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Lesson 6
The BIBLE reveals that Jesus Christ spent a lot of time with His disciples. They would travel from town to town preaching the Gospel and healing the sick, while Jesus taught them about the things of God. They had much to learn and only three years to learn it. Eventually their responsibility would be to spread the Gospel throughout the world (Matthew 28:19). No doubt during their training they asked many questions. And while not all their questions are recorded in the BIBLE, God did choose to record the ones he knew people would be asking again and again for generations to come. For example, one day Jesus and His disciples were traveling through Jerusalem and one of them asked:
No doubt this question has been asked many times
throughout the years. Perhaps like most people today, the disciple
was expecting an encouraging answer. Maybe he thought that Jesus was
going to say,
'Don't do anything horrible, like murder, and you will be okay. Hell
is only for the very wicked.'
However, this is not what Jesus answered at all. Instead He replied:
The answer is YES! In another Gospel account, Jesus made it even more clear by comparison:
This sobering passage goes contrary to what many people believe. Jesus is saying that, by a large margin, more people are on the road to Hell than are on the road to Heaven. A primary reason for this is because of what Jesus said in the following verse:
One reason why so many people are going to Hell is because there are many false prophets in the world teaching lies about salvation. Consequently many people end up trusting in the wrong things to get them to Heaven. To further accent this truth, Jesus stated what is perhaps the most horrible prediction recorded in the BIBLE:
Now, a person would assume that preaching, casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works, all in the name of Jesus, would surely earn them entrance into Heaven. As it turned out, they were trusting in the wrong things.
We are now living at a time when false prophets are
everywhere. With each false prophet comes a false doctrine that
results in someone trusting the wrong thing for salvation.
Fortunately no one has to be misled because we have
God's Word to warn us against false prophets, expose their errors,
and show us the right way to Heaven.
All right class, before we begin our next lesson, let us review
what we have already learned. Please raise your hands and I will call
upon you. Ready? What will keep little boys and girls from going to
Heaven? Let's see.....Lori?
Sin!
Very good. Now how do we make up for the sins we
commit?.....Chuck?
We must pay for them.
Right, but how do we pay for them?.....Rob?
By doing good deeds.
Ok, that is one way, can any one name another?.....Dave?
By selling subscriptions to religious
magazines? (Classroom erupts with laughter)
Now class quiet down, how many times have I told you not to
laugh at Dave, it's not nice. My next question is.....oh, I see
another hand up in the back. Yes?
Why did Jesus die?
Now Tony, you know the rules: I ask the questions, you give the
answers. Here's the next question - what are the 7 pillars of wisdom?
.....ok Tony, I see your hand is up again.
Why did Jesus die?
Very well young man, if you insist on asking that question I shall
answer it - He died for our sins.
Then why do we have to pay for them with
our good deeds?
Because we do.
But you said He paid for them when He
died.
That is correct.
Then it's paid for and there's nothing left
for us to pay.
No, that is not how it works, He did not pay for all of them.
You mean the payment for our sins was not
finished when He died?
That's right.
Then why did He say "It is finished"?
What?
He said "It is finished" while He was on
the cross.
Tony, how old are you?
Old enough to read the BIBLE.
Young man, don't get smart with me. I'm afraid the answer to your
question is too theologically profound for you to understand.
Try me.
Very well, don't say I didn't warn you - He died for original
sin.
Nope.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'NOPE'? That is the answer!
Nope, can't be...'Original sin' is not in
the BIBLE.
BUT IT MUST BE! THAT'S WHAT I WAS TAUGHT! ARE YOU SURE?
Yep! The BIBLE says sin is sin and Jesus
paid for all of it! If we have to pay for any of it ourselves then
He's not really the Saviour, He's just a co-saviour with us. In fact,
I happen to have my BIBLE with me, let me read what it says:
Well, consider this. With over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament pertaining to the coming Messiah (Lesson 2), one would expect the scribes and Pharisees to be among the first to recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. Yet in spite of their self- proclaimed authority, they totally 'missed the boat'. Jesus Christ had to tell them to:
In reality, the Pharisees were not teaching the Jews the Scriptures but instead were teaching them man-made doctrines and Jewish traditions that they had started. They were notorious for adding these man-made doctrines to God's Word, and had done it to such an extent that their traditions were overriding the Word of God. This was so obvious to Jesus that He had to ask them:
The sad truth was that many of the Jews were trusting in these traditions to help get them into Heaven. This made the scribes and the Pharisees false prophets, misleading the people. Jesus rebuked them for it by saying:
Jesus was able to discern between the commandments of God and their traditions, but those unfamiliar with the Scriptures could not. Consequently they were easily misled.
| Today, many
churches have allowed so much tradition and man-made doctrine to
"creep" in, that unless a person is familiar with what the
BIBLE teaches they can easily end up trusting the wrong thing.
