1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. harvest pastor greg laurie
  4. Episodes
  5. Greg Laurie - We Can Work It Out
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - We Can Work It Out

February 23, 2025 | S25:E46

Greg Laurie - We Can Work It Out
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Salvation #Faith #Forgiveness #Religion #WordofGod #inActive #Physicalhealth #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie #1Thessalonians5:23

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - We Can Work It Out | February 23, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.548
  • Greg laurie: by the way, "paul did not say work for your
  • 00:00:05.285 --> 00:00:08.088
  • Own salvation."
  • 00:00:08.188 --> 00:00:09.756
  • He said, "work out your own salvation."
  • 00:00:09.856 --> 00:00:13.293
  • You can't work for your salvation.
  • 00:00:13.426 --> 00:00:14.060
  • Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, is a gift to
  • 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:21.901
  • You from god.
  • 00:00:21.901 --> 00:00:26.506
  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪
  • 00:00:26.506 --> 00:00:33.913
  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
  • 00:00:33.913 --> 00:00:40.587
  • Greg: okay, quick poll, how many of you love to exercise?
  • 00:00:44.591 --> 00:00:49.195
  • You love to work out, raise your hand up, okay.
  • 00:00:49.195 --> 00:00:52.031
  • I notice it's people kind of doing like this,
  • 00:00:52.031 --> 00:00:54.400
  • "yeah, it's me."
  • 00:00:54.400 --> 00:00:56.102
  • How many of you hate exercise and you hate to work out, raise
  • 00:00:56.102 --> 00:01:00.073
  • Your hand up.
  • 00:01:00.073 --> 00:01:01.407
  • Oh, interesting, it's about even.
  • 00:01:01.407 --> 00:01:03.143
  • I go to a gym twice a week and it's a good gym, you know, and
  • 00:01:03.143 --> 00:01:07.814
  • I've been to gyms over the years, and there's certain kinds
  • 00:01:07.814 --> 00:01:11.484
  • Of people in gyms.
  • 00:01:11.484 --> 00:01:13.286
  • First of all, there's the guy who always puts too much weight
  • 00:01:13.286 --> 00:01:17.457
  • On the barbell or whatever it is, too much weight.
  • 00:01:17.457 --> 00:01:20.460
  • He does three or four reps.
  • 00:01:20.460 --> 00:01:22.195
  • He makes too much noise, but the guy that drives me crazy, and
  • 00:01:22.195 --> 00:01:26.666
  • There's always one of these guys in every gym, he's the guy who
  • 00:01:26.666 --> 00:01:29.969
  • Sweats too much, right?
  • 00:01:29.969 --> 00:01:32.105
  • And then they leave the sweat on the bench, you know.
  • 00:01:32.105 --> 00:01:35.108
  • And you go over and you're looking at a pool of sweat o--i
  • 00:01:35.108 --> 00:01:40.079
  • Knew a guy that used to get on a treadmill, and he perspired so
  • 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:44.751
  • Much, literally, i'm not exaggerating, there would be
  • 00:01:44.751 --> 00:01:47.353
  • Puddles around it afterwards.
  • 00:01:47.353 --> 00:01:49.289
  • People wouldn't get in the treadmill on his right or his
  • 00:01:49.289 --> 00:01:52.225
  • Left, you know.
  • 00:01:52.225 --> 00:01:53.593
  • So there's always these strange people that hang up, but, you
  • 00:01:53.593 --> 00:01:56.963
  • Know maybe you decide, you know, i wanna try to get in shape and
  • 00:01:56.963 --> 00:02:00.466
  • Exercise a little bit more.
  • 00:02:00.466 --> 00:02:02.402
  • I'm up to 100 crunches a day, by the way, very good, yeah,
  • 00:02:02.402 --> 00:02:06.606
  • Nestle's crunch is very good.
  • 00:02:06.606 --> 00:02:10.677
  • But then, you know, sometimes if you haven't worked out for a
  • 00:02:10.677 --> 00:02:13.046
  • Long time, you go to a gym and you maybe overdo it, and then
  • 00:02:13.046 --> 00:02:17.483
  • You're so sore the next day, you never wanna go back to the
  • 00:02:17.483 --> 00:02:20.820
  • Gym again.
  • 00:02:20.820 --> 00:02:22.589
  • Well, look, we need to stay in the best shape we can stay in
  • 00:02:22.589 --> 00:02:27.227
  • Because the bible says our body is the temple of god, right?
  • 00:02:27.227 --> 00:02:33.099
  • 1 thessalonians 5 says, "may god himself, the god who makes
  • 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:37.604
  • Everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, spirit,
  • 00:02:37.604 --> 00:02:40.807
  • Soul, and body."
  • 00:02:40.807 --> 00:02:42.275
  • I'm not a disembodied spirit.
  • 00:02:42.275 --> 00:02:44.244
  • God has placed my soul in a body, so i wanna take the best
  • 00:02:44.244 --> 00:02:48.815
  • Care that i can of this body.
  • 00:02:48.815 --> 00:02:51.017
  • The bible says, of course, "bodily exercise profits little,
  • 00:02:51.017 --> 00:02:56.422
  • But godliness is profitable for all things."
  • 00:02:56.422 --> 00:02:59.425
  • I will quote that as a rationalization to never work
  • 00:02:59.425 --> 00:03:02.929
  • Out, but the bible actually says, it profits a little, you
  • 00:03:02.929 --> 00:03:06.399
  • Know, so it profits some.
  • 00:03:06.399 --> 00:03:08.201
  • Now if you work out, and you're more focused on your body than
  • 00:03:08.201 --> 00:03:11.638
  • You are in your spirit, you have your priorities out of whack.
  • 00:03:11.638 --> 00:03:15.275
  • But if you only think about your spiritual life and you never do
  • 00:03:15.275 --> 00:03:18.411
  • Anything to maintain your physical health, that also is
  • 00:03:18.411 --> 00:03:21.581
  • An imbalance.
  • 00:03:21.581 --> 00:03:22.949
  • So you wanna find that right balance, that sweet spot
  • 00:03:22.949 --> 00:03:25.418
  • In there.
  • 00:03:25.418 --> 00:03:26.786
  • And i bring that up because that is true spiritually as well.
  • 00:03:26.786 --> 00:03:30.923
  • We need to work out what god has worked in.
  • 00:03:30.923 --> 00:03:33.893
  • So let's look at our text.
