By David J. Stewart |
September 2014
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his
workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
I heard an sermon today by Brother Hyles titled, “The
Apprehended Apprehending.” God didn't just apprehend you so you could
escape Hell and go to Heaven forever. God apprehended you so you could
apprehend that for which you were apprehended. God didn't save us just to
avoid going to Hell forever, although that is part of it. God didn't save us
to go to Heaven forever, although that is part of it. God saved us so that
we could live for others in Christ.
Nobody is born a Christian. Nobody grew up in salvation. Before they were
saved, every believer was outside the family of God. God wanted to lay hold
on you and claim you as His own. The day you receive Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior, you became God's child and property. Jesus sought you and
He caught you. Now you're not going to Hell. There's no need to get excited,
you're just going to Heaven forever! No need to get excited, you're just not
going to burn in Hell forever!!! Whew! Praise the Lord! We're not going to
Heaven as believers because we're good, but because God is good!
But you say, this is my life! No, if you are born-again, your life belongs
to God. 1st Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God's.” The Church was purchased by Jesus' precious blood (1st
Peter 1:18-19). Salvation is completely free, paid for by Christ's sacrifice
on the cross and the blood that He sprinkled on the heavenly mercy seat
(Hebrews 9:12,24). Hebrews 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
It's Not The Shedding Of Jesus' Blood That Saves, But The 'SPRINKLING' Of
That Shed Blood.
God apprehended us so we could apprehend that for which God apprehended us,
which is to live the crucified, the risen life and the ascended life,
because we have the saved life by faith alone in the sacrifice of Christ
Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.
The Saved, Crucified, Resurrected And Ascended Life
(awesome
MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles
-
Read Article)
Many Christians are like a stuffed (taxidermied) swordfish mounted on the
wall. Instead of eating the fish and putting it to good use, it was caught
for the sole purpose of mounting it on a plaque to display on the wall.
Likewise, most born-again believers are like mounted fish, on display, but
they never fulfil any practical purpose for which God saved them. I don't
know about you, but I want to be used of God to help others, by doing good
works, which is what God intended for my life as a Christian before I was
born.
Let me ask you an important question... what are you doing for others in the
Lord? What are you doing to help others because you have the Holy Spirit of
Jesus Christ indwelling you (Romans 8:9)?
HOW BIG IS
YOUR BIBLE? (MP3 sermon by Dr. Hyles).
