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Sermon: Sustentation
by Chris Cumming
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Let us begin this sermon with the title, "sustentation."
Sustentation
[suhs-tuh n-tey-shuh n]
Noun
1. maintenance in being or activity; the sustaining of life through
vital processes.
2. provision with means or funds for upkeep.
3. means of sustaining life; sustenance.
If we were to apply the word, "sustentation" to the spiritual we would
modify the definition a bit.
Noun
1. maintenance in the activity of salvation; the sustaining of moving
toward perfection in the salvation process.
2. providing the means to keep going in the process.
3. means of sustaining your life in the salvation process.
This sermon is going to be an immersion into our doctrinal statement on
salvation, as I encourage all of us to keep going in the salvation
process.
Keep going toward
eternal life.
Now there is something we should understand about doctrinal statements.
They were designed to give our best explanation of what we believe from
the Bible. The Bible was written by God and is therefore perfect. The
doctrinal statements were written by man; fallible man and are not
necessarily perfect. This is why the authors made the collection of
doctrinal statements a living document, meaning that it will grow with
the maturity of church and its ministry.
Note: The doctrinal text will be in boxes so you can easily
distinguish between the doctrine and my comments.
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Doctrine
11: Salvation
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
Salvation is the means by which God, through Christ, saves man
from the penalty of sin and gives him eternal life. This process
includes one's calling, repentance, baptism, justification,
receiving of the Holy Spirit, a life of faith and obedience and
final birth into God's kingdom as a spirit being. Salvation is a
freely given gift from God through grace, with our ultimate
reward being according to our works. |
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DOCTRINAL OVERVIEW
The goal of every Christian is to be saved from the death
penalty of sin through the sacrifice of Christ and to receive
the gift of eternal life in God's family and kingdom. This goal
and the process by which it is attained is called salvation. It
is the ultimate purpose of life and the explicit reason why
mankind was created.
God created man in His image and after His likeness. But the
creation process will not be complete until mankind is perfected
spiritually-has perfect godly character created in him-and
actually enters the God family. God initiates this process by
"calling" a person-opening his mind to understand, grasp and be
convicted by the truth of the Bible. It is impossible for anyone
to come to Christ unless the Father calls him (John 6:44), and
God's calling "depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon
God's mercy" (Romans 9:16). |
Quoted verses:
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
Note: The John Gill commentary
says the meaning here is that people can come to Jesus physically but
not spiritually because they have no power within themselves, being dead
in sins.
Romans 9:16
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of
God that sheweth mercy.
Notice the commentary:
But of God that showeth mercy - Salvation
in its beginning, its progress, and its close, is of him. He has a
right, therefore, to bestow it when and where he pleases. All our
mercies flow from his mere love and compassion, and not from our
deserts. The essential idea here is, that God is the original fountain
of all the blessings of salvation.
~Barnes Notes
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If one responds to the realization of God's truth by believing
it, committing oneself to it and by acting upon it, God will
then grant him the miracle of true repentance (Romans 2:4).
Repentance is the state of mind which an individual attains
through seeing and acknowledging his past sinful way of life,
and by recognizing that he has broken God's laws (Romans 3:23; 1
John. 3:4) and resolving to do so no longer. Repentance,
Includes both a deep ("godly")
sorrow over past wrongs (2 Corinthians 7:10) and a steadfast
determination to change the whole direction of one's life from
disobedience to obedience of God. It is accompanied by a
profound realization of the need for forgiveness and the help
and strength of God to change. |
Note: The first part of this
text is not talking about someone coming to God through Jesus
spiritually by their own power. It is talking about how God uses the
Holy Spirit to draw one towards the truth and then comes the miracle of
true repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, thus
entering the salvation process.
Quoted verses:
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
Note: "the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance." There is nothing in man that can get him
to repentance.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law.
2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Note: Two kinds of sorrow
here. We have Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. In Godly sorrow, our
eyes are on God. In worldly sorrow, the eyes are on the self. The
author of Godly sorrow is God.
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Once a person has repented and professed a sincere faith in the
person, message and sacrifice of Christ, he may be baptized by
immersion for the forgiveness of sins. This baptism is a type of
Christ's death, burial and resurrection, which is our means of
reconciliation to God (Romans 5:10) since He paid the death
penalty for our sins. Baptism symbolizes the death and burial of
one's old sinful way of life and the beginning of a totally new
spirit-led life of obedience and submission to God. After
baptism, the new convert receives the Holy Spirit through the
laying-on-of-hands ceremony performed in accordance with the
commands and examples of the apostles (Acts 8:12-17; 19:5-6).
