As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain
3 sermons cite this verse
Let me state the main point of this message at the outset. So the question in the title is, what does the world of every religion need from this church? And my answer is going to be, and you'll see it eventually from the text if you don't already, what the world needs is indomitable joy in Jesus in the midst of suffering and sorrow. Indomitable. invincible, undefeatable joy in Jesus through suffering and sorrow. That's what the world needs from you. When I came to the end of my 33 years of pastoring, 11 years ago, At the last service, I wrote a note, or before the last service, I wrote a note, an email, to all of our worship leaders, like these folks who are up here, to help them grasp the feel that I wanted for that last service. So Dave has a last service coming. I don't know if he does what I would do, but I just tell him, here's the way I want it to feel. …
But Christ is still in a more peculiar manner the Lord and Master of ministers of the gospel, as they are not only members of his church, but the officers of his kingdom, and the dignified servants of his family. It is the manner of a people to imitate their prince, but especially the ministers of his kingdom, and officers of his household. It is the duty of the whole army to follow their general, but especially of those officers that have a commission under him. 2. Ministers of the gospel are in some respects called and devoted to the same work and business that Christ himself was appointed to. Ministers are not men’s mediators; for there is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus: they are not our priests to make atonement and work out righteousness for us; for Christ by one offering has perfected for ever them that are sanctified: they are not lords over God’s heritage; for one is their Master, even Christ. But yet ministers of the gospel, as Christ’s servants and officers under him, are appointed to promote the designs of that great work of Christ, the work of salvation. It is the work that ministers are devoted to; and therefore they are represented as co-workers with Christ. 2 Cor. vi. 1. “We then as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Christ is the Saviour of the souls of men: ministers, also, are spoken of in Scripture as saving men’s souls. 1 Tim. iv. 16. “In doing this, thou shall both save thyself and them that hear thee.” Rom. xi. 14. “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” 1 Cor. ix. 22. “That I might by all means save some.” And whereas it is said, Obad. 21. “Saviours shall come upon mount Zion;’’ ministers of the gospel are supposed to be there intended. …
… in you together, we are laborers together with God, second Corinthians chapter six and verse one says, we are workers together with him. And so there's the fellowship factor. That's one reason you pray. There is the development factor. There's nothing that will grow you as a Christian more than prayer. You see, when you abide in the Lord Jesus Christ and he abides in you, then you're growing as you pray. Have you ever wondered why God doesn't answer your prayer immediately? Because he wants you to grow some more. Here's a boy asked a girl for a date. She looks at him and she says, well, he's, he doesn't use good manners. Uh, he's not courteous. He doesn't dress neatly. He's got dirt under his fingernails. And he, there are other things about him. His shoes are not shined. And she says, well, I, I, I just don't think I, I want a date. Thank you, I, I'm busy. Well, he wonders, why didn't she, why didn't she go out with me? I wonder what it could be. He asked a friend, why do you think that, uh, Susie would not date me? He said, you want me to be honest with you? Well, yes. …