Embracing Salvation: Hope, Faith, and Christ's Return

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound themes of Revelation, focusing on the call to recognize our need for salvation through Jesus Christ. The message emphasized that salvation is not about our actions or appearances but about understanding who God is and allowing that understanding to transform our lives. We delved into the prophetic visions of Revelation, acknowledging the complexity and mystery surrounding the end times. While we cannot predict the exact timeline of these events, we are encouraged to remain vigilant and faithful, holding onto the testimony of Jesus.

The message challenged us to examine our lives, urging those who have not yet accepted Christ to do so and those who have to live out their faith authentically. It highlighted the reality of God's wrath against sin and rebellion, reminding us that without Jesus, we are all deserving of eternal separation from God. However, the hope of the gospel is that through Jesus' sacrifice, we are offered new life and a place in heaven.

We were reminded that faith is not about following rules or performing rituals but about loving God and allowing that love to guide our actions. The message called us to live lives that reflect God's love, showing it to others and bearing witness to the hope we have in Christ. As we await Jesus' return, we are encouraged to endure trials and remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that our Shepherd King is coming to lead us to eternal rest.

Key Takeaways:

- Salvation Through Understanding God: Salvation is not about our deeds but about knowing who God is. As we grasp His nature, our actions naturally align with His will, transforming us from the inside out. This understanding leads us to live lives that glorify Him. [03:40]

- The Reality of God's Wrath and Hope in Christ: Without Jesus, we are all deserving of God's wrath due to our rebellion. However, the gospel offers hope through Jesus' sacrifice, which saves us from eternal separation. This hope should drive us to live in awe and gratitude for His grace. [09:11]

- Authentic Faith and Love for God: True faith is not about following rules but about loving God deeply. This love should permeate every aspect of our lives, guiding our actions and decisions. By asking, "Does this love God?" we find freedom and purpose in our faith journey. [18:14]

- Endurance and Witness in Trials: As we face trials and deceptions, our faith and hope in Christ call us to endure. By holding onto the testimony of Jesus, we bear witness to His love and truth, potentially awakening others to the gospel. [21:51]

- The Shepherd King's Return: Jesus, our Shepherd King, is coming to lead us to eternal rest. His return will bring justice and reward for those who have remained faithful. We are called to discern the times, remain hopeful, and live in anticipation of His glorious return. [31:15]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:40] - Call to Listen and Reflect
- [09:11] - The Reality of Wrath and Hope
- [12:18] - The Gift of Salvation
- [18:14] - Authentic Faith and Love
- [21:51] - Endurance in Trials
- [23:33] - Signs of the End Times
- [30:11] - The Shepherd King's Return
- [31:15] - The Lord is My Shepherd
- [32:32] - Invitation to Rest in Christ
- [33:05] - Call to Prayer and Response

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 1:3
2. Revelation 21:8
3. John 14:1-4

---

Observation Questions:

1. According to Revelation 1:3, what blessing is promised to those who read and keep the words of the prophecy? How does this relate to the call to remain vigilant and faithful? [03:40]

2. In Revelation 21:8, a list of behaviors and characteristics is given. What are these, and what is their consequence? How does this passage highlight the need for salvation through Jesus? [09:11]

3. John 14:1-4 speaks of Jesus preparing a place for believers. What does this passage reveal about the hope and assurance offered to those who follow Christ? [32:32]

4. The sermon mentioned the importance of holding onto the testimony of Jesus. What does this mean in the context of enduring trials and remaining steadfast in faith? [21:51]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the promise of blessing in Revelation 1:3 encourage believers to engage with the prophetic visions of Revelation, despite their complexity and mystery? [03:40]

2. Revelation 21:8 describes the fate of those who reject God. How does this passage challenge believers to examine their lives and align their actions with God's will? [09:11]

3. In John 14:1-4, Jesus offers comfort to His disciples. How does this promise of a prepared place in heaven influence a believer's perspective on trials and challenges in life? [32:32]

4. The sermon emphasized the transformation that comes from understanding who God is. How does this understanding lead to authentic faith and love for God, as opposed to merely following rules? [18:14]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of who God is. How has this understanding transformed your actions and decisions recently? What areas of your life still need alignment with His will? [03:40]

2. Revelation 21:8 lists behaviors that lead to eternal separation from God. Are there any areas in your life where you see these behaviors? How can you seek transformation through Jesus' sacrifice? [09:11]

3. Jesus promises a place in heaven for His followers in John 14:1-4. How does this assurance impact your daily life and decisions? What steps can you take to live with this eternal perspective? [32:32]

