? Oh, God sink these truths into our hearts!
“What We Do, Matters” – we only go through life once – we MUST get it right!
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for
the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Romans 14:10b-12 “…For
we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is
written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.'" 12 So then, each of us
will give an account of himself to God.”
 |
Some look at the Bema seat as a place of heavy sorrow, a place of terror to
the believer for their sin… OR a place of great rewards with little or no
shame… neither is correct Biblically… |
|
The Bema, the judgment seat of Christ is a serious examination of the
believer’s faithfulness while alive on earth and the giving of an account
for ALL their works since they were saved / born again. |
|
Everything done in the flesh is worthless & burned up, yet their eternal
soul is saved… |
|
Everything done in the power of the Holy Spirit rewarded throughout
eternity. |
III. Final Exam
(When? Immediately after the
Rapture of the church)
Ø
Test the
QUALITY of my
Works
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For no one can lay any foundation
other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If
any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay
or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because
the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire
will test the quality of each man's work.
|
Unfruitful Works – wood, hay, stubble
(Unforgiveness, moodiness, laziness, self-centeredness, etc) |
|
Fruitful Works – gold, silver, gems
(Prayer, witnessing, serving, giving, God-centeredness, etc) |
Bema Seat
|
This word was taken from Grecian games where the contestants would compete
for the prize under the careful scrutiny of judges who would make sure that
every rule of the contest was obeyed (2Tim 2:5). The victor of a given event
who participated according to the rules was led by the judge to the platform
called the Bema. There the laurel wreath was placed on his head as a
symbol of victory (1Co 9:24-25). |
|
In all of these passages, “Paul was picturing the believer as a competitor
in a spiritual contest. As the victorious Grecian athlete appeared before
the Bema to receive his perishable award, so the Christian will
appear before Christ’s Bema to receive his imperishable award. The
judge at the Bema bestowed rewards to the victors. He did not whip
the losers.” |
“What We Do, Matters” –
The Lord will test the quality of our works… good or bad
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the
appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden
in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will
receive his praise from God.
Daniel Webster said, “My greatest thought is my
accountability to God.” (I believe the same thing)
James Denney, 1856-1917, a scholar / theologian
from Scotland said, “It is Christians only who are in view here. All that we
have hidden shall be revealed. The things we have done in the body will come
back to us, whether good or bad. Every pious thought, and every thought of sin;
every secret prayer, and every secret curse; every unknown deed of charity, and
every hidden deed of selfishness; we will see them all again, and though we have
not remembered them for years, and perhaps have forgotten them altogether, we
shall have to acknowledge that they are our own. Is not that a solemn thing
to stand at the end of life?”
Ø
My sin has been
dealt with at the CROSS
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 10:14
because by one sacrifice he has
made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
·
No penalty for our
sin, no judgment – Jesus completely and fully paid MY SIN DEBT!
IV. Eternal Results
Ø
Receive
REWARDS OR LOSE Rewards
1 Corinthians 3:14-15
If what he has built survives,
he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will
suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the
flames.
|
The Bema is a reward seat and portrays a time of rewards or loss of rewards
following examination… |
|
It is not a time of punishment where believers are judged for their sins…
fire tests the quality |
|
“Suffer loss”
– better rendered “it (the reward) shall be forfeited” – a person will be
disqualified from the rewards but not salvation… |
“There are degrees in that future blessedness
proportioned to present faithfulness.”
|
The judgment seat of Christ is not a place and time when the Lord will mete
out punishment for sins committed by the child of God. Rather, it is a place
where rewards will be given or rewards will be lost depending on how we
lived our life for the Lord. |
Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, 'Well
done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I
will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's
happiness!'
“What
We Do, Matters” –
Matters throughout eternity… a very long time… “In charge of many things…”
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
“…Run in such a way as to get the
prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict
training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a
crown that will last forever.
1.
Incorruptible
Crown -
1Cor. 9:25 For disciplined, effective, victorious life
2.
Crown of Rejoicing -
1Thes. 2:19 For soul-winners
3.
Crown of
Righteousness - 2Tim.
4:8 For faithfulness & loving His appearing
4.
Crown of Life -
James 1:12 For
perseverance in trials and/or martyrdom
5.
Crown
of Glory -
1Peter 5:4 For Christian example and leadership
God’s Word speaks about so much
more concerning future rewards…
We’re rewarded with Crowns, but
also Treasures, Promises, Praise, Responsibilities, Authority
|
The believer whose works survive the fire will be rewarded greatly, so
greatly that it explodes the human mind… being in the very presence of the
Lord while ruling & reigning with Jesus Christ! |
Revelation 22:12
"Behold, I am coming soon! My
reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
~ Jesus
“What We Do, Matters” –
Draw a circle around yourself… just you and God
|
Are you making a difference for Christ? Are you inviting people to cook-off
and Friend Day? |
|
If the Lord returned today, would you stand confident or ashamed? |
Let’s Bow in Prayer
|
This morning, will you leave this place and forget what we’ve learned or
leave and be changed person? |
|
I
beg you to yield to Christ… allow Him to work through you to do good works
with out of this world results |
|
Right now name and confess your sins before the Lord claiming 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. |
|
Would you say to God this morning… “use me”… rejoice throughout eternity! |
Chili Cook-off & Concert – Oct
12th Friend Day – Oct 14th
“Conqueroring Storms of Life”
Be Praying – Be Inviting –
Be Doing Good Works!
Messages