Category: Salvation

What must I do to be saved?

A most important question in this life is: “What must I do to be saved?”
– This is the question that every person must answer correctly in their lives if they hope to spend eternity with God in heaven.
– Sadly, in the world today, there are many wrong answers given to this question:
e.g., Some trust their own feelings in the matter; but feelings are, of course, unreliable:
Prov 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
e.g., Others trust in the advice of people (where some say one thing, and others another thing!) but this is useless as well:
Matt. 15:9 BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN

Surely Jesus is the only One who truly knows how we can be saved (cf. Rom. 1:4)!
So let’s “listen to Him!” (as God commanded the disciples to do in Matt. 17:5) …

Believe, repent, baptism for forgiveness of sins. Luke. 24:47, Mark. 16:15-16, Matt. 28:18-19, Acts 2:36-40

Remember:
– All parts of the process contribute to the result of being saved; all parts, therefore, are essential.
– Under the NT, someone who is baptized without believing, or believes without being baptized, is not saved!

Have you been saved according to Jesus’ instructions?
– Don’t trust your own feelings! Don’t trust in other people (e.g., “faith only”, “saved without baptism in water”, etc.)! Listen only to Jesus on how to be saved!
– We would urge you, as Saul/Paul was urged: Acts 22:16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.

Sowing the Seed

Jesus’ command to all His disciples:

  • Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 How are we to “make disciples”?

Sowing the Seed

  • Luke 8:5,11 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up … 11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.

Rom. 10:17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Sometimes Christians may become discouraged by the apparent lack of response to the direct telling of the gospel.

It is equally discouraging to see people respond to the gospel and then fall away some time later.

So there is a great temptation, at times, to try devious means to entice people to Christ!

But to employ such:

(i)  is to practise deception (like the devil, Rev. 12:9), and

(ii)  may cause people to be attracted to the wrong thing (i.e. not to Christ).

Let’s consider four (4) questions this morning:

  1. What tricks may I use to bring others to Jesus?
  2. How should we bring people to Jesus?
  3. Why can’t we modify God’s word to please all people?
  4. Does the word of God need any “help” from us?

True Happiness

What is the key to true happiness?

  • Many seek for happiness in wealth, possessions, and pleasure, only to be ultimately disappointed!
  • Many seek happiness in various sins, but any such “pleasure” is of course passing, and leads to hell.

The book of Psalms with its very first Psalm shares with us the key to true happiness

Other parts of the Bible also share with us this same key to true happiness …

  • g., We started this morning with Solomon … let’s go back to his inspired findings:
    • 12:13-14 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
    • Prov. 3:13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.
    • 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.
  • Also recall Jesus in the beginning of the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5:3-12) …
    • 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Also 1 Tim 4:7-8 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

The way to true happiness:

  • Acts 2:36-38 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • Acts 2:41-42 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth

There were many people of tremendous faith in the bible and in this mornings sermon we look at Abraham. Spending the majority of his life in his father house it would appear like a failure to launch for Abraham until he received a Promise from God that he will have a legacy and land to call his own. Abraham knew the promise of physical land didn’t compare to the promise of an eternity in heaven. Because of his Faith in that promise and ultimately in God many have access to this same promise through Christ Jesus. Join us in learning more about his wonderful gift of salvation through todays sermon. Enjoy.

Once you were, but now you are – Part 1

Once you were, but now you are – Ephesians 2: Part 1

Verse 1-10: Once dead – now alive

Verses 11-22: Once strangers – now fellow citizens

Lessons:

  1. recognise that people are dead in sin
  2. no longer be conformed to this world
  3. always resist the devil
  4. no longer carry out the desires of the flesh
  5. always recognise God’s great love with which He loved us
  6. appreciate that we have been saved by grace through faith
  7. walk in good works

The Blessings Chapter

Which new testament chapter of the Bible would you describe as “the Blessings Chapter”??

Ephesians chapter 1 is what I would describe as “the blessings chapter”!
• After the introduction to the letter to the Ephesians (1:1,2),
• Paul lists many of the blessings which (the Ephesian) Christians have in Christ (1:3-14),
• and then prays that they may be enlightened about all these blessings (1:15-23).

What is so great about Christianity? Let us examine ‘the blessings chapter’
    1. Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him
    2. verse 5,6 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
    3. Eph. 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
    4. Verse 9-10 In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
    5. Eph. 1:11-12 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance [also we were made a heritage, ASV], having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
    6. v 13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Danger of Bible Ignorance

1. The danger of Bible ignorance in the nation

Hos. 4:1-2 Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

2. The danger of Bible ignorance in the home

Prov. 6:20-23 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

3. The danger of Bible ignorance in the church

Heb. 5:11-14 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
• Such ignorance leads to a lack of discernment = knowing right and wrong (v. 14)!
o Sadly, people can then fall back into “situation ethics” (i.e., allowing circumstances to justify
breaking God’s commandments).
• Are we growing spiritually as we should? If so …
o Eph. 4:14-15 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

4. The cure for Bible ignorance.

Jesus gave two important principles:
• Mk. 4:24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it
will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.
• Lk. 8:18 “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

Is the Bible out of date?

Introduction
Is the Bible out of date? (= outmoded, obsolete)?

• After all, it was completed almost 2,000 years ago.
• And society has changed and progressed so much, even in just the last 50 years (calculators,
computers, phones, internet, etc.)!
• We certainly know that modern textbooks are constantly being updated!

1. The old covenant is obsolete because it has been replaced with the new covenant.

God never intended the OT to be permanent:
– Gal. 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
– Gal. 3:24-25 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Heb. 7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

2. The old covenant is obsolete but is not irrelevant.

-1Cor. 10:5-6 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
– Lk. 24:25-27 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

3. The whole Bible is the word of God and has not changed.

2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
– 1Co 14:37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.

= Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

4. Mankind’s need for the word of God has not changed.

Ecc 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Eccl. 12:13-14 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Is the Bible out of date?
• This has not changed today.
• i.e., Every person needs God’s commandments!
• God’s commandments for us today, as we have seen, are in the NT (new covenant).
• Our need for the word of God has not changed!

Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• Mankind still needs salvation today.
• The gospel is still the only “power of God for salvation” today.

God’s Promises to Us

In times past, during the times of the fathers and the Israelites, God made several promises to His people. The most famous of these would be to Abraham when He promised to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars. Under the New Covenant, God has given us a different set of promises. Christans are not promised the types of blessings the Israelites had. Even though we worship God in righteousness, we see no promise from God that He will bless the fruit of the womb or of the ground or of the flocks; or remove our sicknesses; or give us success in war against our enemies.

Promises under the New Covenant: What is promised to us?

  • The Holy Spirit promised to those who believe
  • The promise of eternal life:
  • That eternal life can be lost:

Compare now these new promises with those made to the fathers and to the Israelites. But what does the book of Hebrews say about these people who lived so long ago? Hebrews 11:4-16

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth

It is interesting to note that v13 says “all” these – Abel, Enoch (!), Noah, Abraham and Sarah – died in faith, not having received the promises: what were the promises? They must have been aware of the coming spiritual promises that were to come through the Messiah, otherwise they would not have had any comprehension of being strangers and exiles on the earth

Do not forget that the promises we have are gifts. As we know, ‘grace’ is typically defined as unmerited favour. James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Romans 11:18-21 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you