Introduction

Many religious people have a desire to serve God, but they may not have even heard or believed the gospel of salvation, the only means by which a person can be saved, and without which it is impossible to please or serve God.  

Nevertheless, they are taught in a way that seems right unto man, a way in which they believe God calls them, individually, and as a people, to use their gifts and talents to serve him. The Church of England, for example, teaches on its website, at https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/your-calling, that:

• “Jesus called his first disciples with the words, 'Follow me' - and he offers the same invitation today. God calls all people into relationship and invites us to centre our lives on Christ. He calls each of us to use our gifts and talents in Christlike ways in the world around us.” 

Rather than point to the gospel and God’s written instruction for the church in this age of grace, they go on to say that a person’s calling emerges through prayer, is informed by experience, and develops in conversation alongside other Christians who encourage and share in discernment:

• “This calling emerges through a prayerful relationship with God and in conversation with other Christians. An understanding of vocation is informed by experience and develops alongside others who encourage us and share in our discernment.”  

How appealing, to think that God is pleased with all who genuinely try to serve him according to their own understanding, or according to what their religion has taught them.  After all, surely God will be pleased with those who believe he exists and who pray regularly and give thanks to him?  Surely God will be pleased with those who act in their communities to be a positive role model, contributing to the common good? All religions promote charitable works, such as giving money, being a volunteer to help the homeless, feeding the poor or taking care of the sick. These are good works but, in themselves, are they serving God according to his will? Are they pleasing to him? 

An atheist colleague once told me, and rightly so, you don’t even need to believe in God to be kind to your neighbour.  One can easily understand this point of view, and how the lines have become so blurred between the aims and beliefs of organised religions, versus secular society.  They both perform the same good works, but the difference is that most religions believe that when they serve their communities, they are also serving God.  But is this the case?  What makes their work different, and do they even meet the essential pre-requisite criteria for serving God?

Criteria to become servants of God

Before learning a single thing about the will of God, and how to serve him, it is vital to understand that only those who have the Spirit of God dwelling within them can understand God’s will and serve him.  It is God who works in us.

• Philippians 2:13 KJV  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  

But how does the Spirit of God come to dwell in a person? Hearing and believing the gospel of our salvation is how we trust in Christ’s payment for sins and are therefore sealed by the holy Spirit.

• Ephesians 1:12-14 KJV  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  (13)  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  (14)  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

Having the Spirit of God is confirmation that we are God’s purchased possession, bought with the price of his shed blood, for his purpose.

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Being in the flesh or in the Spirit is not a choice that a person makes each day, but is a position determined by whether they have heard and believed the gospel of Christ, as we’ve just read in Ephesians chapter 1. Only those who are trusting in Christ’s finished work on the cross are able to please God because they are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.  

• Romans 8:9 KJV  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Being in the Spirit is the sealed position of every believer in the gospel of Christ, immediately giving them assurance of sins forgiven and eternal life in Christ. However, just as a new baby requires physical nourishment to grow and walk, the newly saved babe in Christ requires spiritual nourishment to walk in the Spirit, to be able to grow up into Christ, to learn and therefore be able to perform the work that each and every saved person has been called to by God.  

Centrality of the gospel, and its opposition

Being saved and walking in the Spirit are both needed to be able to serve God. However, many saved Christians are not equipped to serve God because they have not yet put on the mind of Christ through study of his word, rightly divided.  

Satan is the adversary of God, and therefore does not want anyone to be saved; or for believers to come unto the knowledge of the truth, and thus be equipped to serve God according to his will and purpose.  Satan, therefore, works to directly oppose the desire of God our Saviour:

• 1 Timothy 2:4 KJV  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The adversary of God does not want people to know about the mystery of God’s will, which he purposed in himself for the dispensation of the fulness of times, when he will gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Satan does not want God’s will to be fulfilled, so he and his ministers of righteousness work against it, through doctrine that hides from unbelievers minds, the unique inheritance and predestinated purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:   

As we saw, in 1 Timothy 2:4, it is God’s will that all men be saved. 

