“Thieves of the Abundant Life”

Scripture:            John 10:10

C.I.:                “Lost” vs. “Saved” : Is It a Matter of How Well You Play the Game?!

Today we begin a new series. – In today’s Scripture Jesus tells us how Satan comes to “steal and kill and destroy” what He came to give, “life and that abundantly!” – But he doesn’t have to get away with this,
“so that no advantage be taken us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes,” (II Cor. 2:11)!

I. “Lost” vs. “Saved” : Is It a Matter of How Well You Play the Game?!

A. The Nature of Salvation

1. Salvation Defined: The Acceptance by Sinners if God’s Decision for Us to Live in Union with Him”

a. To show the continuous nature of this “Union” – God uses the term “Life” (Jn. 10:10).

2. Abundant Life  is not about, “Do you believe in God,” but rather, “What do you believe about God?”

a. Either He makes it difficult to be saved and easy to lose our salvation! – American Gothic!!

1) These are the people who misunderstand the nature of salvation – They have bought into Satan’s lie – his scheme is to rob us of “abundant life” by believing in “Ping Pong Salvation”!

2) Defined: “The belief that a Christian bounces, even daily, between being saved & lost!”

3) ILLUST.: As long as we are able to keep the ball on the “saved” side of the net … Great! – But what happens if we sin?  What happens if we don’t repent in time?  OH NO!!!!

4) Thus, our lives are spent in trying to perfect our “game playing” – and living with a certain amount of dread – that we may not be “good enough” to win in the end!

b. Or He makes it very easy to be saved & difficult to lose our salvation?

c. In salvation God did all the hard part: He became a man, live a perfect life, endured much by religious/Romans, hung on a cross, wrote a book so we could know Him and His love for us!

B. Two False Beliefs Satan Uses to Rob Us of the “Abundant Life”:

1. #1: You can’t lose our salvation – no matter what we do!

a. But this isn’t what God says, - (Heb. 10:26-27), “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth – there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a certain….”

b. SIN, even if we won’t admit it, is a part of all our lives - (Rom. 3:23; I Jn. 1:7-8), “All have sinned [past tense]…” – “For if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have….”

c. The question for us is, “What is our practice?” - (I Jn. 3:9-10), “No one who is born of God practices sin … By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone….”

2. #2: In order to be saved – we must rely upon our own efforts!

a. (Gal. 5:4), “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law, YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE!” 

b. (Jms. 2:10), “Whoever keeps the whole law and stumbles in one point, is guilty of all.”

3. But when we see Satan’s schemes for what they are – (Confusing the nature of salvation – Ping Pong Salvation; a false belief about God, living in one of 2 extremes) – and then refuse to believe his lie – only then can we enjoy the blessings of the “abundant life”!

C. Blessings that Come with the “Abundant Life”!

1. #1.  Everyday We Can Enjoy the Love of Jesus in Our Lives!

a. Like Adam & Eve – we are afraid of the “tongue-lashing” for our sins! – So we think if we “stay out of God’s way” – we will avoid this. – But sadly, we now have to carry around this huge guilt!

1) (Matt. 11:28-30), “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give….”

2) (Heb. 4:15-16), “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…

3) (I John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins….”

b. If “guilt” could save us – some in this room would be wonderfully saved – But its not about how much we agonize over the guilt of our sins – its about Jesus agony for us on a cross – because of this we can now have a peaceful, loving relationship wit Him!

2. #2.  We Reject becoming Judgmental!

a. Some folks can’t get around to enjoying the abundant life – because they are so busy – either straightening out everyone else – or condemning them for some fault they see in their lives!

b. Folks, let me kindly say something to you that your brethren want you to hear – “YOU ARE NOT MY PERSONAL HOLY SPIRIT – SO QUIT MEDDLING IN MY LIFE!”

1) The H.S. is already at work in our lives – (Jn. 16:8), “When He comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.”

2) We don’t need each other’s criticism – but we sure could use each others love, support, and if requested, help – (Gal. 6:1-2), “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another’s burdens….”

c. When we stop “faking Christianity” (perfectionism) - and start practicing the real thing – we will all begin to enjoy the “abundant life” Jesus came to give us!

3. Third: We know for Certain that We are Saved.

a. ILLUST.: Charlton Heston, Cecil B. DeMille & Ben Hur, (“You just stay in the chariot, I’ll see to it that you win the race!”)

b. Why do we listen to Satan and allow him to steal the joy God dearly wants for us to have?!

1) (I Jn. 5:13), “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God – so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life!”

2) (Phil. 1:6), “Now I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Satan seeks to rob Christians of the “Abundant Life” Jesus came to bring us.

2. “Ping-Pong Salvation” comes from the mind of Satan, not the heart of God!

3. Refusing to Play Satan’s Game Frees Us to Enjoy Our Relationship with God

4. (Quote Matt. 11:28; Mk. 16:16)