  • 00:03:33.893 --> 00:03:35.528
  • It's philippians 2, starting in verse 12.
  • 00:03:35.528 --> 00:03:39.165
  • Paul writes and says, "therefore, my beloved, as you
  • 00:03:39.165 --> 00:03:42.702
  • Have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more
  • 00:03:42.702 --> 00:03:45.905
  • In my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
  • 00:03:45.905 --> 00:03:49.742
  • Trembling, for it is god who works in you, both to will and
  • 00:03:49.742 --> 00:03:53.713
  • Do of his good pleasure.
  • 00:03:53.713 --> 00:03:55.348
  • Do all things without complaining and disputing that
  • 00:03:55.348 --> 00:03:58.751
  • You may be blameless and harmless children of god without
  • 00:03:58.751 --> 00:04:02.255
  • Fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among
  • 00:04:02.255 --> 00:04:06.693
  • Whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast the word of
  • 00:04:06.693 --> 00:04:11.097
  • Life so i may rejoice in the day of christ, and i have not run in
  • 00:04:11.097 --> 00:04:15.101
  • Vain or labored in vain."
  • 00:04:15.101 --> 00:04:17.670
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:04:17.670 --> 00:04:19.205
  • So paul says, "work out your own salvation."
  • 00:04:19.205 --> 00:04:24.177
  • Notice "your own," underline those two words, your
  • 00:04:24.177 --> 00:04:27.447
  • Own salvation.
  • 00:04:27.447 --> 00:04:29.082
  • You can't hire someone to work out for you.
  • 00:04:29.082 --> 00:04:32.418
  • Wouldn't that be nice?
  • 00:04:32.418 --> 00:04:33.753
  • "i don't feel like going to the gym, go work out for me.
  • 00:04:33.753 --> 00:04:35.688
  • I'll pay you for it."
  • 00:04:35.688 --> 00:04:37.056
  • Well, that may benefit the person who's working out, but it
  • 00:04:37.056 --> 00:04:39.425
  • Won't have any effect on you.
  • 00:04:39.425 --> 00:04:42.428
  • You can't have someone get saved for you either.
  • 00:04:42.428 --> 00:04:45.465
  • It's your own salvation.
  • 00:04:45.465 --> 00:04:47.533
  • It's a personal choice.
  • 00:04:47.533 --> 00:04:49.669
  • Look at verse 12 again.
  • 00:04:49.669 --> 00:04:51.104
  • Paul says, "my beloved, as you've always obeyed, not only
  • 00:04:51.104 --> 00:04:54.474
  • In my presence, but also more in my absence."
  • 00:04:54.474 --> 00:04:58.111
  • Remember paul wrote this from prison.
  • 00:04:58.111 --> 00:05:01.080
  • And he had a special bond with the christians in philippi,
  • 00:05:01.080 --> 00:05:05.118
  • That's the epistle that we're looking at, it's to the
  • 00:05:05.118 --> 00:05:08.388
  • Believers there.
  • 00:05:08.388 --> 00:05:09.756
  • We call it the book of philippians, but it's a letter
  • 00:05:09.756 --> 00:05:12.158
  • To people living in philippi.
  • 00:05:12.158 --> 00:05:14.327
  • And he loved these folks, and they loved him.
  • 00:05:14.327 --> 00:05:17.497
  • And so they were in great agony when they found out paul was
  • 00:05:17.497 --> 00:05:20.666
  • In prison.
  • 00:05:20.666 --> 00:05:22.034
  • And so he's saying, "guys, it's okay, i'm okay,
  • 00:05:22.034 --> 00:05:25.538
  • And you're okay."
  • 00:05:25.538 --> 00:05:27.840
  • In fact, in verse 12 from the new living translation, it would
  • 00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:30.877
  • Go as follows, "dear friends, you were always so careful to
  • 00:05:30.877 --> 00:05:33.780
  • Follow my instructions when i was with you, but now that i'm
  • 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:36.916
  • Away, you must be even more careful to put into action god's
  • 00:05:36.916 --> 00:05:40.520
  • Saving work in your lives, obeying god with deep reverence
  • 00:05:40.520 --> 00:05:44.457
  • And fear."
  • 00:05:44.457 --> 00:05:45.792
  • Basically, paul's saying, "look, i know you guys love me, and i
  • 00:05:45.792 --> 00:05:49.028
  • Love you, and i wish i could be there with you, but i need to
  • 00:05:49.028 --> 00:05:53.299
  • Tell you something.
  • 00:05:53.299 --> 00:05:54.667
  • You need to grow up spiritually.
  • 00:05:54.667 --> 00:05:57.437
  • In other words, don't start slacking because i'm not there
  • 00:05:57.437 --> 00:06:01.974
  • Because it's god that works in you."
  • 00:06:01.974 --> 00:06:03.976
  • It's not paul that works in you both to will and do of god's
  • 00:06:03.976 --> 00:06:08.347
  • Good pleasure.
  • 00:06:08.347 --> 00:06:09.715
  • It's god that is working in you because there might be some
  • 00:06:09.715 --> 00:06:13.319
  • There--there might have been some there, i should say, that
  • 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:16.088
  • Thought they needed paul around to live the christian life.
  • 00:06:16.088 --> 00:06:18.691
  • And how awesome it would have been to have paul as
  • 00:06:18.691 --> 00:06:20.993
  • Your pastor.
  • 00:06:20.993 --> 00:06:22.395
  • I mean, a living, breathing apostle or john or james or some
  • 00:06:22.395 --> 00:06:26.699
  • Of the others.
  • 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:28.034
  • But paul is saying, "look, guys, i can't be with you, so you need
  • 00:06:28.034 --> 00:06:30.803
  • To grow up spiritually."
  • 00:06:30.803 --> 00:06:33.439
  • And this can happen with us as well.
  • 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:36.642
  • We can find ourselves too dependent on people for our
  • 00:06:36.642 --> 00:06:41.614
  • Spiritual growth.
  • 00:06:41.614 --> 00:06:42.982
  • And listen to this, sometimes people can become idols in
  • 00:06:42.982 --> 00:06:47.954
  • Our life.
  • 00:06:47.954 --> 00:06:49.422
  • This happened to the children of israel.
  • 00:06:49.422 --> 00:06:51.958
  • Moses led them out of egypt and through the wilderness.
