Reality Check for Salvation

June 7, 1997

2 Corinthians 13:5

[Examination time:] Scholars tell us that 2 Corinthians was written to speak to errors in doctrine and worship and life-style that had surfaced in the Corinth Church of the Nazarene when Paul was General Superintendent. In addressing the things that were wrong, Paul gave something of a simple positive outline of the things that are right about being saved. In the first twelve chapters Paul says "This is what Christians believe, this is how Christians worship, this is how Christians live!" And then at the close of the letter, in the last chapter he says, "Measure yourselves by this!" "It is exam time!"

I. SAVING FAITH IS SIMPLE

11:3 (I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ ) - It is covenant with Jesus. He is Lord, and we are His loving children.

  1. It is a faith covenant 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight ) - The reality of this covenant will be challenged by the wisdom of this world. And worldly wisdom is real. It doesn't always "make sense" to trust Jesus
  2. It is a LOVE covenant 5:9 (We make it our aim, wherever we are, to be well pleasing to Jesus ) - We learn to live to please our Friend who loved us and purchased us with His blood.

II. SAVING FAITH IS PURE

7:1 (Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God ) - No one can serve two masters. God loves every one of us with "unconditional love." But we cannot love Him with saving faith and at the same time remain in wilful and outbroken sin.

  1. Saving faith always involves repentance, turning away from sin; always involves confessing and forsaking wilful sin 7:10 (For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death )
  2. Saving faith means forsaking sinful ways 6:14 (Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what FELLOWSHIP has righteousness with lawlessness? And what COMMUNION has light with darkness? And what AGREEMENT has Christ with Satan? Or what part of your self belongs to unbelief? ... You and I together are the temple of God! adapt. ) - Our life-style will reflect our love for God.

III. SAVING FAITH IS NOW

6:2 (Behold NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation ) - It is rooted in the past, and it holds bright hope for tomorrow. 1:10 (God delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us...) But still, salvation is always in the present!

  1. We believe in eternal security; God will never take His salvation back.
  2. But we also believe in accountability— (text) Examine yourself! Are you in this faith today?

Conclusion: The earliest confession of faith of the early church was simply, "Jesus is Lord!" It really says it all if we stop and think what each of those words stand for:

Who is Lord? JESUS is Lord— the only begotten Son of the Father. Not the greatest of martyrs, but God Incarnate.

What is Jesus? Jesus is LORD! Not simply our Friend, though He is that— nor just our Example. But we call Him LORD!

But that little word in the middle! That is present tense! Jesus IS Lord of heaven and earth! Jesus IS seated at the right hand of the Father just now! But when is Jesus Lord to you and me? Jesus IS Lord!

#269 He Is Lord!