Salvation’s Purpose in God’s Story
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10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1 God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us,
Selah
2 That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
Title: Salvation’s Purpose in God’s Story
Still in the Sermon Series: The Resurrected Life: Living as New People in Christ
Christendom has entered the season of lent which leads to Passion Week..Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
Jesus suffered and died for you so you can be saved. But your story does not end in your salvation, because GOD SAVED YOU FOR A PURPOSE (tell the person next to you) and YOU ARE PART OF GOD”S UNFOLDING STORY.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Word Study - Workmanship Here
Poiēma, from where we derived the word Poem - profound meaning - that which is made, something that is manufactured, like a product — this means that just as a manufactured product is to be used for something (explain, examples),
IN BEING SAVED, YOU WERE MADE BY GOD FOR A PURPOSE!
What is purpose?
Merriam Webster definition is simple:
something set up as an object or end to be attained : INTENTION
I like the ChatGPT definition:
Purpose generally refers to the reason for which something exists or is done, the intention behind an action or creation, or the desired outcome of a specific endeavor. It often implies a sense of direction, meaning, and goal.
Illustration: Building a Shed
We need something outside ourselves.
We need meaning in our lives.
We seek that meaning outside ourselves.
We find that meaning in God’s Global purpose.
1. We need meaning in our lives.
“created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10b)
“Good works” - does not save.. is it only good works of our choosing?
We seek a blessing, when we do good works.
Good works - Feeling blessed when we give - Philippine giving
But there is such a thing that Good works that God PREPARED beforehand
and that we should WALK in them. — remember one of the key verbs in Ephesians - WALK
Obedience
These are markers that God places on our way - GPS, dropped pins — recalculating, rerouting
23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
2. We seek that meaning outside of ourselves.
CS Lewis:
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” (C.S. Lewis)
What good works did God prepare beforehand?
Jesus’ last words — The Great Commission
Make Disciples:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Preach the Gospel - We have good news to tell!
GOSPEL Slide Here
G - God Dependent - Desperate dependence on God
O - Obedience Based - Active Christ-like Obedience
S - Steadfast Focus (relentless devotion to gospel movements)
P - Pursue Multiplication (Multiplying Disciplemakers)
E - Engage Culturally (Missional engagement in culturally appropriate and adaptive ways- INCARNATION)
L - Leaders Developed
Jesus said He is with us always, even to the end of the age..
A story that lasts forever, we need an author for this story.
3. We find that meaning in God’s Global purpose.
1 God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us,
Selah
2 That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
Mercy and Blessing is tied to:
a) God’s way being known on earth. - preaching the Gospel
b) Salvation Among the Nations
There is a global perspective to God’s purpose
We know God’s word but we do not know God’s world.
A global mission attached to your blessing.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Four Dimensions of the Gospel:
Jerusalem - Our home, our family and neighbors
Judea - Bigger sphere of influence
Samaria - this is where we cross cultural boundaries
End of the Earth - Remotest part of the world
These dimensions are not meant to be sequential.. the Devil can derail
God has blessed His people to reach all peoples!
Dropping a Pin. GPS illustration
God redeemed you for a purpose
Reach:
Those “within our reach”.
The “unreached” .
That is why we send and support missionaries to the 5.1 billion souls in the 1040 window nations.
Notice: No one is outside our reach
Quote: No one is beyond the reach of God’s Love.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Right exegesis of Isaiah 6 — is a warning.
We are a sending church - VS
There is a story unfolding. It is God’s story.