  • 00:06:51.958 --> 00:06:56.362
  • He wasn't able to bring them actually into the promised land,
  • 00:06:56.362 --> 00:06:59.031
  • But you remember on one occasion, he had to leave the
  • 00:06:59.031 --> 00:07:01.567
  • Israelites because god had summoned him to mount sinai to
  • 00:07:01.567 --> 00:07:06.105
  • Receive the commandments.
  • 00:07:06.105 --> 00:07:07.840
  • And in his absence, moses left aaron, his brother, as their
  • 00:07:07.840 --> 00:07:13.346
  • Babysitter, which was a very bad choice because everything
  • 00:07:13.346 --> 00:07:17.750
  • Fell apart.
  • 00:07:17.750 --> 00:07:19.085
  • Because, basically, after moses had been gone for a while, the
  • 00:07:19.085 --> 00:07:21.487
  • People came to aaron, and they said, "hey, where is this man,
  • 00:07:21.487 --> 00:07:26.025
  • Moses," in exodus 32, "who brought us out of egypt?
  • 00:07:26.025 --> 00:07:30.196
  • Make us some gods who can lead us because we don't know where
  • 00:07:30.196 --> 00:07:33.499
  • Moses has gone."
  • 00:07:33.499 --> 00:07:35.368
  • Now, why didn't they say, "hey, the lord is the one who's led us
  • 00:07:35.368 --> 00:07:38.371
  • Out of egypt"?
  • 00:07:38.371 --> 00:07:39.705
  • No, they said, "moses did it.
  • 00:07:39.705 --> 00:07:41.774
  • Moses led us out of egypt.
  • 00:07:41.774 --> 00:07:43.242
  • And if moses is gone, we need another god to take his place."
  • 00:07:43.242 --> 00:07:48.247
  • So it was aaron that had the bright idea to bring all of
  • 00:07:48.247 --> 00:07:51.150
  • Their gold and all their bling, and he was gonna melt it in the
  • 00:07:51.150 --> 00:07:56.255
  • Shape of a golden calf, which would have been one of the
  • 00:07:56.255 --> 00:07:59.191
  • Images that they would have been accustomed to in egypt, and then
  • 00:07:59.191 --> 00:08:03.329
  • They're worshiping this golden calf.
  • 00:08:03.329 --> 00:08:04.897
  • Meanwhile, up in mount sinai, moses is done receiving
  • 00:08:04.897 --> 00:08:08.334
  • The commandments.
  • 00:08:08.334 --> 00:08:09.669
  • He's walking down with these tablets written with the very
  • 00:08:09.669 --> 00:08:11.938
  • Finger of god, and he hears noise back in the camp.
  • 00:08:11.938 --> 00:08:16.075
  • It sounds like some kind of a war, and it turns out they're
  • 00:08:16.075 --> 00:08:20.012
  • Actually having a party.
  • 00:08:20.012 --> 00:08:21.814
  • And he comes down and finds the israelites dancing naked in
  • 00:08:21.814 --> 00:08:26.319
  • Front of a golden calf.
  • 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.055
  • Not good at all.
  • 00:08:29.055 --> 00:08:31.057
  • And aaron says, "i know this looks bad.
  • 00:08:31.057 --> 00:08:34.894
  • I can explain everything.
  • 00:08:34.894 --> 00:08:37.897
  • You see, what happened was we took our gold, and we threw it
  • 00:08:37.897 --> 00:08:40.366
  • In the fire, and the golden calf came out.
  • 00:08:40.366 --> 00:08:42.635
  • So what else could we do, but strip off our clothes and
  • 00:08:42.635 --> 00:08:44.604
  • Worship it?"
  • 00:08:44.604 --> 00:08:46.672
  • That's not what happened.
  • 00:08:46.672 --> 00:08:48.307
  • You were the one that made the golden calf.
  • 00:08:48.307 --> 00:08:50.242
  • You were the one that told 'em to bring the gold.
  • 00:08:50.242 --> 00:08:52.545
  • But here was the problem.
  • 00:08:52.545 --> 00:08:54.246
  • Moses was their first god--excuse me, yeah, moses was
  • 00:08:54.246 --> 00:08:58.951
  • Their first god, and the golden calf was their second.
  • 00:08:58.951 --> 00:09:02.021
  • They let moses take the place of god in their life.
  • 00:09:02.021 --> 00:09:05.725
  • Is that happening to you?
  • 00:09:05.725 --> 00:09:07.326
  • Is your whole christian life dependent on someone else, maybe
  • 00:09:07.326 --> 00:09:12.732
  • Your parents, maybe your husband or your wife or someone else?
  • 00:09:12.732 --> 00:09:18.437
  • And, you know, if they're not around, you just fall apart?
  • 00:09:18.437 --> 00:09:21.674
  • As long as a strong believer is in your life, you're good?
  • 00:09:21.674 --> 00:09:25.311
  • But the moment they're not there with you, you just collapse?
  • 00:09:25.311 --> 00:09:28.247
  • Listen, can i just say two words to you?
  • 00:09:28.247 --> 00:09:30.850
  • Grow up, grow up and become a man of god.
  • 00:09:30.850 --> 00:09:34.687
  • Grow up and be a woman of god and build your relationship on
  • 00:09:34.687 --> 00:09:40.059
  • God because there's one thing you can be sure of in life,
  • 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:43.663
  • Maybe two things, many more things, but i'll just say two
  • 00:09:43.663 --> 00:09:46.399
  • For now.
  • 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.767
  • You can always be sure that god will be there for you.
  • 00:09:47.767 --> 00:09:50.403
  • And number two, you can always be sure that, eventually, people
  • 00:09:50.403 --> 00:09:53.806
  • Will let you down.
  • 00:09:53.806 --> 00:09:55.541
  • People will let you down.
  • 00:09:55.541 --> 00:09:56.876
  • You know why?
  • 00:09:56.876 --> 00:09:58.244
  • Because they're sinful just like you are.
  • 00:09:58.244 --> 00:10:00.312
  • And we're all gonna fall short.
  • 00:10:00.312 --> 00:10:01.747
  • We're all gonna make mistakes.
  • 00:10:01.747 --> 00:10:03.149
  • We're all gonna disappoint.
  • 00:10:03.149 --> 00:10:05.184
  • You know, maybe that husband walks with the lord or, at
  • 00:10:05.184 --> 00:10:08.220
  • Least, goes to church because the wife does.
