Sermons About Perseverence
Faith is the Substance
The greatest single statement concerning the person and work of Christ in the Bible is the introduction to the Book of Hebrews. I memorized the first chapter of this book when I was a boy. The first three verses have stuck with me all these years, and I have rehearsed them often.
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Slaves to a New Master (Romans 6:15-19)
Obedience is not required in order to be saved, but the law teaches us how to live as those who are saved. Formerly we were slaves to sin, and now we have been made slaves to righteousness. We have a new master -- and our responsibility involves putting off sin, resisting the temptation to return to our former master; and gladly serving our new master. The freedom that we have in Christ is not freedom from having a master, but it is freedom from sin's mastery over us. Christ is now our Lord and master, and it is good to belong to him.
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He Is Able (Jude 24-25)
God's sovereign power and authority cover not only our salvation, but all of live. He made all things and keeps all things. Jude reminds us that God's sovereign power extends to His keeping us from stumbling, and bringing us to eternal joy in his presence. And not only is God able to keep us, but He desires and intends to keep us.
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The Trials of Real Life
We are expected to expose our faith. Our trials can serve as God's tools. Perseverence in the face of the trial is the key to pleasing God.
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Instruction Thru Hardship
God brings hardship in our lives to correct us. He loves us and is concerned about our attitudes and actions. He is not punishing or destroying us, but causing us to share in his holiness.
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A Certain Salvation (Romans 5:9-11)
Some kinds of doubt -- self-doubt -- are healthy. But it is unhealthy for us to doubt God and his promises; we end up hedging our bets and trusting in things less secure. Not only that, but our doubting God is sin, unbelief. In this passage, Paul presents one of his strongest logical arguments for our assurance of God's saving us and keeping us. Paul anchors our assurance in the objective work of justification and reconciliation that Jesus accomplished at the cross. He has accomplished the most difficult thing in bringing us justification and reconciliation through his death. We can be confident that the one who declared "it is finished" will continue to preserve us! As a result, we rejoice, and we boast in Christ; we do this by looking backward on what he has done for us, by looking forward with confidence in his faithfulness and promises, and by living today in light of our certain hope.
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