Meeting the Divine Standard

Amos 7:7-9

Introduction.

  1. This world has many standards for things.

    1. If we want to join the military, we must meet certain physical and educational requirements.

    2. If we want to attend a certain college, we must meet their standards with certain test scores, grades, and extracurricular activities.

    3. If we want to board a plane, there are certain requirements for what you can carry and how large your carry-on should be.

  2. Jesus gave His disciples miraculous abilities in the Limited Commission.

    1. They rejoiced at all they could do (Luke 10:20).

    2. Jesus told them not to be, only be happy their names are written in heaven.

    3. There were those who performed miracles—still missed heaven (Mt 7:21-23).

    4. Disciples were, by contrast, doing God’s will, meeting the standard.

  3. Are we striving to meet God’s standards and requirements?

Body.

  1. The Standard for Entrance.

    1. Have I met the divine standard to call myself a child of God?

    2. Two categories of people:

      1. Saved and the unsaved.

      2. Those who belong to kingdom of darkness.

      3. Those who belong to kingdom of light.

      4. Had to be transferred from one to the other (Col. 1:13).

      5. One can be outside of Christ or in Christ (Eph 1:3).

      6. Salvation is only found in Christ (2 Tim. 2:10).

      7. How to get into Christ suggests there are those outside Christ (Gal 3:26-27).

      8. Baptism brings one into Christ (put on Christ) – saved!

      9. Those in Christ are a new creature, old passed away (2 Cor 5:17).

    3. Examples:

      1. Among these who made this transition were the wicked in Corinth who were washed, sanctified, justified (1 Cor 6:9-11).

      2. Those who had a hand in Jesus’ crucifixion asked what they must do (Acts 2:37).

        1. Peter told them to repent and be baptized (vs. 38).

        2. Those who heard were baptized (vs. 41).

        3. Then the Lord added them to the church (vs. 47).

        4. They were out of Christ, desiring to enter in!

    4. Much of the religious world does not consider church important.

      1. Is belief (mental ascent) alone sufficient?

      2. Is living morally sufficient?

      3. Some say there’s no need to go to church or be a member somewhere.

      4. They ignore the immense benefits of worship (Heb. 10:24-25).

      5. Others say you can go to whatever church you’d like.

    5. Church is the body of the saved! (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).

    6. Have I met all the divine standards? Your soul is at stake!

  2. Meeting the Standard of Continuance.

    1. After becoming a Christian, we must stay a Chris ian!

    2. Confidence requires obedience (1 John 3:21-22).

      1. How do we know what is “pleasing in His sight”?

      2. They are His commandments that are written in His Word!

    3. Paul to the Ephesian elders spoke of the word of grace (Acts 20:32).

      1. It is able to build you up.

      2. It also gives you an inheritance among the sanctified—heaven.

      3. Word of God still performs the same function today!

      4. It provides the standard by which we ought to live (1 Cor. 11:1).

    4. Shows a stark contrast between the Christian and one in the world (e.g. Tit. 2:11-12; 1 John 2:15-17; James 1:27).

    5. We should live that standard of love.

      1. Show love to the lost (John 3:16).

      2. Show unselfish love to one another! (1 Pet. 1:22).

    6. Am I meeting God’s standards of worship and service to Him?

      1. Not everyone considers how we worship.

      2. It must be in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

      3. It can only be done in the church (Eph. 3:21).

      4. We will talk more about that tonight & in the coming weeks.

Conclusion.

  1. If we meet these standards, we can:

    1. Be Christians,

    2. Stay Christians,

    3. Show love to the saved and the unsaved alike.

  2. Will you obey that gospel today? Will you follow that divine standard?