The Wisdom leads to Salvation

 

 

The Second Sunday of Advent 2021. 12. 5.

2 Timothy 3:15

The Wisdom leads to Salvation

 

◎ Peace be with you!

Today is the second Sunday of Advent.

Advent is a season of the liturgical year as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the birth of the Messiah.

Particularly, on the second week of Advent, we have time to think about the importance and preciousness of the Bible God gave us.

 

◎ Today’s text is 2 Timothy 3:15.

Let’s read the text together.

NIV “and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

 

◎ Let’s read the text again in other English version to help more understanding the meaning.

 

GNT “and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

 

The wisdom leads to salvation!

This is the theme of today’s sermon.

 

◎ Today’s text is apostle Paul’s teaching for his beloved son Timothy.

Paul says that the Bible gives us wisdom leads to salvation.

Then, what is the wisdom leads to salvation?

 

◎ First of all, we think about the meaning of salvation.

What word do you think is like salvation in the Old Testament?

 

◎ Let’s read the book of Deuteronomy 10:13 together.

“and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being.”(NRSV)

 

◎ In here, well-being is towb in Hebrew.

Towb means “good, benefit, and happy.”

The purpose of God’s commandment to Israel is for their own happiness.

Likewise, God’s purpose of saving us is for our happiness.

 

◎ So we can summarize it like this.

Our salvation is the ultimate will of God for us.

Salvation is for our happiness.

Salvation, happiness, heaven, and eternal life are all same meaning.

 

◎ Let’s look at the screen!

Salvation is a holistic concept.

Generally salvation means a state of being with God.

If salvation is in a spiritual state with God,

Happiness is our inner state with God living in us.

Also we can say that heaven is a spatial concept of salvation.

And eternal life is a concept of time of salvation.

 

◎ OK. Let’s think about next question.

Why should we be saved? Anyone know?

Because we are all sinners.

 

◎ Let’s read the words of David.

Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”(ESV)

 

◎ And let’s read the sayings of apostle Paul.

Romans 3:10-11, “as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”(ESV)

 

◎ So, there is no way to God on our own.

There is no method to be saved by our own ability or power.

Because we are all sinners.

 

◎ God loves everyone. But God does not save everyone.

God loves all sinners. But God does not save any sinners.

 

◎ Then, Who can save us? Anyone know?

Yes, Only God can save us!

It is very important question.

 

◎ Let’s look at the story of a rich young man.

Matthew chapter 19: There is a story of a rich young man visiting Jesus.

 

One day, a rich young man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?”

 

Then Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. But if you want to have life forever, obey the commands.”

 

The man asked, “Which commands?” Jesus answered, “You must not murder anyone; you must not be guilty of adultery; you must not steal; you must not tell lies about your neighbor...”

 

Then the young man said, “I have obeyed all these things. What else do I need to do?”

 

And Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

 

Do you know the reaction of this young man?

He left sorrowfully, because he was rich.

Anyway what is important is the reaction of the disciples after that.

 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

The disciples were greatly astonished, so they asked “Then who can be saved?”

 

◎ What was Jesus’ answer?

Let’s read the verse 26 of Matthew chapter 19 together.

“But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(ESV)

 

◎ God is almighty.

God has the power of salvation.

Salvation is entirely up to God!

 

◎ So, what should we do? and how should we live?

If God does everything, then we have nothing to do?

If God is almighty, we need only faith?

The saying that faith is enough is Satan’s deceit.

 

◎ Let’s focus on Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast.

Matthew chapter 22: There was a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.

 

Many guests were invited, and when the feast was ready, the king sent messengers to notify everyone that it was time to come. But all refused!

 

So again he sent other messengers to tell them, “Everything is ready and come to the wedding feast!’

 

But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his messengers, treated them shamefully, and killed them...

 

Then the king was angry, and he sent his army and destroyed those murderers...

 

And then he said to his messengers, “The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.”

 

So the messengers did, and brought in all they could find, both good and bad and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 

But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the wedding garment provided for him.

 

And the king said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?”

 

◎ OK. Let’s read the verse 14 of Matthew chapter 22 together.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”(ESV)

 

◎ Let’s look at the screen!

◎ [State of a Sinner]

Un-worthy for saving grace

Un-qualified for salvation

 

◎ [State of Justification]

Worthy for saving grace

Un-qualified for salvation

 

◎ [State of Sanctification]

Worthy for saving grace

Qualified for salvation

 

◎ [For Sinners]

God loves all sinners.

God wants all sinners to be saved.

But God does not save any sinners.

 

◎ [For Justification]

God loves us because we are worthy of being loved as children of God.

God wants us to grow in saving grace in the process of our lives.

But God loves us not because we have qualification to be saved.

 

◎ [For Sanctification]

No one can reach God’s standards.

But God sees our effort to do our best to reach God’s standards.

God measures whether we have this faith or not.

 

◎ Now, what to do?

Salvation is a process of life.

Salvation is like a running race.

 

◎ What to do for our salvation?

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 9:24 together.

“Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize.

Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize.”(GNT)

 

◎ It does not mean that only first one gets the prize.

It means that we must run in such a way as to win the prize.

This is the attitude of those who want to be saved.

This is the saving faith that live as best as possible.

 

◎ Do we have this saving faith?

If we have this saving faith, we must live by the teachings of Jesus.

We need to be humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

We should pray that have a mercy every moment.

At the same time, we have to do our best to work our mission from God.

We have to study the Bible hard.

We have to pray diligently, too.

We must bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

This is the wisdom leads to Salvation!

 

◎ Let’s pray:

Eternal God, thank you for teaching us about the wisdom leads to salvation.

We want to live according to this wisdom.

Holy Spirit, please help us to hear, read, mark your Holy Word and inwardly digest them.

Through patience and the comfort of your Holy Word,

we may embrace and hold fast the hope of everlasting life. Amen.