Old Ahab was one of the most wicked men that ever sat upon a throne, and his wife, Jezebel, was one of the most wicked women! They just seemed like demons themselves! But even though she was so wicked, and the Bible said she “stirred up” Ahab to do wickedness, she asked a very timely question in 1 Kings 21:7. You see, Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard, and Naboth, because of sentimental reasons, didn’t want to give him that vineyard. Well, Ahab sat over here and started pouting. Pouting—did you ever see anybody do that or heard of anyone doing that? Here’s what Jezebel asked him—this is a good question: “Is this how you act as King of Israel?”

Is this how YOU act as one of God’s people? Is this how you act as a Christian? You’ve told a dirty joke—is that how you act? You’ve told something that wasn’t true—is that how you act? You weren’t really above-board [honest] in business—is this how you act as one of His disciples? No—words don’t prove it, but deeds do! And in deeds and in Truth, let’s prove to the world that we are His disciples.

Now it all starts by the grace of God, because if it weren’t for His grace, we couldn’t even be disciples. But He’s made it possible! “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch,” Acts 11:26. And a Christian is one who is “Christ-ian,” or “Christ-like,” that is, we “follow the steps” of Christ, 1 Peter 2:21. We have “the mind” of Christ, Philippians 2:5. We are “yoked” with Him, Matthew 11:29. And, we’re “crucified” with Him, Galatians 2:20; “dead” with Him, Colossians 2:20; “buried with Him,” Romans 6:4; “raised” with Him, Colossians 3:1; “quickened together” with Him; Ephesians 2:5; and our lives are “hidden” together “with Him in God,” [Colossians 3:3]. So, it’s a losing of our own identity. Our lives and Christ’s become interwoven. That’s what it means to be a disciple.

So even though we are saved by the grace of God, there is something on our part. Our part doesn’t earn it—our part doesn’t deserve it—our part doesn’t repay it, and couldn’t! But regardless of what we do, even if we live a sinless life from now on, what about the sins we’ve already committed? How are they going to be taken care of? How could a just God—Who cannot deny Himself, Who cannot be out of character with Himself, Who cannot go against Himself—how could He deal with sin? Sin is anti-God—it’s going the opposite direction from God. How could He deal with sin unless something had been provided that man couldn’t possibly provide for himself? That gets us to tonight’s lesson [Since By Grace, Why Aren’t All Saved?], the Lord willing.

“By grace have you been saved through faith, that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” But we’re, “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them.” Are you walking in those good works? Are you really productive? Are you helping people to become children of His? And remember, saving souls is not optional—it’s obligatory!

If there is one thing lacking today among our people, it is that we are not converting people like we did. We’re not really bringing people to Christ. That’s upper most—that’s primary! That’s what it’s all about! Everything Jesus ever did, from birth until the end of His life—whether it be speaking, raising the dead, healing the sick, or what have you—was ultimately with the thought of helping men and women go to Heaven when they die! So that means that it doesn’t matter what else you save if you lose your soul, and it doesn’t matter what else you lose, if you save your soul [see Matthew 16:26].

Are you really reflecting the glory of Christ? The Bible said, “they glorified God” in Paul, Galatians 1:24. And in Acts 4, verse 13, when they perceived that Peter and John were “unlearned and ignorant, they marveled; and took knowledge that they had been with Jesus.”It could be seen! If your religion is just for show, it’s questionable, but if it just doesn’t show, it’s also questionable!

Is there anyone in this audience this morning that is subject to the invitation? Do you need to be baptized into Christ, and in so doing, put Him on as though we wear Him?—being baptized into His death, raised with Him, being born again to begin walking a new life. Or is there anyone in this audience who has fallen away? Come back this morning. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if in this initial service, everybody subject to the invitation would come! Wouldn’t that be great! Wouldn’t it be good if we could just cause Heaven to burst into a hallelujah chorus, over one person who comes back home! Today you can cause the angels to so rejoice! We hope you will, one and all, while we stand and while we sing. Will you come?