What it means to believe the gospel

The gospel by which we are saved is declared by Paul:

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Furthermore, it is by hearing and believing the gospel of our salvation, that an individual can place their trust in Christ, that he did indeed pay the price for their sins.  They can stand daily in that truth, not tossed about with every wind of false doctrine that adds conditions to the gospel, but resting in the assurance that acceptance with God is because of their position in Christ, the beloved, and not according to their performance in the flesh. They understand that their position in the body of Christ, and therefore acceptance with God, is not one they’ve earned or maintained, but that it is entirely to the praise of the glory of God’s grace, in whom they have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins:

• Ephesians 1:6-7 KJV  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Not surprisingly, therefore, it is these great truths that Satan seeks to hide from the minds of those who believe not the gospel of Christ.  Just as a believer is transformed by the renewing of their mind, to put on the mind of Christ, through study of the word of God, Satan uses doctrines of devils to transform the minds of his ministers, deceitfully posing as apostles of Christ, yet opposing the simplicity of the gospel of Christ by adding or taking away from it.  This should not be a surprise:

• 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Necessity for right division

To serve God, according to his will and purpose, requires knowledge which can only come through study of his written word. Failing to rightly divide the word of truth results in confusion, making it impossible to see God’s overall plan for heaven and earth, or to differentiate between his purpose for Israel and his purpose for the church, the body of Christ.  

The most serious consequence of failing to rightly divide the word of truth, is the promotion and belief in what Paul calls “another gospel, which is not another”.  Back then, as it is today, there are some that would pervert the gospel of Christ, causing people to add to the sufficiency of Christ’s provision, which is entirely by his grace and without any works of man.

• Galatians 1:6-9 KJV  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Christ crucified vs conditional salvation

The gospel of Christ, which he delivered to Paul, is the only means of salvation in this age of grace.  It is, therefore, essential to know and preach it with clarity, not adding anything that makes it another gospel, which is not another. 

By not rightly dividing the word of truth, men end up preaching and believing in a whole range of conditions for salvation, such as repentance for the remission of sins, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism as at Pentecost, giving your life to the Lord and committing our all to Him, etc. They typically leave out “difficult” requirements from the same biblical passages, like confession of sins, or selling all in order to be a disciple of Christ.  They may judge themselves (or others) based on whether or not they continue to live a sinless life and keep God’s commandments.  After all, surely scripture provides such a test of whether or not a person loves God:

• John 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Scripture also makes the keeping of commandment a condition for abiding in the love of God.

• John 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Serious errors occur as a result of putting together, scriptures that God intended to be kept separate: by mixing doctrine for Israel with doctrine which Christ delivered for the church, which is His body.  By rightly dividing the word of truth according to God’s instruction for study, these serious errors are avoided, and we can know the truth for this age of grace.  

• 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Opposition from Satan’s ministers of righteousness

Satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them.  

• 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

As we saw previously, from 2 Corinthians, chapter 11: 14-15, Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light and therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.  The blinding of those who don’t believe is due to doctrines of devils, preached by those transformed ministers of righteousness. 

These individuals may well have a form of godliness, even holding positions of authority in established religion, highly esteemed for their academic prowess and faithfulness to the traditions and teachings of their so-called ‘founding fathers’. In fact, the reputation and acceptance of preachers today, relies on the extent to which they affirm and amplify the works of other so-called ‘great men of God’.  

Just as Paul was branded a heretic by the religious teachers of his day, so too will those who believe and teach what’s written in the bible, be accused and branded as heretics when they present rightly divided biblical truth that challenges prideful religious tradition.

• Acts 24:13-14 KJV  Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.  (14)  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Those deceitful gainsaying ministers of righteousness take comfort in this life, by aligning their doctrines with the enormous body of ‘accepted wisdom’. They even add the equivalent of letters of commendation from already (in)famous like-minded contemporaries, as forewords to their books. This bolsters their reputation further, and helps to increase sales. How strong and proud they stand, safe in the knowledge that their position is virtually unassailable, given the decades or even centuries of accolade already enjoyed by those revered individuals upon whom their work and writings are firmly based. 