Some denominations will even claim the BIBLE alone is not
enough, and must be supplemented with a second book. However upon
close examination, a person will normally discover that most of that
church's doctrine actually comes from that second book and not from
the BIBLE! (This second book is sometimes called a Catechism
or Articles of Faith). The only book God requires for His church is
His word - the BIBLE. Another book is not necessary, and can
actually cause many to miss Heaven. God only wrote one book and in it
we have everything He wants us to know this side of Heaven. In fact,
Jesus said that adding anything else makes... |
With Heaven and Hell at stake, it is vitally important to separate tradition and man-made doctrines from God's truth. The BIBLE tells us to examine any doctrine that we encounter and...
In fact, one of the reasons God has provided us with the BIBLE is to correct false teachings:
God's Word should be used like a level -- the standard by which all other teachings are compared against, and...
Some may wonder if a person is being too judgmental by exposing false doctrine. But how else can people avoid trusting in the wrong things to get them to Heaven. The BIBLE says:
Most people would have to agree that it is better to look into God's Word and hear what He has to say now, than to hear Him say later:
Throughout the rest of this lesson, we will examine some of the more common false doctrines and traditions that exist today and compare them with the Word of God.
What is meant by the term "works"? Strongs Greek Dictionary of the New Testament defines "works" as being a toil, an effort. By implication; an act, deed, doing, labor, basically anything a person does to earn entrance into Heaven. For example: keeping the Ten Commandments, baptism, church sacraments, good deeds, church membership, doing our best, giving to charity, etc. Many teach that a person must earn their way to Heaven through these works. However, SEVERAL QUESTIONS come up when a person compares salvation by works with what the BIBLE says:
[Q] If God expects us to earn our salvation then why does the BIBLE say the exact opposite?
The BIBLE clearly teaches that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by their works. No effort or deed, no matter how impressive and self-sacrificing, can pay for sins or persuade God into allowing a person into Heaven. The BIBLE says:
By examining this passage further we can learn the following:
"For by grace are ye saved" - Grace means an unmerited, unearned favor. In other words, grace is displayed toward a person when they receive something they don't deserve. WE AS SINNERS DO NOT DESERVE HEAVEN nor can we be good enough to earn its entrance. Yet God offers it for free!
"through faith" - Faith is simply believing God (taking Him at His Word) when He says salvation is a free gift, and TRUSTING in the fact that Jesus Christ paid for ALL of our sins.
"not of yourselves" - Man could not save himself if his life depended on it (and it does).
"it is the gift of God" - Salvation is a free gift offered by God to the repentant sinner who will accept it by faith. Does one pay for a gift? Of course not, it would no longer be a gift if the recipient pays for it.
"...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." ROMANS 6:23
"...the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." ROMANS 5:18
"...the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ..." ROMANS 5:15
"Not of works" - Salvation comes not through our efforts, nor fulfilling church sacraments, nor by church membership. We can't earn our way to Heaven. It is impossible!
"lest any man should boast" - No one will brag about having made it into Heaven. Nobody, once there, will say 'I got here because I kept the Ten Commandments, gave to charity, helped sick friends, complied with all of my church's sacraments, did my best, got baptized, etc.' Instead those in Heaven will praise Jesus Christ, the one who had to 'bail them out' and save them:
[Q] If our salvation depends on our total lifetime efforts, then why does the BIBLE teach that we can know for sure (right now) that we are going to Heaven when we die?
Most people don't realize that the BIBLE teaches that A PERSON CAN KNOW FOR SURE THEY WILL GO TO HEAVEN when they die. God never meant for anyone to go through life wondering and worrying if they will make it there; that would be cruel on His part. The BIBLE says:
Christ was offered on the cross to purchase our salvation with His blood (Lesson 5). Now God can offer it as a free gift that we can accept RIGHT NOW and therefore KNOW that we are saved. This is demonstrated by the illustration found on the next page.
Once upon a time a certain man in
a certain town wanted to buy A CERTAIN THING. The problem was
this thing cost much more than what the man had with which to pay. He
wanted it so much that he decided to obtain a second job and work as
much as he could until he could buy it.
And so THE MAN under took his quest and began a
rigorous life of working and saving. After two weeks of this, one of
his friends asked him, 'Will you be able to buy this thing you want?'
'I hope so,' replied the man, 'but I can't know for sure. It
depends on how hard I work at it.'
And so the weeks turned into months, the months into
years. During all this time the man kept up his rigorous pace of
working and saving and his friends kept asking, 'Will you be able to
buy this certain thing?' And always the response was the same. 'I
hope so, but I don't know for sure, it depends on me and my ability
to work and earn.' 'But when will you know for sure?' Sadly the
man would reply, 'I'll know for sure when I've saved enough and can
actually buy it. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in
the end.' And so it went on and on with the poor man never
really knowing for sure if he would ever obtain his goal. It all
depended on him. He would just have to keep on doing the best he
could.
