As a boy I used to watch a TV game show that was really quite popular. There were three individuals who would come on stage, and all would be claiming to be a particular person. The panel would then ask a series of questions and then have to choose who they thought was telling the truth. It was interesting to try to guess along with them and try to figure out who was being true, and who was lying.
Joseph's brethren maintained that they were TRUE men. But there is something wrong with that statement, and Joseph knew exactly what it was. What was wrong was that these men's actions betrayed them. It revealed what there 'true' character was. That is still true today. There are those who claim to be 'true men', but their lives and their actions indicate otherwise. There are people who claim to be Christians, but who are really lost. There are Christians who claim to be dedicated to serving God, but their disobedience identifies them for what they really are! Phonies!
(Gen 42:11) "We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies."
I. Is Our Salvation Real?
(Mat 7:21-23) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
A. It's real only if the conviction was right.
1. The Lord speaks of this in Jn. 16:7-11.
2. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…" cf Jn. 6:44a
3. If there is "pressure" involved in trusting Christ, it must come from the Lord.
4. Not from the preacher, family members, or friends.
5. When I was a boy, I went forward to be baptized, but I did it because the rest of my brothers and sister did it.
6. Not because God was drawing me to Himself!
7. If a person makes some sort of decision in their life, but was not convicted by the Spirit of God…the Bible says its not real.
B. It's real only if the message was right
1. The message is the gospel.
2. Paul explained the real gospel to the believers in Corinth.
(1 Cor 15:3-4) "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; {4} And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
3. No one is truly saved who has not received the truth of the gospel. 4. Note: Romans 10:9-10
C. It's real only if the response was right
1. In Acts 16:29-31, we find the sinner's question and the Scriptural answer to salvation.
2. Paul re-emphasized this in Eph. 2:8-9.
3. Salvation is not of works…it is of faith.
4. We cannot come to God trusting in what we do, or even trying to help God out with our salvation!
(Rom 11:6) "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
II. Is Our Security Real?
A. This is closely connected with salvation.
1. Salvation without security results in fear and frustration.
2. Eternal life = Everlasting life = Forever
3. God said what He meant and He meant what He said.
4. If my salvation can be lost or terminated by what I do or do not do…then it isn't eternal!
B. Our security is based upon the finished work of Christ on Calvary.
1. What Jesus spoke from the cross, was significant.
2. Just before He died, He said, "It is finished."
3. Not I am finished…but it is finished.
4. It = God's plan of redemption for mankind.
5. John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh the sin of the world."
6. He became the sacrifice for our sins, once and for all.
(Heb 10:10) "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
C. If we are clinging to anything else as a basis for security…it is not real!
1. There is no security in who we are…
2. There is no security in what we do…
3. There is no security in anything other than the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
4. We cannot add to it or take away from it.
5. But, we can rest upon it.
III. Is Our Service Real?
(Rom 12:1) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
A. Real service is done with a purpose in mind.
1. "by the mercies of God."
2. Real service is performed out of gratitude to our Lord, not obligation.
3. It is done for His glory, not for our own.
B. Real service is presented to the Lord.
1. "…present your bodies a living sacrifice…"
2. That means that it is voluntary.
3. The reasons we have an invitation at the conclusion of each message:
a. For the lost to respond to God's call of salvation.
b. And for the believer to respond to God's call to service.
4. There is no need for 'secret service'.
5. Let our lights shine that others might see them, and glorify God. Cf Mt. 5:16
C. Real service is practical.
1. It involves our body, sacrificing our own pleasures in order to do the will of God.
2. It means doing something now…not later.
3. It means doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.
D. Real service is pure and proper.
1. "…holy, acceptable unto God…"
2. God deserves a service that is right and proper.
3. Not the 'scraps from the tables' of our lives.
4. God deserves our faithful whole-hearted service, not an 'on again-off again' type of service.
5. Is our service to God real? Or are we serving that others might see us…
Is our salvation real? Is our security real? Is our service real?
The choice is ours. Why settle for a cubic zirconium when you can have a diamond? Why settle for religion when you can have a dynamic relationship with the living God? Why settle for going through the motions, when we can live for God? Get real! Come today.