The curious keys

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October 9, 2011
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GRAB YOUR BIBLES James 2:24-26 & 3:1
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Tonight we come to a transition......in this book:
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From talking about “foolish Church members”....who aren’t living for the Lord:
To....wise Christians....who trust and follow the Lord!
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LETS READ THE TEXT James 2:24-26 & 3:1
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The Bible is full of keys....that encourage people to look deeper:
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(A lot of these keys can be found by the unsaved
Intended to get them to...look for the truth and get saved!
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V.24A “Ye see then”
-THE WAY.......WERE ARE TO APPROACH GOD’S WORD-
(Putting one precept upon another
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Getting one thing settled:
Then adding....more and more understanding:
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This enables us....to put two and two together!
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Here....we are told to add:
To the things....we have already learned:
In the previous verses!
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V.24B “how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
-GOD’S INTERESTING WAY.....OF LOCKING THE BIBLE-
(By giving unbelievers...openings like this
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That will allow them....to stay in the dark:
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Unless and until...they choose to trust Him!
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V.25A “Likewise also”
-ONE OF THE CURIOUS KEYS....GOD HAS MADE AVAILABLE-
(For anybody to find
If they....are really looking for the truth:
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But a person...needs to be looking at the details!
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V.25B “was not Rahab the harlot”
-SOMETHING....THAT WOULD GET SOMEONE’S ATTENTION-
(The fact that....this woman was a harlot
And was an example....of “good works”:
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If your interested....and are looking for the truth:
This would cause you...to stop and look closer:
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But if you were....set in your ways:
You would simply....disregard it!
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V.25C “justified by works,”
-THE WAY THESE KEYS.....ARE DESIGNED TO WORK-
(A person...who is looking for the truth
Would go to Joshua...& read this account:
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And by seeing the details...of God’s blessing:
The truth....would make itself more clear!
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V.25D “when she had received the messengers,”
-THE REAL SOURCE.....OF RAHAB’S SALVATION-
(She believed....in the God of the jews
Having heard...how He dried up the Red sea:
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(Not knowing....that He would soon..dry up the Jordan river
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And she realized....that He was her only hope:
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So....when some Jews showed up:
She helped them:
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-A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE.....OF GOD’S GRACE & MERCY-
Anybody else in this city:
Could have made....this same decision:
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Because God.....gave them 7 days to leave!
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V.25E “and had sent [them] out another way?”
-THE END RESULT....OF RAHAB’S FAITH-
(She took a step of faith
And trusted God....to save her:
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But by doing this:
She had to turn her back...on her people:
And her old way of life!
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V.26A “For as the body without the spirit is dead,”
-THE ATTITUDE....BELIEVERS HAVE....ABOUT “THIS LIFE”-
(We see it....for what it really is
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This body...that we are living in right now:
Is not what “life”....is really all about!
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This is called......keeping an eye on eternity!
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V.26B “so faith without works is dead also.”
-HOW THIS ATTITUDE....EFFECTS A PERSON’S OUTLOOK-
(This is why...Christians will risk everything...for the LORD
Turning there backs on there old life:
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Because they know that...it’s the “next life”:
That is really important!
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V.1A “My brethren,”
-A BRAND NEW SUBJECT....THAT IS STRANGELY CONNECTED-
(By how our faith....effects our decisions
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Once we are saved:
And begin to grow....in our understanding!
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And that Spiritual growth....causes us:
To consider....the warnings in God’s Word:
As we make life’s decisions!
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V.1B “be not many masters,”
-A POSITION.....MOST YOUNG CHRISTIANS....WOULD LIKE TO HAVE-
(A place of leadership...within the church
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But when “spiritual wisdom”....takes the lead:
We realize...that it’s not for everyone!
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V.1C “knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
-THE PLACE WHERE TRUE BELIEVERS....ARE LOOKING-
(Into eternity
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And to....the long-term results:
Of this life’s decisions:
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It’s better....to take a lower seat in this life:
Rather than losing....future rewards in glory!
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