  • 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:10.389
  • And so one day, if she stops going to church, he stops, too,
  • 00:10:10.389 --> 00:10:14.593
  • Or the children, you know, they went to church when mom and dad
  • 00:10:14.593 --> 00:10:17.396
  • Took them, but when they get older and maybe they go to
  • 00:10:17.396 --> 00:10:19.999
  • College and they're out on their own, they stop going to church.
  • 00:10:19.999 --> 00:10:23.769
  • We must not let people take the place of god in our lives.
  • 00:10:23.769 --> 00:10:29.575
  • When the lord says, "have no other gods before me," that
  • 00:10:29.575 --> 00:10:32.745
  • Would include putting people there as well.
  • 00:10:32.745 --> 00:10:35.247
  • So, basically, paul is saying, "guys, come on, it's time to
  • 00:10:35.247 --> 00:10:40.086
  • Grow up."
  • 00:10:40.086 --> 00:10:41.454
  • And how are they to do that?
  • 00:10:41.454 --> 00:10:42.788
  • Verse 12, "work out your own salvation with fear
  • 00:10:42.788 --> 00:10:46.992
  • And trembling.
  • 00:10:46.992 --> 00:10:48.394
  • You can't work for your salvation.
  • 00:10:48.394 --> 00:10:51.397
  • Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, is a gift to
  • 00:10:51.397 --> 00:10:57.002
  • You from god.
  • 00:10:57.002 --> 00:10:58.370
  • The bible says, "it is by faith through grace that you've been
  • 00:10:58.370 --> 00:11:03.309
  • Saved, not of yourself, it's the gift of god."
  • 00:11:03.309 --> 00:11:08.481
  • So what does this mean then when paul says, "work out your
  • 00:11:08.481 --> 00:11:10.716
  • Own salvation"?
  • 00:11:10.716 --> 00:11:12.084
  • Well, remember he's addressing these words to christians.
  • 00:11:12.084 --> 00:11:16.021
  • Remember when we started this series, we pointed out that he
  • 00:11:16.021 --> 00:11:18.791
  • Addressed them as saints.
  • 00:11:18.791 --> 00:11:20.793
  • "saint" is an interchangeable word for christians, so these
  • 00:11:20.793 --> 00:11:24.163
  • Words are written to believers.
  • 00:11:24.163 --> 00:11:26.232
  • He's saying to followers of jesus and, really in effect, to
  • 00:11:26.232 --> 00:11:30.369
  • Us as well:
  • 00:11:30.369 --> 00:11:31.737
  • "work out your own salvation."
  • 00:11:31.737 --> 00:11:35.775
  • What does this mean?
  • 00:11:35.775 --> 00:11:37.109
  • It means to live out one's faith.
  • 00:11:37.109 --> 00:11:39.445
  • Another way to--say it would be, "carry it out
  • 00:11:39.445 --> 00:11:43.182
  • Correctly," excuse me, or "work it to full completion.
  • 00:11:43.182 --> 00:11:49.789
  • Work it to full completion."
  • 00:11:49.789 --> 00:11:52.424
  • The idea is take what god has given you and work it out in
  • 00:11:52.424 --> 00:11:56.162
  • Your life.
  • 00:11:56.162 --> 00:11:57.496
  • It would be like a conductor having an incredible musical
  • 00:11:57.496 --> 00:12:00.199
  • Composition handed to him, and there's a whole orchestra, but
  • 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:04.503
  • Notes don't jump off of paper and play themselves.
  • 00:12:04.503 --> 00:12:08.240
  • You've got to read the music, and then you've gotta play
  • 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:11.510
  • The music.
  • 00:12:11.510 --> 00:12:12.878
  • Everybody has to work out their part and play the music.
  • 00:12:12.878 --> 00:12:16.348
  • The same is true for us.
  • 00:12:16.348 --> 00:12:18.350
  • We need to work out what god has worked in.
  • 00:12:18.350 --> 00:12:22.688
  • Actually, the phrase that paul uses here also could speak of
  • 00:12:22.688 --> 00:12:26.592
  • Working a mine, working a mine.
  • 00:12:26.592 --> 00:12:29.328
  • You may have heard that there was a gold rush here in
  • 00:12:29.328 --> 00:12:32.531
  • California years ago.
  • 00:12:32.531 --> 00:12:33.966
  • And the story was, there's so much gold in california, you'll
  • 00:12:33.966 --> 00:12:37.469
  • Find it laying on the streets.
  • 00:12:37.469 --> 00:12:38.871
  • You'll find it in the streams.
  • 00:12:38.871 --> 00:12:41.040
  • The expression was there's gold in them thar hills.
  • 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:45.277
  • So people came, literally, from around the world in what was
  • 00:12:45.277 --> 00:12:48.280
  • Called the california gold rush.
  • 00:12:48.280 --> 00:12:50.983
  • And everyone was looking for the gold.
  • 00:12:50.983 --> 00:12:52.685
  • Well, what little gold was around was quickly removed, but
  • 00:12:52.685 --> 00:12:57.556
  • There still was gold in the mines.
  • 00:12:57.556 --> 00:12:59.792
  • And if people would take the time to go into the mine and dig
  • 00:12:59.792 --> 00:13:03.329
  • Deeply and be patient, they might find some of that gold.
  • 00:13:03.329 --> 00:13:06.599
  • And if they were really persistent, they might find the
  • 00:13:06.599 --> 00:13:09.368
  • Mother lode, right, that big strain of gold deep inside of
  • 00:13:09.368 --> 00:13:14.206
  • A mine.
  • 00:13:14.206 --> 00:13:15.541
  • So god is saying to you, "i've given you all this gold, it's
  • 00:13:15.541 --> 00:13:18.477
  • All there, but you gotta work it out.
  • 00:13:18.477 --> 00:13:20.779
  • You've got mine it.
  • 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:22.147
  • You need to discover it."
  • 00:13:22.147 --> 00:13:23.983
  • But then he adds this distinction, "work out your own
  • 00:13:23.983 --> 00:13:26.919
  • Salvation with fear and trembling."
  • 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:30.556
  • By the way, paul is not suggesting you can lose
  • 00:13:30.556 --> 00:13:33.726
  • Your salvation.
  • 00:13:33.726 --> 00:13:35.194
  • I don't really think you can.
  • 00:13:35.194 --> 00:13:37.162
  • I think it's a gift given to us by god, but what he is saying
  • 00:13:37.162 --> 00:13:41.100
  • Is, as you work it out, recognize your own inability and
  • 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:45.638
  • Innate weakness.
  • 00:13:45.638 --> 00:13:47.673
  • Let me say something that might surprise you.
