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THE CHRISTIAN’S DUTY

Introduction:

We have a duty to God because we are Christians! AMEN!!!

Christian duty OUGHT TO BE and CAN BE PLEASURABLE!

Our attitude toward Christian duty is affected by our love for Christ!

If we love Christ, Christian duty can be and will be pleasurable!

In fact, the more we love Christ, the more pleasurable it will be!

However, if our love for other things is greater than our love for Christ, then Christian duty will be seen as a drudgery and most often will be neglected and ignored.

In our introductory message we looked at the basis for our Christian duty? We shared with you at least seven things that form the basis for our Christian Duty: 

I.          THE FACT OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US!

II.         THE FACT OF OUR NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST!

III.       THE FACT THAT WE ARE UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!

IV.       THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NEW SPIRIT LIVING WITHIN!

V.         THE FACT THAT WE ARE PART OF A NEW FAMILY!

We Have A New Father! (Romans 8:15-16)

We Have New Siblings!

VI.       THE FACT THAT WE ARE PART OF A NEW BODY!

VII.      THE FACT THAT WE MUST FACE RECKONING WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!

             A.         CHASTENING IN THE PRESENT! (Hebrews 12:5-11)

             B.         THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST IN THE FUTURE!

                          (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

As Christians, we are obligated to God to fulfill some duties.

The first duty we want to mention is THE DUTY TO SUBMIT TO GOD.

One of the main reasons why many people don’t get saved today has to do with this matter of being submissive to the will of God.

It all began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve in Genesis 3.

But I want you to see that one of the main problems with believers not living like believers should also has to do with this matter of being submissive to the will of God. Sometimes we act like we know better than God.

There are many examples in Scripture.

1.          Abraham went down to Egypt when the famine came. (Genesis 12)

2.          The Children of Israel balked when God told them to go in and possess Canaan land. (Numbers 13, 14)

3.          Moses struck the rock when God told him to speak to the rock. (Numbers 20)

4.          Achan taking of the accursed thing when God said no. (Joshua 7)

5.          Saul not obeying God when God told him to destroy Amalek.

             (1 Samuel 15)

6.          Jonah taking a ship to Tarshish when God had sent him to Ninevah.

             (Jonah 1)

7.          King Herod trying to defy the will of God and the Word of God by trying to kill Jesus as a Baby. (Matthew 2)

8.          Peter’s attempt to keep Jesus from going the cross and getting rebuked.

9.          The Corinthian Christians. (1 Corinthians)

There are many examples today:

When it comes to Godly living–purity, faithfulness, tithing, soul winning, and service for the Lord–many just ignore what God has to say rather than submitting themselves to His will!

Could I tell you that every problem that man has with God–whether they are saved or lost– is a problem of submission to Him.

I.          WHY SUBMIT TO GOD?

             A.         A Failure To Submit To God Means We Will Submit To The World, The Flesh, Or The Devil

Joshua 24:15–“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

                          1.          To Combat The Desires Of The Flesh We Must Submit To God. (Vs 1-3)

Galatians 5:16–“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

                          2.          To Combat The Draw Of The World We Must Submit To God. (Vs 4)

1 John 2:15-17–“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

                          3.          To Combat The Deception Of The Devil We Must Submit To God. (Vs 7)

Ephesians 6:10-13–“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

             B.         A Failure To Submit To God Is A Display Of Pride And God Resists The Proud. (Vs 6)

I.          WHY SUBMIT TO GOD?

II.         HOW ARE WE TO SUBMIT TO GOD?

             To answer that in a word, “COMPLETELY!”

             A.         We Are To Submit To His Salvation. (Romans 10:1ff)

Proverbs 14:12–“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

John 3:18–“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Acts 4:12–“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

             B.         We Are To Submit To His Sanctification. (Romans 6:12-13)

                          Our Sanctification Has Three Aspects.

                                       Our Sanctification Is Positional.

                                                    (i.e. We Are Sanctified)

                                       Our Sanctification Is Practical.

                                                    (i.e. We Are Being Sanctified)

Our Sanctification Is Prospective.

                                                    (i.e. We Will Ultimately Be Sanctified.)

1 Peter 1:14-16–“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3–“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”

Ephesians 2:8-10–“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Romans 8:29– “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

                          Hebrews 12:5-11

                          We Are To Submit To His Salvation.

                          We Are To Submit To His Sanctification.

             C.         We Are To Submit To His Scripture. (James 1:22-25)

1 Peter 2:2–“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

2 Peter 3:18–“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Psalms 119:9–“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Psalms 119:11–“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Psalms 119:105–“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

             D.         We Are To Submit To His Service. (Isaiah 6:8)

                          Many folks make excuses of why they can’t serve God.

                          1.          Example–Moses in Exodus 3-4

                                       a.          Who am I? I’m a nobody! (3:11-12)

                                       b.          What am I going to say? (3:13-14)

                                       c.          They’re not going to believe me and they’re not going to listen to me! (4:1-2)

                                       d.          I am not eloquent. I am slow of speech, and slow of tongue! (4:10-12)

   e.          Lord can’t you send somebody else with me I just can’t do this by myself. (4:13-16)

                          2.          Example–Jonah in Jonah 1

                                       God told him to go to Ninevah and cry against it.

                                       Jonah thought, “Ninevah? Let’em all die for all I care!”

So, Jonah tried to flee the presence of the LORD and went took a ship to go to Tarshish instead.

God had to send him one whale of an attitude adjustment!

                          3.          Example–Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8.

                                       He caught a glimpse of God in His glory.

He caught a glimpse of His own spiritual poverty and the spiritual poverty of his people.

                                       He then received God’s cleansing.

                                       He then responded to God’s call to service.

                          We should serve the Lord with happiness.

It is so much better to do it out of love rather than out of obligation. (. . .we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6)

                                       2 Corinthians 5:14-15

                          We should serve the Lord with honor.

                                       Because of Who we serve.

Revelation 5:12–“. . .Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

                                       Because we are allowed to serve Him.

                          We should serve the Lord with humility.

                                       Not one of us is worthy to unlatch the shoes of Jesus!

                                       We are all just sinners saved by grace!

1 Thessalonians 2:4– “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

1 Timothy 1:12-13–“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

             E.         We Are To Submit To His Spirit. (Romans 8:11-14)

Instead of submitting to the Holy Spirit, many folks resist, quench, and grieve the Spirit of God.

             F.         We Are To Submit To His Sovereignty. (Job 40:1-5; 42:1-6)

Romans 8:28–“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Proverbs 3:5-6–“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Conclusion

Submit to His Salvation, His Sanctification, His Scripture, His Service, His Spirit, His Sovereignty.

James 4:7-10

Submission to God is inevitable.

Psalms 66:3–“Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.”

Romans 14:11–“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Philippians 2:9-11–“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”