Partakers Christian Podcasts

So Great A Salvation Part 10

So Great A Salvation

Part 10 - Dealing with Doubts

When you became a Christian, you started an exciting journey in the Christian life. Success in the Christian life is not an accident, but rather it is a direct result of living in harmony with the basic principles of life set forth in the Bible. The Christian life is not a matter of expecting spiritual maturity to occur overnight. The Bible lays down standards and principles of living which we need to follow with God’s strength, if we are to continue living at peace with God, our fellow men, and ourselves. We need to know what God expects of us and what guidelines He has given us to achieve this quality of life. As we apply the principles and guidelines of the Bible to our lives, we are transformed into the likeness of Christ – which is the journey we are on (Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Jesus said ‘I have come to bring them life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10). This is achieved as we allow Jesus Christ to live this life through us so that we start to think and respond like He does, to the people and circumstances around us. We need to learn how to see circumstances and people from God’s perspective, rather than reacting on the basis of feelings. When we respond to circumstances on the basis of our feelings that is when conflict, stress, tension and depression enter. When we respond to circumstances by looking from God’s perspective, it builds and shows a transformed character as we become more like Jesus.

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Psalm on Demand - Psalm 45

Psalm 45

45:1 My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

45:2 You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.

45:3 Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty.

45:4 In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.

45:5 Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.

45:6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.

45:7 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

45:8 All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.

45:9 Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.

45:10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.

45:11 So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.

45:12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.

45:13 The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.

45:14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.

45:15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace.

45:16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.

45:17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.

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So Great A Salvation Part 9

So Great A Salvation

 Part 9 - Godly Discipline

Christians are sometimes entangled by sin (Hebrews 12:1). God disciplines His children. “It is painful.” (Hebrews 12:11) Therefore if we are Christians, and we sin (remaining unrepentant and making a habit of it), God will discipline us because we are His children (Hebrews 12:10). If we sin and are not disciplined, we are not His children (Hebrews 12:8).

The Practice of Sin - Habitual Sin - The Christian cannot continue to sin habitually, willingly maintaining a sinful practice or attitude. That is why we are warned against doing so and thus falling away.
Note carefully the following two truths:

• We share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end. (Hebrews 3:13-14)
• It is possible to experience much of what God offers but fundamentally reject it and by so doing place ourselves outside and beyond the grace of God (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Living as a Christian Disciple is to be a life that brings glory to Jesus Christ. Part of that is a life of repentance, faith, perseverance and discipline. In doing these four things, the Christian Disciple inevitably carries their own cross daily, so that Jesus the Master is honoured and glorified.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 66

Psalm 66

For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.

66:1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
66:2 Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!
66:3 Tell God, "How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
66:4 All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name."

Selah.

66:5 Come, and see God's deeds- awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
66:6 He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.
66:7 He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don't let the rebellious rise up against him.

Selah.

66:8 Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,
66:9 who preserves our life among the living, and doesn't allow our feet to be moved.
66:10 For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
66:11 You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.
66:12 You allowed men to ride over our heads.
We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.
66:13 I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,
66:14 which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.
66:15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats.

Selah.

66:16 Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
66:17 I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.
66:18 If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn't have listened.
66:19 But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.
66:20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.

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So Great A Salvation Part 8

So Great A Salvation

 
Part 8 - Perseverance

Perseverance is the continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart is continued and brought to completion. We read that:

• My sheep listen to my voice; I know them … and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand… no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. They will never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand (John 10:27-29)
• “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24)
• He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus(Philippians 1:6)
• Shielded by God’s power. (1 Peter 1:5)
• Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)
• The Lord knows those who are His (2 Timothy 2:19)
• That you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:12-13)

In summary then: eternal life never depends on our feeble grip on Christ, but rather on His firm grip on us.

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Bible Reading - Psalm 19

Psalm 19

19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God.

The expanse shows his handiwork.

19:2 Day after day they pour forth speech,

and night after night they display knowledge.

19:3 There is no speech nor language,

where their voice is not heard.

19:4 Their voice has gone out through all the earth,

their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

19:5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room,

like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.

19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens,

his circuit to its ends;

There is nothing hidden from its heat.

19:7 Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul.

Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

19:8 Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.

Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

19:9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever.

Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

19:11 Moreover by them is your servant warned.

In keeping them there is great reward.

