Most people go to church to
hear the Bible preached not to hear someone’s opinion or listen to a book
review. Since the subject of salvation is the most important subject one can
deal with, since our eternity is at stake, We need to know what God says about
Salvation.
Since “...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23); There are only two classes of people, Saved
sinners and Lost sinners. Adam’s sin brought Death into world. Since “.....the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) Our own sins doom us to spiritual death. Sin is a serious matter that our society has shoved aside as
if there were no consequences. But
the SERIOUSNESS OF SIN is shown by the Term of sentence and the Price of Pardon! Eternity is a VERY LONG SENTENCE and the Cross
is a VERY HIGH price for pardon.
Matthew. 1:21
“Give him the name JESUS for he shall save his people from their
sins”
1 John. 4:10
“Sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins”
John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
Think of such a SACRIFICE for both the Son and the Father!In the Bible when people realized they were lost---under the sentence of sin-----, they asked one question! “WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?” Don’t you agree that all of us need GOD’S answer to that question? What is the Biblical answer? What does it take to be saved? Do YOU want to be LOST?
We hear a lot of things on the radio, on TV, and from pulpits. Have you ever analyzed to see if what you are hearing is from the BIBLE?
HERE ARE SOME THINGS I’VE BEEN HEARING
“Get up from chair and put your hand on the TV----I
can feel the anointing power coming to you”
“Only believe and pray the sinners prayer”
“Lord Jesus, come into my heart today”
The
Most common
is like this from the website of a world famous preacher:
“If you have never really accepted Jesus as your
personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you
would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart: Dear
Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the
cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive
the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You,
because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is
my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious
blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If you
prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome
you to the family of God.”
I
know many are relying on such teaching for their souls eternal salvation.
I’ve searched and dug and read and diligently made
effort to find where GOD SAID THAT.
I
CAN’T FIND IT! Such ideas cannot be supported by GOD’S
WORD. These concepts are just
foreign to scripture: It is TRUE: One must accept that Jesus is the Son
of God. It is TRUE: No one can do it for you. Christianity is
very PERSONAL.
But “Accepting Christ as Your Personal Savior” is
not in the scripture.
Now don’t get angry with me. My only concern is to get to heaven
and take you with me. Please
pardon me: I do not intend to be arrogant or harsh. But, I Can’t figure it
out: Maybe it is a desire for “Big Numbers”. Maybe many are just not looking
close enough, even sincere and learned men. Maybe it is easier to teach if what
you teach is “nothing at all”.
May I paraphrase Paul’s statement to the Romans: My hearts desire and prayer to God is that you might be saved.” (Romans 10:1) There are many things the scripture says “SAVE US”. Will you closely examine the following things the Bible says “saves us”---test them all----look them up-----see for yourself what GOD’S WORD SAYS. Read for yourself these scriptures!
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY SAVES ME?
1. SAVED BY FAITH: Ephesians 2:8:
Acts 16:30: Galatians 2:16: I Cor. 1:21
2. SAVED BY WORKS: James 2:18-26 (Clearly
not the works of Old Law Rom. 3:28.) Yet James says: “A person is
justified by what he does and NOT BY FAITH ALONE” and describes faith
that does not act as a “dead faith”-Like the faith of the
Devil.
3. SAVED BY BLOOD OF CHRIST: Eph. 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; 1
John. 1:7; Romans 5:9
4. SAVED BY CHRIST’S LIFE: Romans
5:10: John 10:11; 1 Timothy
2:6
5. SAVED BY GOSPEL: Romans
1:19; 1 Cor. 15:1,2
6. SAVED BY REPENTANCE: 2 Cor.
7:10; Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 3:19
7. SAVED BY HOPE: Romans
8:24
8. SAVED BY CONFESSION: Romans
10:9,10; 1 John. 1:9
9.
SAVED BY THE WORD: James 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:10;
Only through the Scriptures: Do we learn of sin Romans 7:7; We learn of Christ
John 20:30-31; And have all our needs furnished 2 Timothy 3:16,17
10. SAVED BY GRACE: Ephesians
2:5-8; Acts 15:11
11. SAVED BY STANDING FIRM: Matthew
10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mk 13:13
12. SAVED BY BAPTISM: Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved”
How can I accept one and reject the other? How can I omit three words so clearly spoken? (and is baptized)
Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized-for the remission of your sins” Does this say: “Repent and pray the sinners prayer?”Or does it say: “Repent—but baptism has nothing to do with it?”
1 Peter 3:21 “.......Baptism also now saves us” Peter compares baptism to Noah’s ark. How many were saved outside the ark? If Peter’s comparison is valid--how can one be saved without baptism?
WHAT AM I TO CONCLUDE ?
Doesn’t it appear to you that many things being
taught on TV, radio, and in the pulpit are not so!
Of the things in scripture GOD says saves us, which
one do you want to leave out?
Or does He mean being saved is achieved in different
ways for different people? I can find no scripture saying “Just Pick One”
What about the others, can some of us just IGNORE those?
Can we single out one as more important than the
others? Which one? How do we
determine which one? By the Number of times mentioned? What I like and what I
don’t like? Is MY authority greater than God’s? Maybe we can have a committee or
a council come up with a creed to tell us! Which of us is Gonna’ tell God:
“Sorry Lord”, I just don’t see it your way!” “........My papa” believed
otherwise. “.....But my PREACHER
said.....?
Is it not more reasonable that all play a part in
God’s complete picture of commitment to Christ? Is not God’s divine will
found in all of them?
Is it not a true and honest understanding to say
that some stand alone!
Can one be honestly and sincerely follow
Christ and IGNORE his word? That COMPLETE picture of God’s salvation is
beautiful and meaningful. Like in the first century, when people believed in
Jesus as God’s Son they gladly let others know it by confessing it to all who
would listen. Because of his
teachings they turned away from sinful life to follow His way. They gladly were
buried in baptism, to wash away their sins, and were raised to walk with new
life, just like Christ died and arose again. And they continued by standing
firm in His doctrines diligently reaching and teaching others.
HAS GOD CHANGED THAT?
What
is your commitment to Christ? Have you done the things the Bible say’s will
save you?
By: Jim Kelly, His Servant.