After several years everyone in town knew the man and
HIS EFFORTS, including the richest man in town. The rich man
knew all about money and realized the man would never reach his goal.
This thing the man wanted simply cost too much and was constantly
going up in price. THE RICH MAN felt compassion for him. 'I
know what I'll do!' he said. 'I will buy this thing myself and
offer it to him as a gift.' And so he did, but when he offered
it the man refused to accept it, for you see, he was a proud man. He
wanted to earn this thing himself. 'But why spend the rest of your
life wondering?' reasoned the rich man, 'hoping that
perhaps you will obtain this thing, but never really
knowing for sure.'
And so after several days of reasoning with the man, he
finally convinced him how hopeless it was to do it on his
own. The man accepted the rich man's gift. And from that point
on whenever he was asked, 'Have you obtained the thing you wanted?'
the man would smile and reply 'Yes, now I have it, not because
I paid for it, but rather someone else bought it for me and I
accepted it as a gift. Now I know for sure and can finally
rest and have peace about it.'
In the previous illustration the man trying to buy the 'certain thing' represents many people who are trying to earn their way into Heaven. The rich man represents Jesus Christ who has bought the way for us. It's amazing how many people are always looking for 'something for nothing', yet when it comes to the salvation of their souls they will try to work for it, rather than accepting the free gift bought by Jesus Christ on the cross.
[Q] If our salvation depends on our good works outweighing our bad deeds, then why does the BIBLE teach that it only takes one sin to keep us out of Heaven?
Many people assume (and are taught) that on judgment day God will weigh their good works against their sin. Yet the BIBLE teaches that no matter how many good deeds a person has done, it only takes ONE SIN to tip the scale against them!
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." JAMES 2:10
God's holy standard requires 'all or nothing' when it comes to obeying His laws. Since no one is sinless, it is hopeless to trust in our acts of righteousness no matter how many we have done. God says:
[Q] If our salvation is obtained by following the Ten Commandments then why does the BIBLE teach that it's impossible to follow them?
Many people believe that salvation can be earned by doing the best they can at keeping the Ten Commandments. However this is a misconception that comes from not fully understanding why God gave them to mankind in the first place. So let's learn, from the BIBLE, the three real purposes of the Ten Commandments (otherwise known as The Law).
1) God gave us the Law to teach us what sin is.
With God's Law as the standard, sin is no longer defined by someone's personal opinion but by God's, which is the only "opinion" that counts!
2) God gave us the Law to teach us that we are sinners.
This realization comes when we, with our natural inclination toward sinful behavior, try to follow the holy standard of the Law. The Law exposes our sin nature by showing us how incapable we are of following it. All the self-righteousness in the world can't hide the fact that we are sinners guilty of not following God's Law:
3) God gave us the Law to teach us that we need a Saviour.
Once the Law defines sin and exposes us as sinners incapable of keeping it, our honest reaction should be 'since I can't save myself by keeping the Law, I need a Saviour.' This realization leads us to Jesus Christ.
Due to our sin nature we are unable to save ourselves through the Law and therefore need a Saviour.
[Q] If our salvation is
obtained through our own efforts,
THEN WHY DID JESUS CHRIST HAVE TO DIE?
In Lesson 5 we looked at the events surrounding and including His death. Would God have put His Son through all that, if there was any other way to save mankind? Obviously not. Christ's death is the only payment God will accept for sins. The BIBLE says:
Yet many are substituting God's requirement of Christ's death with their own acts of righteousness. The Apostle Paul said to do this is to make Christ's death worthless:
If someone could save himself by keeping the Law, he would have something of which to be proud. However, salvation is a humbling experience because God is offering us a salvation we don't deserve (this is called GRACE) and holding back the wrathful judgment we do deserve (this is called MERCY).
It's sad to think of all the people who are trusting in their good works to pay for sins. Their endless efforts are not reducing their sin debt one bit. In fact, if they would stop and think, they would have to admit that with all their efforts they have no peace, rest or complete assurance of whether they are going to Heaven when they die. The BIBLE describes the saved person as being able to rest from trying to work their way to Heaven:
The word baptism means immersion or submersion. Therefore to baptize means to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to bury under, which is what baptism represents. When a SAVED PERSON is baptized he is PICTURING the burial of the old sinful life and is PICTURING the resurrection of the new life in Christ:
The burial represented by baptism is performed as a public testimony of a person's new life in Christ. It tells the world that the person has PREVIOUSLY BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, has become a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17), and is now going to live his life for the Lord. BAPTISM IS ONLY A PICTURE OF SALVATION, IT HAS NO SAVING MERIT IN ITSELF! However some have insisted on teaching that baptism saves, in spite of the fact that throughout the BIBLE we find evidence to the contrary.