4. The sermon called for authentic faith and love for God. How can you ensure that your faith is not just about following rules but is deeply rooted in love for God? What practical steps can you take this week to deepen this love? [18:14]

5. As we await Jesus' return, we are encouraged to endure trials. What current trials are you facing, and how can your faith in Christ help you endure them? How can you bear witness to His love and truth during these times? [21:51]

6. The sermon mentioned the Shepherd King's return. How can you live in anticipation of Jesus' return, and what changes might this require in your daily life? [31:15]

7. Consider the call to show God's love to others. Identify one person in your life who needs to experience this love. What specific action can you take this week to demonstrate God's love to them? [18:14]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

---

Day 1: Understanding God Transforms Us

Salvation is not about our deeds but about knowing who God is. As we grasp His nature, our actions naturally align with His will, transforming us from the inside out. This understanding leads us to live lives that glorify Him. The call to recognize our need for salvation through Jesus Christ is not about our actions or appearances but about understanding who God is and allowing that understanding to transform our lives. This transformation is a profound journey that begins with acknowledging the complexity and mystery of God's nature. As we delve deeper into this understanding, we find that our actions and decisions begin to reflect His will, leading us to live lives that glorify Him. This transformation is not a one-time event but a continuous process of aligning our lives with God's character and purpose. [03:40]

"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him." (Ephesians 1:15-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you seek a deeper understanding of God's nature today, and how might this understanding transform your actions and decisions?

Day 2: Embracing Hope in Christ

Without Jesus, we are all deserving of God's wrath due to our rebellion. However, the gospel offers hope through Jesus' sacrifice, which saves us from eternal separation. This hope should drive us to live in awe and gratitude for His grace. The reality of God's wrath against sin and rebellion is a sobering reminder of our need for salvation. Yet, the hope of the gospel is that through Jesus' sacrifice, we are offered new life and a place in heaven. This hope is not just a future promise but a present reality that should inspire us to live in awe and gratitude for His grace. As we embrace this hope, we are called to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel, bearing witness to the love and truth of Christ. [09:11]

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him." (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live today in a way that reflects the hope and gratitude you have for Jesus' sacrifice?

Day 3: Authentic Faith Through Love

True faith is not about following rules but about loving God deeply. This love should permeate every aspect of our lives, guiding our actions and decisions. By asking, "Does this love God?" we find freedom and purpose in our faith journey. Authentic faith is characterized by a deep love for God that transcends mere rule-following or ritualistic practices. This love is the driving force behind our actions and decisions, guiding us to live lives that honor God. As we navigate our faith journey, we are encouraged to continually ask ourselves, "Does this love God?" This question serves as a compass, helping us to align our lives with God's will and find freedom and purpose in our relationship with Him. [18:14]

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you can make today that reflects your love for God and aligns with His will?

Day 4: Enduring Trials with Faith

As we face trials and deceptions, our faith and hope in Christ call us to endure. By holding onto the testimony of Jesus, we bear witness to His love and truth, potentially awakening others to the gospel. The journey of faith is not without its challenges. As we encounter trials and deceptions, we are called to endure with steadfast faith and hope in Christ. This endurance is not passive but active, as we hold onto the testimony of Jesus and bear witness to His love and truth. In doing so, we have the opportunity to awaken others to the gospel, sharing the hope and transformation we have experienced in Christ. [21:51]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively hold onto the testimony of Jesus in the face of a current trial or challenge?

Day 5: Anticipating the Shepherd King's Return

Jesus, our Shepherd King, is coming to lead us to eternal rest. His return will bring justice and reward for those who have remained faithful. We are called to discern the times, remain hopeful, and live in anticipation of His glorious return. The promise of Jesus' return is a source of hope and anticipation for believers. As our Shepherd King, He will lead us to eternal rest, bringing justice and reward for those who have remained faithful. In light of this promise, we are called to discern the times, remain hopeful, and live in anticipation of His glorious return. This anticipation is not passive but active, as we seek to live lives that reflect the hope and transformation we have in Christ. [31:15]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into." (Matthew 24:42-43, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can live today in anticipation of Jesus' return, reflecting the hope and transformation you have in Him?

