sermon: Continuing on to Completion
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Martin G. Collins
Given 11-Feb-12; Sermon #1087; 66 minutes
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Martin Collins, assuring us that no part of the Christian life is free of dangers, warns us to be continually on guard against the enemy (Satan the devil, coupled with our own carnal human nature), cautioning that we cannot afford to obliviously coast. The only antidote to succumbing to the wiles of the enemy is to persistently and relentlessly bear spiritual fruit. Because of God’s grace, those who are called late will reap as much as those who are called early. In whatever state or timeframe we are called, we must continue faithfully and not fall back into the bondage of sin. In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, there is an implicit warning against complaining, murmuring, and bargaining about ‘rights.’ The attitude which the older brother had in the parable of the prodigal son is contemptible for its display of self-centeredness , calling God into account for supposed ‘unfairness.’ We cannot bring our baggage from the world into God’s Kingdom, let alone into the Church. We are preparing to become a new creation and everything will be totally different as we continue on to spiritual perfection. No bargaining for ‘rights’ will be tolerated in God’s Kingdom. John the Baptist’s willingness to be eclipsed by Christ’s glory is the pattern we should follow. All rewards are of grace; they are not earned or bargained for. We should not engage in recordkeeping regarding our service to God; our Creator is cognizant of what we have done in His behalf. If we have done all we can, we are still unprofitable servants. Ultimately all of us are judged by Christ’s perfect standards. We are obligated to entrust our lives and our works to the sovereign God’s scrutiny, making sure we are faithful stewards of the gifts God has bestowed upon us.
Topics: (show)
Aladdin’s Lamp approach to Christianity Attitude Back into bondage Bargaining attitude Bearing fruit Choice of laborers Church’s function declarative Complaining Contempt Danger Discontentment Disgruntled attitude Eleventh hour conversions Emotion Ephesians 2:8 Equitability I Corinthians 1:22-29; 4:6 I Peter 1:1-6; 4:17 First last and last first God’s grace God’s service Grace Idleness Invitation James 2:17 Jealousy John3:26; 8:28-31 Judgment Justice Kingdom of Heaven Laborers Length of service Luke 12; 17:10 Matthew 13:18; 19:27-30; 20:1-28; 25:31 Murmuring Notification Parable of the laborers in the vineyard Philippians 2:14 Quality of service reward Remuneration Rich young ruler Righteousness Salvation Selfish Service II Corinthians 5:17 Sovereignty Spiritual gifts Unfair Unjust
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