Such people read, learn, and teach, according to the wisdom of men.  By their own spirit of man, which is in them, they study the writings of men and can know only those things of man, the words which man’s wisdom teacheth. They are steeped in, and blinded by, the false doctrines of natural man’s wisdom, to the extent that the things which the Holy Ghost teacheth are foolishness to them and cannot be known by them.

• 1 Corinthians 2:11-14 KJV  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  (12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  (13)  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  (14)  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Faithful stewards of the mysteries

Those who have heard and believed the simple gospel of Christ have a vital job to perform in this life; vital in the sense that the work they are called to do brings the message of eternal life to all who are dead in trespasses and sins (which is every person – none righteous, no not one).  It is part of the job description for faithful ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, to shed the light of the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation, bringing life and immortality to those who believe.  For a more detailed Job Description, see Annex 1 of this study.

Our earnest desire and prayer is that men might believe and place their trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross, and not on any conditional work of their own, either to be saved or to remain saved. 

Great news: The abolition of death

Imagine the news headlines if someone found a way to abolish death! Every media outlet in the world would carry this as its lead story, and it would bring excitement, joy and hope to everyone on the earth.  And yet, this very message is entrusted to ambassadors of Christ and ministers of reconciliation. 

By his death, burial and resurrection, God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.  In other words (words that are also from the bible) he made peace through the blood of his cross, where he paid in full for the sins of the world.  

The abolition of death for those who trust in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection as complete payment for sin, is brought to light through the gospel.

• 2 Timothy 1:10 KJV  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

It is, therefore, essential to know what the gospel of Christ is, and for faithful stewards to be set for its defence and confirmation, unashamed and undeterred by opposition, boldly preaching its message of reconciliation through Christ’s shed blood, confident in the knowledge that it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. 

The devastation of a false gospel

How horrifically sad it would be to have heard and trusted in a false gospel, only to find out too late, at judgment day, that it was not the truth and that your eternal future will be the lake of fire, tormented forever without escape, because you refused to accept that what Christ performed at Calvary was sufficient.  

You may have been genuinely sincere in your efforts to please God; perhaps a regular churchgoer, repenting, confessing sins and regularly asking for forgiveness, not to mention your water baptism, regular communion or mass, and your generous charitable giving and donations to the church.  But, in zealous pursuit of a right standing with God through these religious works, you will have missed and not submitted yourself to the righteousness of God, which is in Christ, imputed freely by faith alone to all those who have fully entrusted their eternal future to Christ; saved and standing daily in the truth of the gospel: that he died for our sins, was buried and raised again the third day for our justification.

No other gospel will suffice

If we believe what is written in God’s word, above what men or tradition might teach, we will take the matter seriously and embrace the truth: that if any man, or even an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which Christ revealed to Paul, and which he preached; (the gospel by which we are saved and wherein we stand), let him be accursed (Gal 1:6-9).  

We know from Paul’s experience, as written in scripture, that to stand for the truth of the gospel brings persecution. But should we seek to please men to avoid persecution, or should we serve God, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth?  

Men may demonstrate life changes, even appearing to speak in unknown tongues, but they will not be saved if they have not heard and believed the simple gospel of Christ.  This is why scripture makes the gospel and pattern for the church today so clear, and why we are given so many warnings on this most important topic in the writings of Paul, confirmed as scriptures, given by inspiration of God.

A mind to serve God, versus a carnal mind

According to the bible, the mind is distinct from the heart and soul.

• Mark 12:30 KJV  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

The mind is where we process information to make sense of it, to make decisions on if and how to act.  There are the basic senses whereby our nervous system picks up input, via hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste, but the mind could be considered as where our memories are held and where our thinking and reasoning takes place.  

In the bible, we read that the mind can have wisdom, compassion, grief, sorrow, desire, willingness, readiness, decide to do good or bad, hold information like laws, recall to memory, be alienated towards an individual or people, become lifted up with pride, hardened, changed, doubtful, humble, reprobate, defiled, fervent, willing, shaken, right, sound, in agreement or disagreement with others.  

To mind something, is to think and care about it. So, when we say, “never mind”, it’s like saying just don’t think or care about it. To be mindful of something is to take it into account in our thoughts, words and actions.