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Quoted verses:
Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Acts 8:12-17
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs
which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Ghost [Spirit]:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost
[Spirit].
Acts 19:5-6
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost [Spirit]
came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
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God's Spirit is an absolute necessity for the spiritual creation
process of salvation as it serves many functions. It begets one
as the son of God; it strengthens him to face trials and tests,
to overcome problems and to build godly character, and it
converts and changes the person's whole direction of mind from
being carnal to being spiritual (Romans 8). As such, the Holy
Spirit is the seed of eternal life within us which at the
resurrection will overtake our mortality with immortality and
clothe us with eternal life (Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5).
It is the guarantee to a Christian of eternal life which can
only be negated by willful neglect or deliberate rejection. |
Quoted verses:
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in
you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your
mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our
house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for
that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be
swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also
hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
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The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is clearly the focal point of the
salvation process. He was "put to death for our trespasses and
raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25). We "were reconciled
to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10) and are thereby
justified through faith in that reality (Romans 5:1). Yet
salvation must go beyond justifying the past, it must continue
into the future throughout one's life. The true Christian is
admonished to "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Indeed, the active participation of
Jesus Christ in one's life through His Holy Spirit is absolutely
essential for ultimate salvation. As Romans 5:10 concludes "much
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." |
Quoted verses:
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for
our justification.
Roman 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ:
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Note: this verse goes with
our sermon on Ephesians 1:11, "Agency"
where we see God the Father doing all things after the counsel of his
own will.
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This whole salvation process is by "grace" (Greek
"favor"-Ephesians 2:8)-It is unmerited and freely
given by God and cannot in any way be earned. The Christian
totally depends upon God's grace, initially for the forgiveness
of sins he may commit subsequent to baptism. Nevertheless, the
individual must meet certain criteria in order to be given this
free gift. |
Quoted verse:
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God:
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First, the person must live by and grow in faith-a total and
real conviction. One must have faith that God exists; faith that
He will perform all of His biblical promises including that of
granting him salvation (Romans 4); faith that the death of Jesus
Christ will pay the penalty for one's sins and reconcile him to
God; and faith that the resurrection of the living Jesus Christ
will enable him to attain eternal life.
Furthermore, a Christian must not be disobedient, since
continual sin that is not repented of disqualifies one from
God's kingdom. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Salvation is surely not
earned by obedience, because salvation can in no way be earned
(cf Romans 4:4). Nevertheless, Christ's response to one who
asked Him what must be done in order to be saved was that the
commandments must be kept (Matthew 19:17). Furthermore, Christ
told His disciples that at the resurrection He shall "reward
every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27; Revelation
22:12). |
Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of
our God.
Romans 4:4
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt.
Matthew 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but
one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments.
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be.
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The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 also illustrates why
obedience and good works are necessary. Although salvation
itself is a totally freely given gift (and
hence is "by grace"), our individual responsibilities
within God's family and kingdom shall vary according to the way
we have lived our lives since baptism. The parable of the
talents in Matthew 25 shows plainly that we will receive
responsibilities in direct proportion to the way we have
conducted our lives. |
Quoted verses:
Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country,
who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another
one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took
his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the
same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid
his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth
with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five
talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I
have gained beside them five talents more.
21 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.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents
beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, 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.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew
thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and
gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there
thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I
have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and
then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath
ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that
which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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Today, God is calling a relative few, but now is not the only
day of salvation. Every human being who has ever lived shall
have an opportunity for the greatest free gift that could ever
be imagined. God wants all mankind to receive the opportunity
for salvation (1 Timothy 2:4) and is "not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter
3:9). To this end God is infinitely patient and has apportioned
a time for all human beings from all times to be called to Him
and to the ultimate gift of eternal life in the family of God. |
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 2:4 [see
Lesson]
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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In summary, salvation is by grace, through faith, not earned by
obedience but dependent upon obedience, with the degree of our
ultimate reward being according to our works. This salvation
process is thus one which entails our continuance in God's way
and necessitates our endurance to the end (Matthew 10:22;
24:13). Only when that process is complete and we have been born
as spirit beings into the family of God shall salvation have
been completely and totally achieved. |
Quoted verses:
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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