  • 00:13:47.673 --> 00:13:49.808
  • The christian life is not hard to live, it's impossible.
  • 00:13:49.808 --> 00:13:56.682
  • It is impossible to live as a christian in this crazy culture
  • 00:13:56.682 --> 00:14:01.287
  • We're in today apart from the work of the holy spirit in
  • 00:14:01.287 --> 00:14:05.424
  • Your life.
  • 00:14:05.424 --> 00:14:06.792
  • So in my ability, i can't do it.
  • 00:14:06.792 --> 00:14:08.928
  • In my strength, i can't keep the commandments.
  • 00:14:08.928 --> 00:14:11.497
  • In my own skills, i can't do these things god calls me to do.
  • 00:14:11.497 --> 00:14:17.002
  • But it is god that works in me both the will and do of his
  • 00:14:17.002 --> 00:14:20.472
  • Good pleasure.
  • 00:14:20.472 --> 00:14:21.807
  • So work it out, carry it to the goal, complete it, but with
  • 00:14:21.807 --> 00:14:26.045
  • Self-distrust.
  • 00:14:26.045 --> 00:14:28.380
  • And by the way, let me just say this to you: if you've put
  • 00:14:28.380 --> 00:14:32.117
  • Your faith in christ--let me take a quick poll.
  • 00:14:32.117 --> 00:14:34.186
  • How many of you have put your faith in jesus christ?
  • 00:14:34.186 --> 00:14:36.555
  • Raise your hand up. that's pretty much everyone.
  • 00:14:36.555 --> 00:14:39.858
  • One guy over here didn't raise his hand.
  • 00:14:39.858 --> 00:14:41.193
  • So i'm gonna be directing a number of my remarks to you
  • 00:14:41.193 --> 00:14:44.596
  • Tonight, sir, because i'd like to see you do that.
  • 00:14:44.596 --> 00:14:48.667
  • Or maybe you're just sleeping. i'm not sure.
  • 00:14:48.667 --> 00:14:51.170
  • But anyway--but i want you to leave this service knowing that
  • 00:14:51.170 --> 00:14:57.876
  • Your salvation is secure.
  • 00:14:57.876 --> 00:14:59.645
  • Greg: let me just fire a few verses at you, and i'd encourage
  • 00:14:59.645 --> 00:15:02.448
  • You to write these references down.
  • 00:15:02.448 --> 00:15:05.084
  • Because sometimes the devil will attack us.
  • 00:15:05.084 --> 00:15:08.320
  • And he'll say to us, "you're not a christian.
  • 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:11.991
  • You're a hypocrite.
  • 00:15:11.991 --> 00:15:13.559
  • God didn't save you.
  • 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.893
  • Christ hasn't come into your life.
  • 00:15:14.893 --> 00:15:16.662
  • You have psyched yourself into it.
  • 00:15:16.662 --> 00:15:19.064
  • This isn't true. the bible isn't true.
  • 00:15:19.064 --> 00:15:20.933
  • None of it's true."
  • 00:15:20.933 --> 00:15:22.267
  • Have any of you ever had doubts like that come to your mind?
  • 00:15:22.267 --> 00:15:25.337
  • Raise your hand if you have. that's not a sin.
  • 00:15:25.337 --> 00:15:28.507
  • That means you're a human.
  • 00:15:28.507 --> 00:15:30.442
  • And just because a fiery dart or a doubtful thought comes to your
  • 00:15:30.442 --> 00:15:36.115
  • Mind doesn't mean that you're not a believer.
  • 00:15:36.115 --> 00:15:38.250
  • It just means you're being attacked.
  • 00:15:38.250 --> 00:15:40.185
  • So the best way to deflect those flaming arrows that come your
  • 00:15:40.185 --> 00:15:44.857
  • Way, be it a doubtful thought or a hopeless thought or a lustful
  • 00:15:44.857 --> 00:15:50.596
  • Thought or a hateful thought or whatever it might be, is filling
  • 00:15:50.596 --> 00:15:54.867
  • Your mind up with god's word.
  • 00:15:54.867 --> 00:15:58.404
  • So the devil attacked jesus in the wilderness, right?
  • 00:15:58.404 --> 00:16:01.874
  • And every time the devil tempted jesus, christ came back with
  • 00:16:01.874 --> 00:16:05.044
  • These words, "it is written."
  • 00:16:05.044 --> 00:16:07.346
  • "hey, why don't you turn a rock into a piece of bread?"
  • 00:16:07.346 --> 00:16:09.548
  • "hey, it is written," christ says.
  • 00:16:09.548 --> 00:16:11.450
  • "men shall live by god's word, not by bread alone."
  • 00:16:11.450 --> 00:16:14.553
  • "hey, why don't you throw yourself off the top of
  • 00:16:14.553 --> 00:16:17.723
  • The temple?"
  • 00:16:17.723 --> 00:16:19.058
  • "it is written, you shall not tempt the lord, your god."
  • 00:16:19.058 --> 00:16:21.326
  • He came back to god's word over and over.
  • 00:16:21.326 --> 00:16:23.362
  • Here's a few verses that assure us that we're saved.
  • 00:16:23.362 --> 00:16:27.833
  • 1 john 5:10, "anyone who believes in the son of god has
  • 00:16:27.833 --> 00:16:31.503
  • His testimony in his heart."
  • 00:16:31.503 --> 00:16:34.106
  • Romans 8:16, "his spirit bears witness with our spirit that we
  • 00:16:34.106 --> 00:16:38.977
  • Are the children of god."
  • 00:16:38.977 --> 00:16:41.847
  • John 5:24, "i tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and
  • 00:16:41.847 --> 00:16:46.385
  • Believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be
  • 00:16:46.385 --> 00:16:50.322
  • Condemned, and he's crossed over from death to life."
  • 00:16:50.322 --> 00:16:53.592
  • He has it, it's yours.
  • 00:16:53.592 --> 00:16:56.161
  • God's given it to you, and god's not taking it back.
  • 00:16:56.161 --> 00:16:59.431
  • It's yours to keep.
  • 00:16:59.431 --> 00:17:00.933
  • And then, of course, my favorite assurance verse, 1 john 5:13,
  • 00:17:00.933 --> 00:17:05.237
  • "these things we write to you that believe in the name of the
  • 00:17:05.237 --> 00:17:08.907
  • Son of god that you may know that you have eternal life."
