Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 11

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (Acts 16:25-33 ESV).

Becoming a Christian means recognizing that there is a great God who created all things and all persons for his glory—to display the greatness and beauty and power of who he is. Becoming a Christian means recognizing that this is why every person exists. This is our reason for being. This is the meaning of human life—to reflect back to God and to reflect to each other the glory of our Maker and all his attributes, by loving him and trusting him and thanking him and obeying him. Becoming a Christian means recognizing that we have all failed to do this. We have fallen short of living for his glory. We have exchanged it for other values we preferred, and so we have scorned his glory. This is what the Bible calls sin. And we are all guilty. Becoming a Christian means recognizing that we are all therefore condemned justly by God to eternal punishment for the infinite guilt of dishonoring an infinitely glorious God. And becoming a Christian means recognizing that the love of God moved him to send his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to provide eternal life for helpless sinners. When Jesus died for sinners, he became our ransom, our substitute, and the vindication of God's glory on our behalf. However, these are not works to be “done.” All of that which was required for our atonement has been done in the work of Christ. So, the Bible is jealous not to let salvation be by works because that would rob God of glory in the work of salvation. If we try to work our way to salvation, it draws attention to our strength and our value and our contribution. But faith on the other hand throws all attention on the value and the sufficiency of who Christ is and what Christ did. Faith glorifies God. Works glorify us. The root reason God will not let salvation be by works—why he will not let salvation be earned by our efforts—is because this would rob Jesus of his glory. God began by creating the world for his glory, and he is now saving the world in a way that restores that great purpose. So anything that diminishes his glory in the work of salvation will not be accepted. Thanks be to that great God!