What Directs Your Life?
The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding Christ's work and living a holy life through the power of scripture and God's grace.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Christians today are blessed with the revelation of Jesus' work on the cross, contrasting it with the Dark Ages when the meaning of the cross was hidden. He points out that many still fail to grasp the significance of being 'in Christ,' which is essential for true holiness and righteousness. Wilkerson stresses that relying on our own efforts leads to a false sense of holiness, while true holiness comes from understanding God's grace and the riches found in Christ. He encourages believers to govern their lives by Scripture, as it is through the Word that we are transformed and truly know we are in Him.
Text
Christians today live in a time of great light. The Holy Spirit has revealed to us the powerful meaning of Jesus' work on the cross, and the incredible blessings this means to our lives. Yet there was a time when Christ's wonderful work was obscured from the world. That period was known as the Dark Ages because the meaning of the cross was veiled from the eyes of humanity.
Sermons during the Dark Ages focused on God's wrath and damnation. Popes and priests preached a gospel of works and the people performed a variety of acts to try to find peace with God. People knew nothing of the benefits and blessings available through Christ's victory at Calvary.
Even today, with all the teaching available on the subject, the majority of Christians still do not understand many important aspects of Christ's work for us and what it means to be "in Christ." The fact is, being in Christ is the only foundation upon which true holiness and righteousness can be built. Without this foundation, we will rely on our flesh to try to produce a form of holiness in ourselves. But true holiness is obtained only through knowing the riches of God in Christ Jesus.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12). Only God's grace can teach us the kind of theology that leads to holiness. And no works can ever produce that!
You are in Christ if you govern your life by the scriptures. Do you revere and fear God's Word? Do you go daily to the mirror of scripture to be changed by it? "Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him" (1 John 2:5).
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Understanding Christ's Work
- The Foundation of True Holiness
- Living a Holy Life
- The Power of Scripture
- The Mirror of Scripture
Key Quotes
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age” — David Wilkerson
“Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must govern our lives by the scriptures to be changed by it and live a holy life.
- God's grace is the only foundation upon which true holiness and righteousness can be built.
- No works can produce true holiness, only God's grace can teach us the kind of theology that leads to it.