The carnal mind is enmity against God, and therefore thinks about things that are against God, but they that are after the Spirit, mind the things of the Spirit.  We are each born with a carnal mind and are therefore enemies of God by nature.  

• Romans 8:7 KJV  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

In our natural state, we choose to fashion or shape our minds according to the world and the things of the world. But, as believers, we can choose to be transformed by the renewing or renovating of our minds.

• Romans 12:2 KJV  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Even if someone claims to serve God and performs what seems like good and charitable works, the fact is that the carnal mind is against God.  Even a saved person can have a carnal mind, like the Corinthian “babes in Christ”.

• 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 KJV  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

In the natural state, without the Spirit of God, there is none righteous, no not one.  

• Romans 3:10-12 KJV  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  (11)  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  (12)  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

An unsaved person does not have the Spirit of God. For them, it is simply impossible to please God, no matter how hard they might try or think that they are serving him and pleasing him. 

• Romans 8:8 KJV  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  

The natural, unsaved man cannot please God because they are in the flesh, neither can they understand the things of God or be instructed by him.  Therefore, they can neither please God nor understand how to serve him (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV).

In terms of criteria for serving God, we can conclude that trusting in Christ’s finished work on the cross, as complete payment for sins, is a fundamental requirement.  Without believing the gospel of Christ there is no relationship with God. In that state it is impossible to please God, and all attempts to serve him are vanity. 

Only a person who is saved by grace, through faith in the gospel of Christ, can truly serve God.  When first saved, we still have a carnal mind, just like the Corinthian “carnal, babes in Christ”; and we learned from Romans 8:7 that the carnal mind is enmity against God.  Therefore, to serve Christ, a believer must put off the old man and be transformed by the renewing of their minds through study of the scripture, rightly dividing the word of truth, yielding to it and allowing it to work effectually in them.

Understanding the will of God

A “will” is commonly understood as the intentions or wishes of a person. 

God’s will is distinct from man’s will, both in high level purpose, detailed execution and in ability to perform.  In order to walk worthy of our calling and bear fruit as part of our service, it is necessary to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

• Colossians 1:9-10 KJV  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  (10)  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Only by God’s word can we understand the will of God, how it can become our will and how we can be empowered to serve him, according to his will.

Motives matter and are not hidden to God

As a saved individual, before even starting to think about serving God, we must first examine our motivation to ensure that it is according to God’s will, and not a self-serving, ill-informed waste of time. 

Motivation is what inspires us; it is the reason or reasons behind what we say and do, the driving force that guides how we choose to live our lives.  If our motivation is wrong, then so too will be any attempt to serve God.  Put it another way, if we are to serve God, then we must understand and embrace his will as the motivation for our service.  No matter how much zeal a person has, or how much effort they make to serve God, it would be a waste of time at best, or even against God at worst, if it does not align with his will.

As Christians, we choose daily how to live our lives, whether it’s to live for ourselves, or unto the one who died for us and rose again. A godly response to being saved from death and hell, would be motivated by the love which Christ showed for us, in dying for our sins.  

We need to examine our motivation, because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, capable of hiding the reality of self-serving motives that look for personal gain. Scripture instructs that we should not henceforth live unto ourselves, but unto Christ.  It teaches that correct motivation comes from thankfulness for the love that Christ demonstrated in paying the price for our sins, and freely granting us forgiveness and eternal life by his grace, through faith in his finished work on the cross.

• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 KJV  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  (15)  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

It is because of the mercies which God has extended to us, that we should be constrained or motivated to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.

• Romans 12:1-2 KJV  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The reward of inheritance for service

Christian service is about serving our great God and saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.  If we serve him correctly, we will receive the reward of the inheritance.

• Colossians 3:24-25 KJV  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  (25)  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Humility – let this mind be in you

There is an essential attitude of humility needed to serve Christ. In this regard, the believer must take their example from Christ himself and from the apostle Paul, who was given as a pattern for those in the body of Christ to follow, just as he followed Christ.  

