255- Higher Ground

1
Songs For Today

• 255- Higher Ground
• 257- I Need Thee Every Hour
• 383- Oft We Come Together
• 388- One Step at a Time
• 288- Jesus Paid it All
• 10- I Surrender All

2
Discount
Religion
3
Introduction

• Black Friday. Closeout. Clearance.
• It motivates people to shop because they can get
  huge discounts on popular merchandise without
  having to pay full price for it.
• Many people expect it and some will not purchase
  something unless it is on sale.
• This is fine when we are discussing economic
  activity because God wants us to be good
  stewards.
• But sadly, this mindset creeps into religious
  matters.

4
Discount Religion

• Gods word appeals to our basic needs. (life,
  security, peace, happiness, understanding)
• God has given mankind the offer of the
  forgiveness of sins and eternal life only through
  the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• We want it. We need it. But when does it go on
  sale.
• In this lesson, we will discuss three things that
  discount religion (DR) does that leads to
  stumbling blocks so that people dont obey the
  truth.

5
DR Discredits the Price Paid for the Church

• People have been taught that one church is as
  good as another and to choose the church of your
  choice.
• They have the mindset that church is about what I
  want, not what God wants. (Is. 558)
• Many do not see any value in the church.
• But what was the purchase price for the church?
• It was paid with the blood of Christ. (Ax. 2028)
• We werent redeemed with things that perish but
  with His precious blood. (1 Pet. 118-19)

6
DR Discredits the Price Paid for the Church

• The church has not been purchased by the blood of
  religious leaders (Pope, Luther, Calvin, Wesley,
  Graham, etc.) but many will discount the words of
  Christ and submit to them.
  (1 Cor. 110-13 2 Cor. 112-4)
• The church was according to Gods eternal purpose
  of which Christ is the head over all things to it
  and which there is only one. (Eph. 122-23
  310-11 44)
• Discount religion discredits (or destroys
  confidence in) the blood of our Savior Jesus
  Christ by telling lies instead of the truth.

7
DR Cheapens the Value of the Soul

• Our souls are of great value because of the price
  that was paid for it. (1 Peter 118-19)
• DR cheapens the value of the soul by offering
  people physical things rather than the spiritual
  that feeds their soul.
• Jesus exposed the motives of believers who wanted
  the food which perishes rather than the words of
  eternal life. (John 626-27)
• When they didnt want it, did Jesus offer them a
  discount? No, he rebuked them and they quit
  following Him. (John 660-66)

8
DR Cheapens the Value of the Soul

• In the same way today, DR will offer people food,
  fun, and frolic that satisfies the flesh, but
  starves the soul. What will that profit in the
  end? (Matthew 1626)
• Peter and the apostles understood the value of
  the soul and were willing to give up all they had
  because they knew Jesus had the words of eternal
  life. (John 667-69 Luke 1824-27)
• If we truly realize the value of our souls we
  will give up all that we have to go to heaven.
  (Matthew 1348-50 Luke 1433)

9
DR Belittles our Responsibility to the Lord

• DR will tell people that all you have to do is
  accept Christ as your personal Savior and once
  you are saved you are always saved.
• If that was true, then you wouldnt have any
  responsibility to the Lords teaching.
• Jesus asks a pertinent question, Why do you call
  me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? (Luke
  646)
• We learn from the example of Abraham that he was
  saved by his works of faith while faith without
  works is dead. (James 221-24)

10
DR Belittles our Responsibility to the Lord

• Abraham could have said, I already believe Lord,
  and Ive waited 25 years for this son whom I love
  too much to sacrifice him for you. And how will
  you fulfill your promise to the world if I kill
  him? But he obeyed! (Gen. 2218)
• DR was taught when Jeroboam offered a feast that
  would make it convenient for people to worship
  how they wanted. (1 Kings 1227-33)
• DR today will make worship convenient today with
  concerts, choirs, entertainment, rather than tell
  us that we must worship God in spirit and in
  truth. (John 423-24)

11
DR Belittles our Responsibility to the Lord

• DR will not preach the true grace of God which
  teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly
  desires. (Titus 211-12)
• DR will not emphasize that we will all have to
  give account for the deeds done in the body
  whether good or bad in the Judgment Day. (2
  Corinthians 510)
• DR will not tell us that many will follow the
  broad way that leads to destruction while only
  few will follow the difficult way that leads to
  eternal life. (Matthew 713-14 21-23)

12
Conclusion

• Many do not realize that DR cheapens the price
  paid for the church, the value of the soul, and
  our responsibility to the Lord.
• If Jesus had the same commitment towards us that
  we had towards him, would He have died on the
  cross? NO
• Thankfully Jesus willingly paid the price for our
  salvation in full on the cross.
  (John 1017-18 Romans 623)
• Jesus told us the conditions of forgiveness and
  we have no right to change or discount them.

13
Conclusion

• Faith only will not save a person just like works
  only will not save anyone.
• Jesus is the author of eternal life to all who
  obey Him. (Heb. 58-9 Rom. 616-17)
• When we have done that, we have not earned our
  salvation but are still unworthy slaves.
  (Luke 1710)
• We have been commanded by the Lord to hear,
  believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the
  remission of sins. (Rom. 1017 John 824 Luke
  133 Matt. 1032 Mark 1616)