WHAT MUST THE CHURCH DO TO BE SAVED?

"What must I do to be saved?" is a question often considered, but the church has some responsibilities in order to be saved as well.

I. Deny this world (2 Cor. 6:17)

A. The present is all that Satan has.

1. He is called the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4).

2. He uses this world and the lusts thereof (1 Jn. 2:15, 16;

Matt. 8, 9; Jas. 1:14).

B. The pleasures of the world (Heb. 11:25) are not permanent

(1 Jn. 2:17; 2 Pet. 3:10).

II. Don’t turn away (Gal. 1:6-9)

A. A main temptation of early Christians (such as the

Galatians, Romans, and Hebrews) was to exchange the

Gospel for that with which they were comfortable, the Law

of Moses.

1. Galatians 5:4

2. Many today are tempted to fuse New Testament

Christianity and their own beliefs, resulting in

denominational baggage being brought into the church.

B. The spirit of the Athenians is alive and well (Acts 17:21),

but where is the spirit of the Bereans (Acts 17:11)?

III. Get along (Phil. 4:2)

A. Paul knew the damage that could be done when

problems were not properly resolved (2 Thess. 3:11;

1 Tim. 5:13).

B. Paul knew how worthless a divided congregation was

(1 Cor. 1:10-13).

1. Apparently certain people just did not rate in the minds

of some.

2. The same sin is seen in James 2:1-6.

C. Unity is a great evangelistic tool (Jn. 17:20, 21), but strife

does the Devil’s work for him (Jas. 3:16)!

February 23, 2003 (a.m.)