Sermon: Earn This
by Chris Cumming

You are probably all aware of the 1998, Academy Award winning movie, “Saving Private Ryan” directed by Steven Spielberg.  The movie won seven Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Actor-Tom Hanks and Best Picture of the Year.

The plot of the movie is rather simple.  Four brothers from Iowa are all drafted to the Army during World War II.  One goes to the Pacific Theater while the other three are sent to Europe and all are involved in the D-Day landings at Normandy Beach.  In a two week period, three of the brothers are killed, leaving the fourth brother lost somewhere behind German lines having parachuted in the night before the D-Day invasion.

The commanding general orders eight soldiers to go and find him and get him sent home to his mother lest she lose all her sons to the war.  Tom Hanks plays Captain Miller who heads up the rescue squad.  In the process of saving this one private, James Ryan, six of these men lose their lives including Captain Miller.  As he lies dying from his wounds, he has Private Ryan come near to hear his last words.  He grabs Ryan by his jacket and says to him, “Earn this …earn this.”

Captain Miller was impressing upon Ryan that several men had just given their lives so that he could return to Iowa and live out a very long life with a wife, children and grandchildren. 

There is an interesting statement in the early part of the movie by Captain Miller before finding this Private Ryan.  He says, “This James Ryan had better go home and invent the longer lasting light bulb or something.”

I was impressed with the admonition Private Ryan received.  In many ways we have been given the same admonition.  Think about this.  Jesus saved our lives and in the process lost His life.  By His death, we were saved to the Salvation Process.  Add to your thinking the accounts of so many who gave their lives in service to God before you were called to the Salvation Process.  Once in that process, Christ has showered us with the same admonition Captain Miller gave to Private Ryan.

The purpose of my sermon today is to admonish all of us to, “Earn this.”

I am not talking about earning forgiveness or salvation.  Those are gifts of God.  No one can earn salvation.  That has been a teaching of this church from the beginning.  Clearly Private Ryan did absolutely nothing to be saved.  It was a command of [a gift of] the commanding general.

What I am talking about are all the elements of the Salvation Process God placed you in.  By the gifts of forgiveness and salvation, God has placed you into the Salvation Process where you strive to become like Christ.  He placed you there to overcome sin and produce real fruit of the Spirit and righteous character.

Understand what I am saying with these scriptures:

2 Timothy 3:17 [See Lesson]
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Titus 2:7 
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Titus 2:14 
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 3:8 
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:14
And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Hebrews 10:24 
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Thus the admonition to, “Earn this.”  You have been called to the Salvation Process.  So now, do something with yourself.  Live up to that calling.  Better yet, yield to that calling.

Understand the definition I am using for the word, “earn” here.  I am not talking earning something by work or service.  Notice the definition I am using from the British Dictionary:

Earn:
(transitive) to acquire, merit, or deserve through behavior or action.

“Transitive” here means characterized by or involving transition from one state to another.  The entire purpose of the Salvation Process is to take you in transition from sinning character to the character of Christ.  To do this, you must engage the elements of the Salvation Process to that end.

Earn this.

We are now going to have a scripture reading.  This is a collection of scriptures all speaking to our abounding in the Salvation Process.

Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Note: 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says:  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Note:  Making clear that salvation is a gift of God

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.

Note: 1 Peter 2:12 says: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. [Emphasis mine]

Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Note: The Popular Commentary says for “walk worthy”: That ye walk worthy, etc. This he would have them do, live in a manner worthy of their privilege. ‘Worthy’ is an adverb, not an adjective. ~end quote.  A verb conveys an action and an adverb modifies the verb.  The action here is to “walk” in Christ and to do it in a worthy manner, meaning doing it with excellence, character and value.

Ephesians 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Note: Be like Christ.

Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Note:  Here we see the admonition to, “walk worthy” again.   For, “being fruitful in every good work” one commentary has us turn to John 15:8, which reads:  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Deuteronomy 5:33
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Note: The last verse of the chapter.  For, “Ye shall walk in all the ways” the commentary references Luke 1:6  which reads: And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Notice what God says about Israel later…

Psalm 81:13
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Note: To “earn this” or live up to our calling, we must walk [action verb] in all His ways.

Notice another verse set about walking in the ways of the Lord:

Psalm 119:1-4
1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

Note:  These four verses give us a whole list of living up to the admonition of “earn this.”

1] walk in the way of the Lord
2] keep His testimonies.
3] seek Him …immerse yourself in the Word and in prayer and meditation.
4] do no iniquity.
5] keep His precepts.
6] invoke diligence.

Let us take another look at our admonition for this sermon.  I do not want there to be any confusion in your mind.  Again, we are not talking about earning salvation, forgiveness, grace, eternal life or the Kingdom.  We are talking about what you do in the Salvation Process or more accurately, what you allow God to do in and through you by Christ Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The word, “earn” originates in the Middle and Old English word “earnian” which is akin to the Old High German “arnen” word meaning “to harvest.”  God clearly speaks to firstfruits being a harvest.  We are doing works that prepare us for the harvest.

Luke 10:2 
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

From another dictionary I referenced I found that “earn” is a verb which is, as we have stated, is an action word.  It means:

1] to bring about or cause.  We are bringing about a change in character.  We are invoking good works by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:16 
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2] to gain as due return.  We gain a reward for the action we take in the Salvation Process.

Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

3] to get in return for one’s labor or service.  Notice what Jesus will say to us on His return:

Matthew 25:21 ...surely a kingdom scripture - the parable of the talents
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

1 Timothy 6:18 ...speaking to the rich in the world  [see Lesson]
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

For this verse, let us just take an excerpt from the lesson we did on this verse.

2 Timothy 2:18-21  [see Lessons 18, 19, 20 and 21]
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Note: We are walking on a sure foundation of God.  We are departing form iniquity.  We are constantly purging ourselves of sin and vain jangling.

Titus 3:1-8
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Note:
Verse 1: “be ready to every good work” – we look for opportunities to do good works.
Verse 2: We invoke gentleness and meekness
Verse 5: God saves us through mercy and He renews us by the power of the Holy Spirit
Verse 8: Firstfruits are careful to maintain good works.

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Note:  How does one, “Hold fast our profession”?  He/she “earns” it.  He/she stays in his Calling.  He actively moves forward in the Salvation Process.  He/she addresses every element of it.

Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Note:  God makes us perfect through Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Note: Grace abounds when Christ binds His spirit to ours and we work [do, earn] to change our image to His.

Romans 2:14-15
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Romans 4:4-8
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.