THANK GOD I DON’T HAVE TO WAIT

Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that NOW it is high time to awake out of sleep: for NOW is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

I.                   FREEDOM FROM THE PAST NOW

A-Atonement Has Been Paid---Freedom from the Law NOW

Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have NOW received the atonement.

B-Account Has Been Settled—Fruit of the Spirit NOW

Rom.  6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are NOW ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But NOW being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

II.                FRIEND THAT IS PRESENT NOW (Romans 5:8)

A-Sticking Friend--Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

B-Saving Friend---Matt.  11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

III.             FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD’S PEOPLE NOW

A-As Members of the Body---1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

B-As Ministers of the Blood---1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

IV.              FUTURE IS IN PLACE NOW    

Illustrate: When I get to heaven, I will have to tell myself to move over and let me sit down.

A-SETTLEMENT John 14:2 In my Father's house ARE many

mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to

prepare a place for you.

      B-SPEECH Philippians 3:24 For our conversation IS in

heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord   

Jesus Christ:

C-SECURITY Jude 24 NOW unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.