Asking for Greater Commitment     by Rodney Langley

Adapted from a lesson by Ronald Bryant of Gadsden, Alabama.

INTRODUCTION

Commitment to Christ is the focus of the Christian faith.  When one desires to become a Christian, he is asked to make specific commitments.  When one becomes a Christian, he makes a life commitment.  Commitment to Christ is commitment to His will and to His purpose.  Commitment to Him means commitment to the church of which He is head.  Members of the body of Christ have some specific and practical commitment to honor.

I.  A Greater Commitment to the Message of Christ

    A.  Romans 1:14-17:    RO 1:14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the
        gospel also to you who are at Rome.

    RO 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Hebrews 5:12ff: 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 

HEB 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

Hebrews 10:22-25: let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

    B.  Accept the privilege...

    C. Honor the responsibility...

    D.  Commit to speaking the truth in love...     

II.        A Greater Commitment to the Unity of God’s People

    A.  John 17:20-23:  JN 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be
        one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the
        glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that
        you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13:  1CO 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

    1CO 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

Ephesians 4:1-6: EPH 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

    B.  Be a peacemaker...

    C.  Do not sow discord and gossip...

    D.  Be a minister of reconciliation...

 III.       A Greater Commitment to the Fellowship of God’s People

    A. 1 John 3:14-23: 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone
        who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

    1JN 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

    1JN 3:21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 

Romans 12:3-16: RO 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

    RO 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

    RO 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Ephesians 5:15-21:  EPH 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    EPH 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

    B.  Share your life...

    C.  Love one another...

    D.  Honor one another...

IV.       A Greater Commitment to the Work God has Given to be Done

    A.  James 1:21-27 

    B. 2 Timothy 2:1-3: Galatians 6:10

    C. Serve, using your God-given abilities...

    D.  Serve, using the opportunities that God provides...

    E.  Be laborers together...

    F.  To God be the glory... 

CONCLUSION

Is it appropriate to ask for commitments? 

Are you fully committed to doing the work of the Lord?

Are you a Christian?   Are you a faithful Christian?