Introduction:

A. How often do you think about what you are living for?  How much do you cling to what is here?
B. How often do you consider what you’ll gain / lose in death?
C. What will your life say when you are gone: Hebrews 11:4

I. You Must Be Clothed In Christ

A. When speaking of “putting on Christ” we are talking about what occurs at conversion: Galatians 3:27

1. “put on Christ” is a phrase taken from the Greek word “enduo” which means: “to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one’s self” – Thayer.
2. The preposition “for” at the beginning of this verse ties to the previous passage of which verse 27 explains: Galatians 3:26
3. When we “put on Christ” we become “new creatures”: II Corinthians 5:17

a. Colossians 3:9-10
b. Romans 6:3-7
c. Ephesians 4:21-24

B. Wearing Christ is about displaying the attributes of Christ.

1. I Thessalonians 1:6
2. I Peter 2:21-22

C. When one becomes a Christian he or she is to begin to think and act differently:

1. Romans 12:1-2
2. I Timothy 6:11

II. Living Christ is About Doing Good Works

A. We must understand works in that we cannot earn our way into Heaven: Ephesians 2:8-9

1. II Timothy 1:8-9
2. Titus 3:4-7

B. While understanding we cannot work our way into Heaven, we cannot dismiss that we need works to be saved:

1. After Paul demonstrates we are not saved by works, he writes: Ephesians 2:10
2. Paul said we are justified by Grace, then he says thereafter: Titus 3:8
3. A Christian must be busy doing works unto the Lord:

a. Matthew 5:16
b. We have the Scriptures that furnish us to all good works: II Timothy 3:16-17
c. Consider some examples in the book of Titus: Titus 2:7-8; Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:1; Titus 3:14
d. James 2:14-26
e. Hebrews 10:24

C. Consider just a few things we should be doing:

1. Sharing the Gospel with others: Acts 15:35
2. Encouraging one another: I Thessalonians 5:11
3. Praying not only for ourselves, but others also: I Timothy 2:1
4. Having spiritual and social interaction with each other:

a. Acts 2:42
b. Acts 2:46

5. Helping to maintain the smaller things within this local congregation.

D. Are you using the abilities God has blessed you with in the work of the kingdom (Matthew 25:14-31)?

III. To Die is Truly A Gain (Psalms 116:15)

A. Notice the mindset that a Christian has from the words of Paul:

1. Look at the context from which our lesson is taken: Philippians 1:21-24
2. II Timothy 4:6-7

B. The faithful Christian does not fear death because they know the Lord will keep his promises:

1. Luke 16:19-31
2. John 5:28-29
3. II Corinthians 5:1
4. Hebrews 13:14

Conclusion:
A. Now is the time to prepare (Amos 4:12).
B. Tomorrow may be too late (Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:14).
 

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© 2005 May be used if permission by author is granted and proper acknowledgment as to the authorship of this material is made.  In other words, preachers do your own work.  Use this as a tool for your own work if such is helpful! – B.A.Y.