Sermon March 1st
“This week our Sermon was from 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Out of my ignorance I got on a bus going the wrong direction. It was the right bus number and bus line, but I because I mistakenly got on the bus headed the wrong way I was moving away from my destination, not towards it. So, what did I do? I got off the bus and made my way to the other side of the street. It matters which direction you are going. Someone coined the phrase, “Ignorance is bliss.” Is this true? Some things are good not to know (like when and how you will die or how people were tortured). But ignorance can be very dangerous. If a tsunami was approaching the beach where you were sitting and you didn’t know it could cost you your life. WHAT IF YOU WERE HEADING TO HELL AND DIDN’T EVEN KNOW? ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT BUS? Paul teaches us here that the Old Testament People of God, Israel, were not too different from us. They had BAPTISM (IN the pillar of cloud and the sea), COMMUNION (spiritual food/drink) from the ROCK (which is Christ). THEY LOOKED FORWARD. WE LOOK BACK. In v.5 Paul says, “Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” This is similar to what we read in Matthew 7:22-23, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” According to the Bible you can be on the wrong bus and not even know it. DESPITE THE PROXIMITY TO THE TRUTH AND THE APPEARANCE OF TRUTH THE REALITY OF TRUTH WAS NOT THERE. Some people will miss out on heaven. Eternity with God is their expectation but not their reality. Are you right with God?
Discussion Questions
1. What is the Biblical definition of salvation?
2. Can a person know with certainty that they are saved? How would you coach someone to evaluate their own salvation to confirm it is authentic?