Philippians chapter 2 provides instruction on the required mind of humility, and how it manifests in a believer’s thinking, motivation and behaviour toward others, and in their desire to do the will of God (for his glory, and not theirs).

• Philippians 2:5-11 KJV  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The humble mind gladly embraces the truth, that pleasing service to God is not by their own efforts, nor can it be in pursuit of vainglory, which is self-conceit.  They are happy to set their fleshly motives to one side, to reckon the old man dead, yield to the Holy Spirit inspired word of God and allow God to work in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  They recognize that it’s not all about them and that God is pleased when they work together as part of the body of Christ, with likeminded believers who have the same love for one another, such that in lowliness of mind they each esteem other better than themselves.

• Philippians 2:2-4 KJV  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  (3)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  (4)  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

A holy calling for the church

God planned a purpose for the church, the body of Christ, from before the world began. To fulfil that purpose, he not only saved us but has called us with an holy calling.  As we’ve seen in this study, that calling or vocation is not according to our works, but according to God’s own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. It is a calling that we should perform with joy, not grudgingly or debating about it, but by faith make it the object of our desire and manner of life, obediently in fear and trembling, shining as lights in the world as we hold forth the word of life.

• Philippians 2:12-16 KJV  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  (13)  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  (14)  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  (15)  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  (16)  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Summary exhortation to serve God

Believe the gospel and thus receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the Spirit of God, that you might know the things of God.  Pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for what God has given you by his grace alone.

Put on the mind of Christ by studying the bible, ensuring you take care to rightly divide the word of truth. In doing so, yield to the Spirit, putting off the old man with his pride, lust and covetousness, but put on the new man to be renewed and transformed in the spirit of your mind, being filled with the knowledge of God’s will and humbly choosing to serve him, willing to stand for the truth of the gospel as you defend it, knowing that there is no other gospel by which a man can be saved in this age of grace.   

Remember, it is God that works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure; your own efforts in the flesh will not please God and will not be rewarded, but will be burned up in judgment.  Therefore, pray that God will prepare you for the work, as you study to put on the armour of God, so you can stand in the spiritual battle against those who oppose the gospel. 

Your job is to hold forth the gospel of Christ, which brings life and immortality to light in this dark and evil world, bringing salvation to men who are otherwise blinded by false doctrines of devils that are ingrained in the very fabric of religious tradition and preached by Satan’s ministers of righteousness.  Make sure you know the gospel and can explain how it was that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and having made peace through the blood of the cross that he now calls all to be reconciled to him by faith in Christ’s death burial and resurrection as payment for sins. 

Earnestly desire and pray that God will prepare you to serve him.  Don’t run before you can walk, but rather choose to be strengthened and led by the Spirit, recognizing that it is God who provides both the seed to the sower, and it is he who multiplies the seed sown to increase the fruits of your righteousness.  In humility, recognize that a carnal mind can prevent you from serving God, and that we all need to grow up into Christ. 

Trust completely that God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.  

You are called for a purpose, God’s purpose, and he is able to make all things work together for good to them that love God and who are the called, according to his purpose.  

Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Faith is believing what God has said, and to whom he said it.  Be strong in the faith, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient in all circumstances, as you seek to serve him in the furtherance of the gospel of Christ.  

Have genuine compassion for others, caring about their eternal future and therefore being willing to suffer hardship and persecution for their sake.  Try to find and meet with likeminded fellow labourers in the gospel, edifying and comforting one another according to the biblical pattern which Christ showed Paul for the church, which is Christ’s body.  

Fight the good fight, finish your course in this life and keep the faith, knowing that there is laid up for you in heaven, a crown of righteousness which the Lord himself, as the righteous judge, will give to you and all who love his appearing.  

If you are a saved believer, don’t sit on the side-lines wondering how you can serve God, but become an approved workman who needs not to be ashamed.  Rightly divide the word of truth, the bible, which both tells you how to serve God and equips you for the vocation to which you are called.  Don’t have regrets, but ask God to throughly furnish you unto all good works, through the power of his word, that you might be among all them that love the appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the righteous judge. 

Oh, that we might be able to say at the end of our lives, with confidence:

2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  (8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.