  • 00:17:08.907 --> 00:17:14.580
  • So, the next time the devil comes to you and says,
  • 00:17:14.580 --> 00:17:16.849
  • "how do you know you're a christian?
  • 00:17:16.849 --> 00:17:18.884
  • You know, you're not perfect. you've sinned.
  • 00:17:18.884 --> 00:17:20.853
  • Why do you think christ would forgive you?"
  • 00:17:20.853 --> 00:17:22.788
  • Well, you know what?
  • 00:17:22.788 --> 00:17:24.123
  • The bible says, "these things we write to you that believe in
  • 00:17:24.123 --> 00:17:26.792
  • The name of the son of god
  • 00:17:26.792 --> 00:17:28.560
  • That you may know that you have eternal life."
  • 00:17:28.560 --> 00:17:31.296
  • I know. i quote it out loud.
  • 00:17:31.296 --> 00:17:36.602
  • You know, it's not a bad thing to quote verses out loud.
  • 00:17:36.602 --> 00:17:39.738
  • When the devil's attacking you, say,
  • 00:17:39.738 --> 00:17:41.073
  • "no, here's what the bible says," and you quote the verse.
  • 00:17:41.073 --> 00:17:44.343
  • It's a good thing to do.
  • 00:17:44.343 --> 00:17:45.878
  • But, you know, sometimes people ask the question
  • 00:17:45.878 --> 00:17:47.980
  • "can a christian lose their salvation?"
  • 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:50.749
  • Let me give you a short answer. ready?
  • 00:17:50.749 --> 00:17:53.752
  • No. i don't think so.
  • 00:17:53.752 --> 00:17:55.420
  • But let me ask another question that i think addresses
  • 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:58.157
  • A deeper issue.
  • 00:17:58.157 --> 00:17:59.491
  • I don't think the question should be "can a christian
  • 00:17:59.491 --> 00:18:01.960
  • Lose their salvation?"
  • 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.529
  • I think the question should be "did that christian who's
  • 00:18:03.529 --> 00:18:07.032
  • Allegedly lost their salvation ever really have salvation
  • 00:18:07.032 --> 00:18:12.137
  • To begin with?" you see.
  • 00:18:12.137 --> 00:18:14.273
  • Because if they did not bring forth what the bible calls
  • 00:18:14.273 --> 00:18:17.643
  • "fruits in keeping with repentance," i would suggest
  • 00:18:17.643 --> 00:18:22.114
  • To you that they never were a christian at all.
  • 00:18:22.114 --> 00:18:25.617
  • Hey, just because someone carries a bible doesn't
  • 00:18:25.617 --> 00:18:27.786
  • Make 'em a christian.
  • 00:18:27.786 --> 00:18:29.821
  • Here are five litmus tests to show that you are really saved,
  • 00:18:29.821 --> 00:18:34.660
  • Five litmus tests.
  • 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:36.161
  • And by the way, the outcome from 1 john--
  • 00:18:36.161 --> 00:18:38.931
  • Here's number one, "did you confess jesus christ as lord?"
  • 00:18:38.931 --> 00:18:44.136
  • Because 1 john 4:15 says, "if anyone confesses that jesus is
  • 00:18:44.136 --> 00:18:48.006
  • The son of god, god lives in him, and he in god."
  • 00:18:48.006 --> 00:18:51.710
  • Did you confess christ as lord?
  • 00:18:51.710 --> 00:18:53.979
  • Did you ever tell anyone you were a christian?
  • 00:18:53.979 --> 00:18:56.782
  • I'm not saying that all you have to do is confess christ as lord
  • 00:18:56.782 --> 00:19:00.118
  • Because you could do that and not be a christian, but having
  • 00:19:00.118 --> 00:19:02.955
  • Said that, i think if you are a christian, you should
  • 00:19:02.955 --> 00:19:05.224
  • Confess him.
  • 00:19:05.224 --> 00:19:06.925
  • Sometimes we have people walk forward and invitations and
  • 00:19:06.925 --> 00:19:10.128
  • You've heard me quote the verse where jesus says, "if you'll
  • 00:19:10.128 --> 00:19:12.631
  • Confess me before men, i'll confess you before the father
  • 00:19:12.631 --> 00:19:16.868
  • And the angels in heaven."
  • 00:19:16.868 --> 00:19:18.237
  • And the reason i do that is it helps people to see this is a
  • 00:19:18.237 --> 00:19:21.640
  • Serious commitment that you must make.
  • 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.376
  • And i'm not saying that's the only way to confess him, but
  • 00:19:24.376 --> 00:19:26.778
  • That certainly is a way to confess.
  • 00:19:26.778 --> 00:19:29.848
  • And being a christian is not something that is hidden, but
  • 00:19:29.848 --> 00:19:32.818
  • Is open.
  • 00:19:32.818 --> 00:19:34.186
  • Number two, do you obey the commands of jesus christ, or did
  • 00:19:34.186 --> 00:19:38.457
  • You obey them?
  • 00:19:38.457 --> 00:19:40.392
  • Because 1 john 5:3 says, "this is love for god to obey his
  • 00:19:40.392 --> 00:19:44.696
  • Commands, and his commands are not burdensome.
  • 00:19:44.696 --> 00:19:47.866
  • For everyone who is born of god overcomes the world."
  • 00:19:47.866 --> 00:19:51.737
  • Did you keep his commandments?
  • 00:19:51.737 --> 00:19:53.405
  • Don't tell me you're a christian and you're blatantly breaking
  • 00:19:53.405 --> 00:19:56.875
  • The commandments left and right.
  • 00:19:56.875 --> 00:19:59.678
  • If you love him, do what he says.
  • 00:19:59.678 --> 00:20:03.148
  • And if you don't do what he says, really, how much do you
  • 00:20:03.148 --> 00:20:05.817
  • Love him?
  • 00:20:05.817 --> 00:20:07.152
  • You know, jesus did not say, "you are my friends if you do
  • 00:20:07.152 --> 00:20:11.056
  • Whatsoever you agree with."
  • 00:20:11.056 --> 00:20:13.792
  • He said, "you are my friends if you do whatsoever, i
  • 00:20:13.792 --> 00:20:17.296
  • Command you."
  • 00:20:17.296 --> 00:20:19.131
  • Some will say, "well, what if it's hard?"
  • 00:20:19.131 --> 00:20:20.632
  • So what, if he commands you to do it, you do it,
  • 00:20:20.632 --> 00:20:23.101
  • It's whatsoever.
