salvation

REJOICE! Part II

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Philippians 1:6, 21

Bible Reading for Sunday, July 5: Psalm 33:6-12

Acts 16—the start of the Philippians church

Ten years later, Paul writes this letter to the church at Philippi to thank them for the provisions they gathered and sent him.

Paul’s prison sentence–

Paul’s command to “Rejoice!”—15 times in this letter, Paul commands the Christ followers in Philippi to “Rejoice!” Paul was not going to allow circumstances, even a Roman prison, to rob him of his joy. Joy is not happiness. Joy is not based on circumstances. Joy is based on doing what God wants us to do no matter the circumstances.

Philippians 1:6— “He who began a good work in you…….”

God will complete the work of salvation—

God will complete the work of sanctification—

God will complete the “good works” established for us to do—

          Ephesians 2:10—

Philippians 1:21— “To live Christ, to die gain”

We are to live life to the fullest until God says it is time to work no more, this our joy!

Rejoice!

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Text: Acts 16:11-40

Bible Reading: Psalm 58

The birth of the Philippian church is recorded for us in Acts 16:11-40

I. First Convert—Acts 16:11-15

II. Second Convert—Acts 16:16-24

III. Third Convert—Acts 16:25-30

Conclusion: The Great Question: What must I do to be saved?

Familiar Scriptures from Philippians: (NKJV)

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Glorified!

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

The fifth and final word in the “sequence of salvation” is glorified. It is found in Romans 8:30. It is a fascinating word. It has both a “now” and “future” or “not yet” meaning.

For now, we are glorified because we have been adopted, or chosen. God chose us. He has called us by name and has given us a portion of His glory. Earlier in Romans 8, we read that it is part of God’s plan for us to be “conformed into the image of Christ.” (Romans 8:29) Being transformed into the image of Christ is a process called “sanctification.” This is an “on-going” work of God’s Spirit within us. It is a transforming work of the Holy Spirit as we give ourselves over to Him.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul refers to this process as going from “glory to glory.”

From “glory to glory” is a great description of what our lives should look like here on the earth.  From glory to glory describes the on-going process of spiritual growth and becoming conformed into the image of Christ. Then as we go from “glory to glory” there will come a God-appointed time where we will experience the ultimate glorification.

Ultimate glorification is when we take our final breath here on the earth followed by our first breath in the presence of God. This is the ultimate and final glory we will experience. It just will not get any better than that.

Salvation, which is described in these five words (foreknew, predestined, called, justified and glorified) found in Romans 8:29-30, is followed by Sanctification (glory to glory) which is followed by our glorification or eternity with God.

Glorification is our destiny here on earth as well as our destiny for eternity.

Always in Pursuit!

Don