ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES
God’s Desire For All Men
Text: I Timothy 2:4 IBCSS April 29, 2007
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Every man’s desire for his life is surely known to God, but God’s desire for all men is obviously not known to all. God is all-knowing and we cannot hide anything from Him. Human being has a limited knowledge and the only way he could know the will of God for His life is through the Word of God.
The Word of God is Truth and those who do not believe it will never know the blessed will of God for their lives. Consequently, they will remain in falsehood and live outside the will of the Lord. The god of this world will manipulate their lives in such a way that it will be easier for him to lead them to destruction.
It is extremely important for believers to spread the Gospel of Christ so people in darkness may find their way to the Living Savior. Christians must live unselfishly and demonstrate caring attitude to others, especially to the lost. In II Corinthians 4:3-6, it is written, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (KJV)
An in-depth study of the Scriptures will help us realize why many people living in this world could hardly embrace the Truth. Obviously, the prince of the power of the air has something to do with their dangerous steps of life. In Ephesians 2:2-3, the Bible says, Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (KJV) No doubt people are more interested in their own desires more than God’s desire for their lives.
As we go further in our study concerning the desire of God for men, may we seriously consider the things God wants us to know and apply in our daily walk with Him so we could help others come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(I) Salvation Of All Men
I Timothy 2:4
-God is not willing that any should perish
II Peter 3:9
Undoubtedly, the desire of God for all men is that they may be saved. In Luke 19:10, it is written, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV) God wants all people to be saved and He is not willing that any should perish. In II Peter 3:9, the Bible says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (KJV)
The Lord is not willing that our loved ones, friends, acquaintances and others go to hell. God so loved the world and He wants people to be saved. As a great proof of His love, He gave His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die at Calvary for sinners. What an unquestionable evidence of His great love. He truly loves us more than we love our souls. In I John 4:19, it says, We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV)
Apparently, many professing Christians are losing their interest in supporting world evangelization because they tend to become more world-friendly than to become sensitive toward God’s desire for their lives. Unknowingly, they are losing their opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission.
-Salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
I Peter 1:8-9 Acts 16:30-31 John 14:6
Ephesians 2:8-9
The Bible clearly states that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, no more and no less. In John 14:6, it is written, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV) A man cannot be saved by his good works, religious affiliation, social status, power, money and religious idols. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible says, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (KJV) Salvation is a gift from God and it cannot be acquired by our good works or any other way.
In Acts 4:12, it is written, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV) This verse points out that outside the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no salvation. How blessed are those who did not see Jesus with their naked eyes and yet believe Him as their Lord and Savior. In I Peter 1:8-9, it is written, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (KJV)
(II) Knowledge Of The Truth
I Timothy 2:4
-The danger of not loving the Truth
II Thessalonians 2:10-12
He who loves not the truth will surely love deception, and he who loves deception unaware will be trapped in the snare of wickedness. His lifestyle will reveal his evil mindset and he will be led in the path of death. In II Thessalonians 2:10-12, it is written, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (KJV)
-The danger of changing the Truth of God into a lie
Romans 1:25-32
Deceiving one’s self is the worst deception and changing the Truth of God into a lie leads a person to his own destruction.
Romans 1:25-32 says, Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (KJV)
-The blessing of knowing the Truth
John 8:32
Knowing and living by the principles of Truth are incomparable advantages of a man. Truth has an unshackling power. It could liberate a person from spiritual darkness so he could enjoy God-given love, joy, peace and truth. In John 8:32, it is written, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (KJV)
Truth has a sanctifying power. It could sanctify a believer so he may be shaped up progressively till the Lord comes. In John 17:17, it is written, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (KJV) Truly, the Word of God is Truth and its life-changing power is very beneficial to the lives of believers as they continue shining for Christ in this Christ-rejecting world.
Every believer must keep on shining for Christ till He comes. Keep in mind that God’s desire for all men is that they may be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth.
ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH
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