Concord United Sermons

: Jesus tells his disciples that he came to offer eternal life to those who believe in and follow him. Eternal life is described in the Bible in several ways. It is described as knowing Jesus, the heavenly city, and the eternal kingdom. These images point to an eternity within a community of restored relationships where every wound has been healed and where we are able love as God has loved us. Jesus’ teachings lead us to questions: 1) Can we know we are saved?  2) Can we know others aren’t saved?

 

In regards to question 1, Jesus’ teachings indicate that if we have sought his forgiveness and placed our trust for this life and eternity in him, we can trust we are saved even if we did not feel anything immediately when we prayed.  Jesus also promises to send his Spirit to give us an assurance of salvation and calls us to trust His word that he will be true to his promise for those who seek him. While sometimes we have to wait longer than we would wish for a spiritual experience of assurance, often God’s silence is an invitation for us to more deeply pursue him. As relates to question 2, Christian disagree. While some Christian traditions, hold that those who never publicly profess faith are condemned, most Christian traditions hold out the possibility that Christ is still able to work in the lives of those on their deathbeds and those who sought God with their lives, but lived in cultures where they never learned the Gospel. As Methodists, we believe in free will and, therefore, we believe God will not force salvation on anyone. If a soul chooses darkness over light, God will respect the choice.  

Scripture - John 10:27-30, Romans 10:9–10, Revelation 22:1–5

Jesus tells his disciples that he came to offer eternal life to those who believe in and follow him. Eternal life is described in the Bible in several ways. It is described as knowing Jesus, the heavenly city, and the eternal kingdom. These images point to an eternity within a community of restored relationships where every wound has been healed and where we are able love as God has loved us. Jesus’ teachings lead us to questions: 1) Can we know we are saved?  2) Can we know others aren’t saved?

 

In regards to question 1, Jesus’ teachings indicate that if we have sought his forgiveness and placed our trust for this life and eternity in him, we can trust we are saved even if we did not feel anything immediately when we prayed.  Jesus also promises to send his Spirit to give us an assurance of salvation and calls us to trust His word that he will be true to his promise for those who seek him. While sometimes we have to wait longer than we would wish for a spiritual experience of assurance, often God’s silence is an invitation for us to more deeply pursue him. As relates to question 2, Christian disagree. While some Christian traditions, hold that those who never publicly profess faith are condemned, most Christian traditions hold out the possibility that Christ is still able to work in the lives of those on their deathbeds and those who sought God with their lives, but lived in cultures where they never learned the Gospel. As Methodists, we believe in free will and, therefore, we believe God will not force salvation on anyone. If a soul chooses darkness over light, God will respect the choice.  

Scripture - John 10:27-30, Romans 10:9–10, Revelation 22:1–5

Though we are saved by grace, we are saved through faith. It is faith that allows us request and receive God’s grace and provision through our trust in God. Hebrews 11  describes faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. It is faith through which the Holy Spirit gives us the internal witness to our souls which allows us to trust God to save us for eternity and to guide us in this life. Living by faith means following God’s guidance and calling this life, and trusting that God will prepare a place for us in God’s eternal kingdom. 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Hebrews 11:1,6

Though we are saved by grace, we are saved through faith. It is faith that allows us request and receive God’s grace and provision through our trust in God. Hebrews 11  describes faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. It is faith through which the Holy Spirit gives us the internal witness to our souls which allows us to trust God to save us for eternity and to guide us in this life. Living by faith means following God’s guidance and calling this life, and trusting that God will prepare a place for us in God’s eternal kingdom. 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Hebrews 11:1,6

We can be saved only by grace, God’s unmerited forgiveness and blessing given to us in the midst of our sinfulness. This grace cannot be earned, but must be requested and received. To illustrate grace, Jesus used the example of the prodigal son, who wronged his Father, wasted his resources, and yet knew enough of his Father’s love to return and beg for forgiveness and provision – which the Father joyfully provides.  

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Luke 15:11-32  

We can be saved only by grace, God’s unmerited forgiveness and blessing given to us in the midst of our sinfulness. This grace cannot be earned, but must be requested and received. To illustrate grace, Jesus used the example of the prodigal son, who wronged his Father, wasted his resources, and yet knew enough of his Father’s love to return and beg for forgiveness and provision – which the Father joyfully provides.  

 

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Luke 15:11-32  

Before his birth, Jesus is prophesied to be the one who will save the people from their sins. Ephesians 2 & Romans 6 describe sin as causing death. All sin ultimately causes us to make ourselves god rather following the One True God. Under the power of sin, we follow our own desires and relegate God to a deity we seek only when doing so can help us achieve our goals and objectives. In this way, sin causes estrangement from God by our deviation from the life God designed us for. To be saved is to have our estrangement with God overcome and our relationship with God rightly restored by the gracious work of Christ, so that we can once again see God for who God is and experience ourselves as God’s children and servants.

Scripture - Ephesians 2:4-9, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:23  

Before his birth, Jesus is prophesied to be the one who will save the people from their sins. Ephesians 2 & Romans 6 describe sin as causing death. All sin ultimately causes us to make ourselves god rather following the One True God. Under the power of sin, we follow our own desires and relegate God to a deity we seek only when doing so can help us achieve our goals and objectives. In this way, sin causes estrangement from God by our deviation from the life God designed us for. To be saved is to have our estrangement with God overcome and our relationship with God rightly restored by the gracious work of Christ, so that we can once again see God for who God is and experience ourselves as God’s children and servants.

Scripture -Ephesians 2:4-9, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:23 

Thomas was a skeptical follower of Christ. He heard the stories of Jesus’ resurrection, but had trouble believing until he could see for himself. At the time Thomas expressed his doubt, he was the only disciple who had not yet seen the Risen Christ. In this manner, Thomas is an example for all of us. There will be times when we have not yet experienced what we are told and believe about God to be true. In those moments, we might consider ourselves Skeptical Christians. Jesus challenges Thomas and us in those moments to believe. Thomas experiences Christ by placing himself around those who have already experienced him. When someone a fellow Christian is experiencing skepticism, our job is to encourage them to cling close to those who have experienced Christ, to share our experience (strength and hope), and wait for Christ to appear in His time in His way.   

Scripture - John 20:19-29

Thomas was a skeptical follower of Christ. He heard the stories of Jesus’ resurrection, but had trouble believing until he could see for himself. At the time Thomas expressed his doubt, he was the only disciple who had not yet seen the Risen Christ. In this manner, Thomas is an example for all of us. There will be times when we have not yet experienced what we are told and believe about God to be true. In those moments, we might consider ourselves Skeptical Christians. Jesus challenges Thomas and us in those moments to believe. Thomas experiences Christ by placing himself around those who have already experienced him. When someone a fellow Christian is experiencing skepticism, our job is to encourage them to cling close to those who have experienced Christ, to share our experience (strength and hope), and wait for Christ to appear in His time in His way.   

Scripture - John 20:19-29