156-G102 ~ Galatians 4:11 and more
I begin by discussing what this “4Us2Us” is all about. This represents a principle everyone needs to know. It is to do with the fact that while all the Bible is FOR us it is not all TO us. Sorting these things out is the principle of rightly dividing the Scriptures as per 2 Timothy 2:15. When people don’t know and understand this principle the Bible can be very confusing. In many places it appears to be contradictory. Therefore, understanding this principle is extremely important.
I then go to Ephesians 2:8-9. This is a short passage everyone needs to be familiar with. It is in passages like this that we see the basics about the means to salvation. Here we learn it is not about our works, but the grace of God. To get in on this our faith must be in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was in this work of His that the means to our salvation was provided. Then in Ephesians 2:10 we find that good works SHOULD be performed by us AFTER our salvation. These works don’t save us but can serve to demonstrate our appreciation for the GIFT of salvation. I then discuss the principle of FAITH and how there’s no merit in faith. The merit is in the object of faith. In this case that’s Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Question: Don’t we all know people who need this message regarding the means to one’s salvation? Don’t we all need to see this as an opportunity to be of great help to some people? Here we also should learn that any gospel presentations we make will not be in vain even if rejected. Expressions of our faithfulness are never in vain.
I then end this a brief study of Philippians 3:2-9. Here Paul discusses popular things that people then used as a system of works for salvation. Those then and those things people use today are all unacceptable no matter how popular they are with people. None of man’s works, religious or otherwise, provide salvation.
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