---

Quotes

God my Heavenly Father God I thank you for your presence I thank you for the cross I thank you God that you didn't just come for those of who look like we walk the walk and talk the talk and look like we have the part but you've called all of us and it's not about what we do or it's about who you are and as we come into the realization of who you are what we do changes by your hand to your glory you I thank you God for salvation thank you Jesus in your name amen so today's message if you look at the bulletin does not have fill in the blank notes for you today that is on purpose as I prepared this message what I was intending to write did not come out inside the bulletin there's a little blurb that is a very very small blurb that is a very very small blurb that is a very very highlight of what I had initially intended to preach about showcasing the scrolls the trumpets and the bowls and juxtaposing that with Matthew 24 known as Olivet discourse as Jesus prophesized the fall of Jerusalem and how that is an archetype for the coming Lord [00:00:09] (98 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

if you are in here and you have not given your life to Jesus Christ listen to what is about to be said if you are in here and you say you've given your life to Jesus Christ but there is zero fruit in your life that you are called by the blood of Jesus Christ that you look more like the world than you do like the body of Christ listen to what is about to be said if you are in here and you have been a Christian for many years and you have held on to his name awesome listen to what is about to be said because it is for all of us [00:03:44] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

we also deserve god's wrath for our rebellion and our sin culminating in his wrath poured out on earth resulting in eternal death in the lake of fire that lake of fire awaits all whose names are not written in the book of life who abandon their love for god and reject his name while embracing immorality and cultural conformity in search of their own glory or their own comfort yes that's the bad news that the lake of eternal fire is hungry to receive all who deceive for and are deceived by the dragon who is satan is hungry to receive all who choose to hide within the world by denying their faith is hungry to receive all who sit at the feet of the notorious woman known as babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of all detestable things gratifying their flesh and glorying glorifying themselves in all sorts of immorality hungry to receive all who even in their unrecognized idolatry put no value in life gratify their flesh and embrace the occult which are all practices that are anti -god and anti -christ see our rebellion is like satan's who wants all of god's glory for himself he wants to be god to usurp god's throne and humanity has bought into the serpent's deception that we too [00:07:15] (108 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Satan puffs up our rebellion and pride, whispering, who is God to tell you who you are, or where you can go, what you can do, and with whom you can do what you want? Well, God is God. That's who he is. And I am not, and nor are you, and neither is Satan, no matter how much he would like to be. In the words of Joshua, as he renewed Israel's covenant with God, as for me and my family, we will worship the Lord. The alternative result is stated very clearly in Revelation 21 .8. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their share, in other words, their inheritance, their great reward for all the sin that we do, will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. [00:09:12] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Now, that's all of us. That's all of us without Jesus. His blood shed on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Guys, this is about as close to a hellfire and brimstone as I've ever preached before. And I want to leave you with some hope because the message is about hope. But if you don't recognize the hope that is coming, this is where your reward is. [00:10:16] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

revelation 318 i advise you to buy from me says jesus ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see now because i can see myself my sins as deserving of hell i am driven more and more into awe of the one who rescues me from it putting my faith and life into the pierced hands of jesus christ by his love i am saved from the damnation do me for my rebellion to god if that word offends you it means curse and that's what we live under when we don't have the blood of jesus christ [00:11:29] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

unwrapping it we say thank you jesus and put it to the side some of us open it just like just like my oldest son did when he was real little the first time he looked through an advertisement and said i want that for for christmas and so we bought that for christmas every day before christmas he would look at it and he unwraps it and never touches it after he opens it 50 paul patrol toy come on you laugh because your parents are used to that that's what we do with jesus we take the gift we say i want this thing lord and then we take the gift and we put it to the side and we never ever touch it we don't let it affect us we like to pretend like oh i've received it but it doesn't change us it doesn't excite us you let me tell you taking it and putting it to the side is not accepting the gift it's neglecting it it's not holding on to the testimony of jesus christ it's not holding on to the name of jesus it's pretending like you have been saved but you have not [00:15:40] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

if you haven't accepted the gift i want you to know that jesus is offering it to you now he offers it today he'll offer it tomorrow and he's going to offer it every single day after because if you're in here your ears are open to hear this god is calling to you through the slaughtered blood of the lamb don't delay accepting it because you don't know what tomorrow will hold james 4 14 yet you don't know what tomorrow will bring what your life will be for you are like vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes [00:20:01] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

we are like vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes if you have opened the gift of salvation but have set it aside you've neglected it or you don't value it enough to lay down your life then you've done exactly what jesus has done to you and you've done exactly what jesus has done to you and you've done exactly what Jesus said to the church in Ephesus, the first letter in Revelation that we talked about, you have abandoned your love and you have no idea how far you've fallen. So repent and remember because you may have abandoned him, but he has not abandoned you. That's the good news. Take hold of it. If you have not taken hold of it, hold tighter, if you have and keep the name of Jesus in your hands and sealed into your mind, keep the revelation of Jesus Christ. [00:20:46] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?