19:12 Who can discern his errors?

Forgive me from hidden errors.

19:13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I will be upright.

I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.

 

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So Great A Salvation Part 7

So Great A Salvation

Part 7 – Faith

Faith is confidence in the faithfulness of God which leads to reliance and trust in God and obedience to Him (Hebrews 11:6). In salvation, faith is a voluntary change of mind and heart in the sinner in which the person turns to God, accepting and relying on His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.

FAITH = BELIEF + TRUST + ACTION.

Faith does not operate in a vacuum. It must affect our:

• Mind – by recognition of our need of salvation. Acknowledging Christ’s death on our behalf and our need of forgiveness.
• Emotional (Heart) – by giving personal assent to the gospel - What must I do to be saved? Agree to make salvation a part of life.
• Will – by a conscious turning of our inner affections and motivations to personal trust.

Another way of putting it is that we should:

• Surrender the whole of our life to the Lordship of Christ (John 8:12; Romans 10:9)
• Receive and appropriate Jesus into the life. (John 1:12; Revelation 3:20)
• Accept His death on our behalf, and the forgiveness He offers (1 John 1:7,9).
  
  
  Next in this series, we look at the role of perseverance in the life of the Christian Disciple

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Psalm Bible Thought - Psalm 99

Psalm 99

(as read by Sarah)

99:1 Yahweh reigns!
Let the peoples tremble.
He sits enthroned among the cherubim.
Let the earth be moved.
99:2 Yahweh is great in Zion.
He is high above all the peoples.
99:3 Let them praise your great and awesome name.
He is Holy!

99:4 The King's strength also loves justice.
You do establish equity.
You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.
99:5 Exalt Yahweh our God.
Worship at his footstool. He is Holy!
99:6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel among those who call on his name;
they called on Yahweh, and he answered them.

99:7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud.
They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.
99:8 You answered them, Yahweh our God.
You are a God who forgave them,
although you took vengeance for their doings.
99:9 Exalt Yahweh, our God.
Worship at his holy hill, for Yahweh, our God, is holy!

 

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So Great A Salvation Part 6

So Great A Salvation

Part 6 – Repentance

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13

This “working hard to show the results of your salvation” involves four things: Repentance, Faith, Perseverance and Discipline.

Repentance is a voluntary change in mind, in which the person turns from a life of sin to living a life of righteousness. This is done in three spheres:

• Mind (Intellect) - recognition of personal sinfulness and guilt before God (Psalm 51:3; Romans 3:20)
• Emotional (Heart) - genuine sorrow for sin - Godly sorrow... leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)
• Will - decision to turn from sin, self-pleasing and self-centredness to God.

The importance of repentance was central to the teaching of:

• Jesus (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15);
• John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-2)
• Apostles (Acts 2:38; 20:21).
  
  

Repentance was commanded by God (Acts 17:30). It was God’s will that all people should repent (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4)
In the next podcast, we look at the role of faith in the life of the Christian Disciple

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So Great A Salvation Part 5

So Great A Salvation

 Part 5 – The Who, What, Why of Salvation

“9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 New Living Translation

Who decides who is saved has been a question asked for centuries!! There are two extremist views in regard to salvation – there is “hyper-Calvinism” that says God has decided all things and there is nothing we can do about it. Then there is the opposite end, “universalism”, which says that God will grant salvation to all, regardless of creed, race or religion.

However, there is a third way. But we need to see these two “isms” in the balance of Scripture. Firstly, God does choose individuals to fulfil His purposes (Romans 9) and He chooses those who are, or will be, saved (John 15:16). These chosen ones are called the elect. However, it is also His will that all people should be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4) and that nobody should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

So in reading those two statements, it is imperative that we accept both these Scriptural statements as equally and absolutely true. When we use words about God with a time element such as 'chose', 'elect', we need to use these considering God's infinite time framework (timelessness), and not in our human finite time framework. So God offers salvation to all, and leaves the responsibility to take up the offer with humans.

Very often Christians will realise that although they thought at the time, they were making their own free decision to follow Christ, looking back they can see how God led them to that point. We choose; he elects. That is a puzzle we will never understand the answer to but that is the way that it is.

As a Christian Disciple you have taken up God’s offer of salvation! But now what? What happens after the decision to become a Christian has been made? The answer to that, in the next podcast!

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