Quote from Forum Archives on November 4, 2003, 10:25 am

Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

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Dear God====Greeting Cards

http://folsom.sk.ca/deargod.htm

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                      SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT GOOD ALONE

 

I.    Introduction

 

      A.  Suppose you ask a fellow what he thinks a good husband should be.
         
          1.  He tells you a good husband should be understanding, kind,
              loving, tender, gentle, attentive to his wife, etc.
          2.  Then you might ask if he thinks he is a good husband like that
          3.  He might answer "Yes, of course".
          4.  Well, I wonder what your wife would say about that?
          5.  What wife? He answers--I'm not married.
          6.  It's good to be a good husband, but it is a bit hard without
              having a wife.

 

      B.  There are many things that are simply not meant to stand alone...

 

          1.  Like a train without a track
          2.  Like a single playing card
          3.  Like an odd sock (though Maaike has thought some of mine could
              stand alone on a few occasions, I think)
          4.  A car without an engine, or an engine without a car

 

      C.  Likewise there are some things in the Bible that clearly were not to
          stand alone, although they are good

 

II.   Some good things that are not good alone...

 

      A.  Hearing without Faith...

 

          1.  It is important to hear the gospel
              a)  Without hearing, we cannot be saved (Rom 10:14) We cannot
                  call upon the name of the Lord without hearing...
              b)  Those who teach salvation without hearing have erred from
                  the truth on this.
          2.  But hearing without believing is useless
              a)  (Heb. 4:1-2) Without being mixed with faith, the word they
                  heard did them no good (Heb 3:17-19) They grieved God
              b)  (James 2:18-20) Are we any better than demons if we hear and
                  acknowledge the truth without believing enough to obey?

 

      B.  Faith without Works...

 

          1.  Faith is essential to please God
              a)  (Heb 11:6) Without faith we cannot please God
              b)  (Heb 10:38-9) The just shall live by faith, save soul
          2.  But faith is useless without works of obedience
              a)  (James 2:14-26) James makes it clear that faith is alone and
                  useless without the same spirit of obedience exhibited by
                  Abraham
              b)  (Matt 7:21-3) Jesus said it was not enough to claim faith
                  in Him as Lord, we must DO GOD'S WILL

 

      C.  Works without Knowledge...

 

          1.  It is important to serve God with zeal and fervor and sincerity
              a)  (Tit 2:14) God wants his people zealous of good works
              b)  (I Tim 1:5) We should have a sincere heart, good conscience
                  and unpretended love...
          2.  But works without knowledge is often misguided
              a)  (Rom 10:1-4) Paul's countrymen were zealous but ignorant
              b)  In their zeal they, like Paul, persecuted the church
                  (I Tim 1:12-15) Though sincere, they were sinning in this
              c)  The validity of one's religion is not in their sincerity,
                  but in their conformity to the TRUTH

 

      D.  Knowledge without Understanding...

 

          1.  It is important to know more and more about the Bible
              a)  (II Pet 3:18) Grow in grace and knowledge
              b)  (II Pet 1:2-3) The knowledge of Christ provides great
                  blessings
          2.  But knowledge can be useless unless we understand what we read
              a)  (Acts 8:30-31) The Eunuch knew what the word said, but did
                  not understand the meaning
              b)  Much of the Bible can remain a mystery to us unless we seek
                  to study to discern the MEANING of the things said there
              c)  A stumblingblock to discernment is a sinful attitude and
                  disrespect for God's authority (II Tim 3:1-9)
                  --Many have not understood God's simple pattern for the work
                    of Christians and the church today for just such an
                    obstacle
                  --We must push aside the problems such as this that will
                    cloud our thinking and limit our understanding

 

      E.  Understanding without Love

 

          1.  It is important to understand God's message and have a good com-
              mand of a knowledge of the scriptures (II Tim 2:15) approved
          2.  But with knowledge can come pride, arrogance, haughty spirit,
              a lack of love for the less fortunate and less discerning
              a)  (I Cor. 8:1-3) Knowledge puffs up, love BUILDS UP
              b)  (I Cor. 13:1-4) Even the greatest of understanding is not so
                  valuable unless the knowledge is applied with love.

 

      F.  Love without Obedience

 

          1.  Love is the greatest thing of all (I Cor. 13:8-13) It abides
          2.  But love is nothing if we do not love God enough to OBEY HIM
              a)  Love can be for our families, our friends, their feelings
                  (Matt 10:37-38) Must love our families less
              b)  Love can be for the ideas we have always believed and they
                  may not agree with God's truth.
              c)  Love may be a pretense, and we may not really love God at
                  all, because we will make no real sacrifice
                  --(John 14:15) If ye love me, keep my commandments
                  --(I John 5:1-3) This is the love of God--Keep His Comm.

 

      G.  Obedience without Hope

 

          1.  We know how important it is to obey God
              a)  (Rom 10:16) to be saved we must obey the gospel
              b)  (Rom 6:17-18) We must obey to be freed from sin
          2.  But some obey God without enjoying the confidence they should
              have in trusting God to keep His promises
              a)  (Heb 6:10) Our labor should be a labor of Love
                  --We need to have confidence that God will keep His part
                    of the promise if we will obey Him with all our heart
              b)  Those who lose sight of the promises and hope labor on in
                  a drudging, begrudging manner, never glorifying God
              c)  Let us serve with joy, run with patience, look forward and
                  homeward with confidence (II Tim 4:6-8)

 

      H.  Hope without Perseverance

 

          1.  It is important to know we have hope of eternal life
              (I Jn 5:13) Examination of the scriptures can give us that
                          knowledge
              (Tit 1:1-2) Paul lived in hope of eternal life--so can we

 

          2.  But this hope or confidence can be cast away if we do not endure
              a)  (Heb 10:32-37) Cast not away your confidence
              b)  (Col 1:21-23) We can be presented blameless if we continue
                  stedfast to the end
              c)  (I Thess 2:19) Our joy is your presence, redeemed, pure,
                  right in God's sight AT THE JUDGMENT

 

III.  Conclusion

 

      A.  We should recognize that every one of these things is important in
          pleasing God

 

      B.  But none of these things stands alone--all must be a part of serving
          God acceptably.

 

      C.  Are you living right with God today?  Why not get right now?

 

 

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Dear God====Greeting Cards

http://folsom.sk.ca/deargod.htm

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