  • 00:20:23.101 --> 00:20:25.070
  • You say, "well, what if you disagree with the bible?"
  • 00:20:25.070 --> 00:20:27.506
  • Change your opinion, you're wrong, and the bible's right.
  • 00:20:27.506 --> 00:20:32.544
  • It's as simple as that.
  • 00:20:32.544 --> 00:20:34.579
  • Number three, if you're a christian, or if you claim to
  • 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:38.083
  • Have been a christian, were you unhappy or miserable when
  • 00:20:38.083 --> 00:20:41.253
  • You were sinning?
  • 00:20:41.253 --> 00:20:42.688
  • Were you unhappy or miserable when you were sinning?
  • 00:20:42.688 --> 00:20:45.023
  • 1 john 3:9 says, "everyone that has been born of god does
  • 00:20:45.023 --> 00:20:48.226
  • Not habitually sin because god's seed remains in him, and he's
  • 00:20:48.226 --> 00:20:52.197
  • Not able habitually to sin because he's been born of god."
  • 00:20:52.197 --> 00:20:57.736
  • Listen, a christian will not be sinless, but a christian will
  • 00:20:57.736 --> 00:21:02.741
  • Sin less and less and less.
  • 00:21:02.741 --> 00:21:07.346
  • I think what happens is, the more you become like christ, the
  • 00:21:07.346 --> 00:21:09.781
  • More you realize you're not like christ.
  • 00:21:09.781 --> 00:21:12.918
  • And the more godly you become, the more you realize how ungodly
  • 00:21:12.918 --> 00:21:16.755
  • You really always were.
  • 00:21:16.755 --> 00:21:18.924
  • So there's always the awareness of sin.
  • 00:21:18.924 --> 00:21:20.859
  • But at the same time, there is change in our behavior.
  • 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:23.562
  • There is change in our actions.
  • 00:21:23.562 --> 00:21:25.497
  • There is change in the things that we say and do that's
  • 00:21:25.497 --> 00:21:29.501
  • Bringing forth fruits in keeping with repentance.
  • 00:21:29.501 --> 00:21:32.738
  • But notice that it says that if you are born of god, you will
  • 00:21:32.738 --> 00:21:37.275
  • Not habitually sin.
  • 00:21:37.275 --> 00:21:38.777
  • It doesn't say you won't sin at all.
  • 00:21:38.777 --> 00:21:41.613
  • Because some will say,
  • 00:21:41.613 --> 00:21:42.948
  • "well, i've reached sinless perfection."
  • 00:21:42.948 --> 00:21:44.282
  • No, you haven't. "no, i have."
  • 00:21:44.282 --> 00:21:45.984
  • Well, you're lying, and that's a sin, and you haven't.
  • 00:21:45.984 --> 00:21:50.689
  • Because the bible says that we say we have no sin, we deceive
  • 00:21:50.689 --> 00:21:53.759
  • Ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
  • 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:56.628
  • So we'll never be sinless this side of heaven.
  • 00:21:56.628 --> 00:21:59.798
  • But having said that, if you can sin habitually, okay, that's
  • 00:21:59.798 --> 00:22:06.438
  • The key.
  • 00:22:06.438 --> 00:22:07.806
  • In the greek it says, if you habitually sin,
  • 00:22:07.806 --> 00:22:09.207
  • It's not, like, "oh, i sinned. god, i'm sorry, i repent."
  • 00:22:09.207 --> 00:22:12.611
  • That's one thing.
  • 00:22:12.611 --> 00:22:13.979
  • It's a person that sinned and then sins the next day and the
  • 00:22:13.979 --> 00:22:17.649
  • Next day.
  • 00:22:17.649 --> 00:22:19.017
  • In fact, they're living in a pattern of sin.
  • 00:22:19.017 --> 00:22:20.352
  • They're living in a lifestyle of sin.
  • 00:22:20.352 --> 00:22:22.320
  • This is the choice they make over and over and over.
  • 00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:25.557
  • If you live that way, according to the scripture, you're not
  • 00:22:25.557 --> 00:22:27.826
  • Really born of god.
  • 00:22:27.826 --> 00:22:29.327
  • Now, you've all heard the story of the prodigal son, right?
  • 00:22:29.327 --> 00:22:32.197
  • How many of you have heard the story of the prodigal pig?
  • 00:22:32.197 --> 00:22:35.801
  • Yeah, that's in the bible, too, the prodigal pig.
  • 00:22:35.801 --> 00:22:39.337
  • It's in 2 peter 2, it says, "it would be better if they had
  • 00:22:39.337 --> 00:22:42.707
  • Never known the right way to live than to know it and reject
  • 00:22:42.707 --> 00:22:45.744
  • The holy commandments that were given to them.
  • 00:22:45.744 --> 00:22:47.946
  • They make this proverb come true.
  • 00:22:47.946 --> 00:22:49.881
  • 'a dog returns to its vomit' and 'a washed pig returns to
  • 00:22:49.881 --> 00:22:54.119
  • The mud.'"
  • 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.754
  • I know the bible is true for many reasons, but here's one.
  • 00:22:55.754 --> 00:22:59.658
  • Not just because it predicts the future accurately, not just
  • 00:22:59.658 --> 00:23:03.628
  • Because everything that it's said, i found true in my life,
  • 00:23:03.628 --> 00:23:06.064
  • But because i've seen a dog eat its own barf.
  • 00:23:06.064 --> 00:23:10.502
  • That's what it's saying.
  • 00:23:10.502 --> 00:23:12.070
  • "a dog returned to its own vomit."
  • 00:23:12.070 --> 00:23:14.406
  • Dogs are so weird that way, right?
  • 00:23:14.406 --> 00:23:16.741
  • I watched a dog throw up and eat it.
  • 00:23:16.741 --> 00:23:19.277
  • What's going on?
  • 00:23:19.277 --> 00:23:20.645
  • What's going on in the dog mind there?
  • 00:23:20.645 --> 00:23:22.848
  • Need a hot meal, there it is.
  • 00:23:22.848 --> 00:23:25.984
  • Really?
  • 00:23:25.984 --> 00:23:27.352
  • Then later they'll wash it down with some toilet water.
  • 00:23:27.352 --> 00:23:30.555
  • Then they'll lick us in the face, and people will say, "oh,
  • 00:23:30.555 --> 00:23:34.125
  • You know, a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's."
  • 00:23:34.125 --> 00:23:36.862
  • Oh, do you eat barf and drink toilet water?
