CHRISTIAN LIFE

1.      2 Corinthians 8:1-2 è In the midst of a trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. Although they were very poor, they were very generous, because of the grace of God. God had given them the willingness to give what little they had, and to do it with joy.

2.      2 Peter 2:9 è The Lord knows how to deliver His people.

3.      1 Peter 1:1-2 è Divine election. Christians are strangers not because men have rejected them, but because God has elected them. Christians are scattered, foreigners, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

                               I.            Christians are elect "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father."

The Biblical definition of God’s foreknowledge is different.  It does not mean God’s prior knowledge of what we have chosen.  Rather, it means a specific and intentional action of God loving certain people (Christians) and setting His affection on them alone.

                            II.            Christians are elect "by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit."

                         III.            Christians are elect "that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood."

4.      James 1:2 è what does it mean to save your soul?

To save our soul, we must believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God and Savior of the Church, His body.

                               I.            Our Past, we are sinful è Justification is the process whereby a person is declared to be right before God. Justification is God's act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin while at the same time declaring a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice

                            II.            Present è Sanctification means to be set apart for Holy use. The singular means of God's sanctifying grace is Jesus Christ: "We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. We will be changed into His perfect likeness – holy, sanctified, and completely separated from the presence of evil.

                         III.            Future è Glorification is the future and final work of God upon Christians where he transforms our mortal physical bodies to the eternal physical bodies in which we will dwell forever.

Ø  1 Peter 1:2 è when you go to the church, peace and grace is multiplies to you.

Ø  2 Corinthians 5:14 è Mission of reconciliation is given to us.

Sermon outline from www.intlcog.org, Date: 8/31/2014