Communion Message
(God is recycling us)
January 29-30, 2000
Pastor Leighton Sheley

This week, about a week ago, I received an e-mail from a person who was asking spiritual questions. They were saying is my salvation in jeopardy if I don't have good works? Or by extension they were asking the question, is my salvation dependent upon good works? Are there some good works that are greater than others, or are there some sins that are greater than others? Is there a point system that's attached to our works? Are there a certain number of points that we have to accumulate in order to guarantee our salvation?

To these spiritual questions we look to the Scriptures for the answer and we find the answer to this question in Ephesians chapter 2 which reads: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were buying nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith. That phrase is found not once but twice in this passage so there can be no ambiguity. Our salvation is by grace through faith. And this not from yourselves, it's the gift of God. That's a reference to our faith. Some might say well, then salvation is the result of grace through faith and then I bring the faith. Wrong. Even the faith that we have is a gift from God. Verse 9, not by works, so that no man can boast. Our salvation is not by works. Then some might say well then is there a relationship between salvation and good works? Verse 10, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Yes, there is a relationship between our salvation and good works, but it is not as some believe it to be that salvation is the result of good works, but rather, good works are the result of salvation. Good works are the result of salvation.

Now the writer to the Ephesians begins with a salutation in verse 3; Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of this world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his son's through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. He's given freely us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. God has called us to good works, and yet I will venture to say that there is not an honest person among us today who does not acknowledge that, if not today, then in the days previous in this week, he has done something that is not good works. He has done something that is displeasing to God. He has in some fashion, he or she has, committed some sin. Each and every one of us commit sins against God each and every day. In him, verse 7, we have redemption through his blood. The forgiveness of sins. Redemption. When we think of that word we often think of recycling. We go and we redeem the bottle, and you know that's not an inappropriate understanding because in reality that's what God has done for us. God is recycling us. He had a purpose for us, sin took us to the brink of destruction, and God has redeemed us, He's bought us back, and He's cleaning us and purifying us and remaking us into the image that He has intended for us. We are being redeemed through His blood and receiving forgiveness for our sins.

The passage that we so often refer to when we come together at the Lord's Table is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, and in that passage it tells us that we should examine ourselves. And so I will invite you to bow with me if you are physically able now in the presence of our Lord and Savior as we follow our Scripture that tells us that we should examine ourselves. Let's bow.

Lord we've done as You've told us to do in examining ourselves at this time, and Your spirit has revealed to us areas in our life where we have displeased You and where we need to come and confess our sin. Lord we're so thankful that Your word promises that if we confess our sin, You're faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord we're thankful that Your love is steadfast. Your mercies are new every morning. Your faithfulness is great even when ours is so lacking. We thank you Lord. We thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Let's partake of the bread, and also the cup. Hallelujah. Let's say hallelujah together. Hallelujah. Let's say it again. Hallelujah. Say it to the Lord. Hallelujah! (Starts singing) Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord, great is Thy faithfulness. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord, great is Thy faithfulness.

Thank you Lord for Your faithfulness to us in Jesus' name we pray, and together we say, amen. Let's stand. Let's greet at least a dozen neighbors and find out what their favorite desert is.