  • 00:23:36.862 --> 00:23:40.131
  • Because that's what that dog just did.
  • 00:23:40.131 --> 00:23:46.404
  • So "a dog returns to its own vomit."
  • 00:23:46.404 --> 00:23:48.573
  • Why does the dog do that?
  • 00:23:48.573 --> 00:23:50.008
  • Because it's a dog, and dogs do doggy things.
  • 00:23:50.008 --> 00:23:54.379
  • Here's my simple point.
  • 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:55.714
  • They're just doing what comes by nature.
  • 00:23:55.714 --> 00:23:58.617
  • So coming back to the issue i raised earlier, a prodigal will
  • 00:23:58.617 --> 00:24:03.421
  • Always return to god, but a pig won't.
  • 00:24:03.421 --> 00:24:05.957
  • So are you a pig or a prodigal?
  • 00:24:05.957 --> 00:24:08.660
  • See, if you're a prodigal, you'll come home to your father.
  • 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:11.196
  • If you're a pig, you'll go back to your own slop or a dog to its
  • 00:24:11.196 --> 00:24:15.700
  • Own vomit.
  • 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:17.035
  • That is exactly the illustration before us.
  • 00:24:17.035 --> 00:24:19.638
  • So don't get mad at me for talking about barf.
  • 00:24:19.638 --> 00:24:23.308
  • It's in the bible.
  • 00:24:23.308 --> 00:24:24.976
  • Number four, did you keep yourself from the devil?
  • 00:24:24.976 --> 00:24:27.779
  • See, if you're really a christian, if you've really been
  • 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:30.348
  • Born of god, you'll keep yourself from the devil.
  • 00:24:30.348 --> 00:24:33.051
  • 1 john 5:18 says, "we know whoever is born of god does not
  • 00:24:33.051 --> 00:24:37.689
  • Sin," habitually, "and he has been born of god, keeps himself
  • 00:24:37.689 --> 00:24:41.893
  • From the devil, and the wicked one does not touch him."
  • 00:24:41.893 --> 00:24:46.097
  • What does it mean to keep themselves from the devil?
  • 00:24:46.097 --> 00:24:49.834
  • Well, the idea is that you stay as close to god as you
  • 00:24:49.834 --> 00:24:53.905
  • Possibly can.
  • 00:24:53.905 --> 00:24:55.473
  • See, i don't keep myself saved, but i can keep myself safe.
  • 00:24:55.473 --> 00:25:02.280
  • So the same is true in life, in general.
  • 00:25:02.280 --> 00:25:04.215
  • If i go to this party, if i hang out with this person, if i watch
  • 00:25:04.215 --> 00:25:09.054
  • This thing on tv, if i go to that website, trouble
  • 00:25:09.054 --> 00:25:13.458
  • Always follows.
  • 00:25:13.458 --> 00:25:14.793
  • Okay, news flash, don't go to that website.
  • 00:25:14.793 --> 00:25:17.462
  • Don't go to that party.
  • 00:25:17.462 --> 00:25:19.097
  • Don't hang out with that person.
  • 00:25:19.097 --> 00:25:20.432
  • The bible says that, "we should keep ourselves in the love
  • 00:25:20.432 --> 00:25:23.602
  • Of god."
  • 00:25:23.602 --> 00:25:25.270
  • So the idea of that is "stay as close as i can to the lord."
  • 00:25:25.270 --> 00:25:30.208
  • And another one, do you love other christians?
  • 00:25:30.208 --> 00:25:33.178
  • How much do you love god?
  • 00:25:33.178 --> 00:25:35.313
  • How can you say you love god, who you can't see, if you won't
  • 00:25:35.313 --> 00:25:39.284
  • Love his people who you can see?
  • 00:25:39.284 --> 00:25:42.153
  • Start there.
  • 00:25:42.153 --> 00:25:43.622
  • And so these are simple litmus tests that show that our faith
  • 00:25:43.622 --> 00:25:48.526
  • Is real.
  • 00:25:48.526 --> 00:25:49.861
  • Here's the key, look at verse 13, don't miss this.
  • 00:25:49.861 --> 00:25:51.963
  • "it is god that works in you both to will and do of his
  • 00:25:51.963 --> 00:25:55.867
  • Good pleasure."
  • 00:25:55.867 --> 00:25:57.202
  • So, let's look at it again.
  • 00:25:57.202 --> 00:25:58.536
  • "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"--
  • 00:25:58.536 --> 00:26:00.271
  • Which means carry it to the goal,
  • 00:26:00.271 --> 00:26:02.374
  • Fully complete, like you're in a mine--
  • 00:26:02.374 --> 00:26:06.044
  • "fear and trembling with self-distrust.
  • 00:26:06.044 --> 00:26:08.880
  • Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
  • 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.616
  • For it is god that works in you, both to will
  • 00:26:11.616 --> 00:26:14.586
  • And do of his good pleasure."
  • 00:26:14.586 --> 00:26:16.321
  • It's god working in me.
  • 00:26:16.321 --> 00:26:18.356
  • It's not me trying to imitate jesus.
  • 00:26:18.356 --> 00:26:22.027
  • It's jesus living in me and jesus living through me.
  • 00:26:22.027 --> 00:26:27.532
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie. i've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:30.902 --> 00:26:33.605
  • God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:33.605 --> 00:26:37.442
  • Here's the problem: we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:37.442 --> 00:26:40.912
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:40.912 --> 00:26:43.848
  • But the good news is that 2,000 years ago, god sent
  • 00:26:43.848 --> 00:26:47.318
  • His son, jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin,
  • 00:26:47.318 --> 00:26:51.723
  • And then to rise again from the dead.
  • 00:26:51.723 --> 00:26:54.125
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready
  • 00:26:54.125 --> 00:26:57.429
  • To come into your life right now.
  • 00:26:57.429 --> 00:26:59.964
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:59.964 --> 00:27:02.033
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:27:02.033 --> 00:27:04.903
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:27:04.903 --> 00:27:08.206
  • Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:27:08.206 --> 00:27:11.910
  • You're the savior, who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:27:11.910 --> 00:27:15.380
  • I turn from my sin now, and i choose to follow you
  • 00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:18.883
  • From this moment forward."
  • 00:27:18.883 --> 00:27:21.252
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:27:21.252 --> 00:27:23.088
  • If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
  • 00:27:23.088 --> 00:27:26.524
  • Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:26.524 --> 00:27:26.524