1. We find two incidents where the person was
BAPTIZED YET DID NOT REALLY GET SAVED.
Judas Iscariot (John 3:22; Acts 1:21-22) and Simon the Sorcerer (Acts
8:9-24).
2. We find various people who were SAVED YET WERE
NEVER BAPTIZED.
Moses, Abraham, Joshua, David, Daniel and many more Old Testament
saints. In fact, one particular person could not have been baptized
even if he wanted - the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43).
3. We find some who were NOT ALLOWED TO BE BAPTIZED
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SAVED.
The Pharisees and Sadducees -- the religious leaders (Matthew 3:7-8).
They had to repent and get saved first before they could be baptized.
John the Baptist told them,
4. We find many who were BAPTIZED AFTER THEY GOT
SAVED.
5. We even find one who DIDN'T NEED TO BE SAVED YET
WAS BAPTIZED!
Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:13-16).
But we don't find one example of someone getting saved by being baptized!
Some teach that infant baptism makes a person a child of God. However, all other arguments aside, the bottom line is this:
Salvation is a supernatural event. No one who has truly been saved remains the same after salvation:
A supernatural transformation takes place when a person becomes a true child of God. They tend to act and live like one. The Father and child relationship that God provides is real, noticeable and life changing. The BIBLE has much to say about what a true child of God is really like.
1) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD HAS HIS FATHER'S
SPIRIT DWELLING INSIDE OF HIM. "And because ye are
sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts" GALATIANS 4:6
This comes from being born again (John 3:3). Man is born
spiritually dead (Lesson 4) and needs to be spiritually born into
God's family. Since God cannot be seen (John 4:24), when a person
gets saved, God provides the proof of salvation by giving His Spirit:
"...Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because
he hath given us of his Spirit." I JOHN 4:12-13
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are
the children of God:" ROMANS 8:6
Yet many who think that infant baptism made them a child
of God have no absolute assurance that God is their Father. Many are
totally unaware of any spirit present or that one is even supposed to
be there! "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his." ROMANS 8:9
2) A TRUE CHILD CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND AND
APPLY THE TEACHINGS OF HIS FATHER. "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." I CORINTHIANS 2:12
Yet many who are told that baptism made them a child of
God consider many of the things taught in the BIBLE as foolish
and outdated and can't even understand why they should obey them.
Obviously they don't have the Spirit of God. "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." I CORINTHIANS 2:14
3) A TRUE CHILD HEARS WHAT HIS FATHER
SAYS. "...Why do ye not understand my speech? even
because ye cannot hear my word. ... He that is of God heareth God's
words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of
God." JOHN 8:42-43,47
Yet many believing to have been born into God's family
through baptism, do not actively seek to hear what God says in His
Word--instead their BIBLE lays closed on a shelf somewhere and
never opened. Some, when exposed to it, will resist it's teaching
because it may not agree with what they already believe. Jesus said:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me:" JOHN 10:27
4) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD WILL BE LED BY HIS
FATHER. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of
God, they are the sons of God." ROMANS 8:14
Yet many assuming God is their Father through baptism do
not sense God leading in their lives. They constantly try to run
their lives independently of God; but by not having His wisdom, they
make bad decisions leading to frustration and sometimes despair. If
God was truly their Father He would not let them run their lives to a
sinful ruin.
5) A TRUE CHILD DOES NOT FIND HIS FATHER'S
COMMANDMENTS HARD TO FOLLOW. "For this is the love of
God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous [burdensome]." I JOHN 5:3
Yet many thinking they are a child of God can't find it
within themselves to live the BIBLE'S standard. It just doesn't come
natural to them; there is no spirit to empower them. "Because the
carnal mind [the unsaved person] is enmity against God: for it
is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ...
But ye [the saved person] are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." ROMANS
8:7,9
6) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD HAS BEEN MADE FREE
FROM SIN BY HIS FATHER. "For sin shall not have
dominion over you..." ROMANS 6:14
Yet many assuming baptism made them a child of God can't
have complete victory over sin. They can't overcome pornography,
booze, gambling etc. They are drawn to dirty jokes like a magnet is
drawn to steel, can't help but lie when in trouble, and simply have no
dominion over sin. They can't consistently produce fruits of
holiness, only sin! "But now being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and
the end everlasting life." ROMANS 6:22
7) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD DOES NOT WILLFULLY
PRACTICE SIN. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth
[practices sin] not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,
neither known him." I JOHN 3:6
Yet many who trust that their baptism has made them a
child, live according to the world's standard of morality, and not
God's. They swear, take God's name in vain, steal things from work,
cheat on their income tax, hold grudges against others, have sex
outside of marriage, and much more in plain sight of God without even
thinking about it. "Whosoever is born of God doth not
commit [practice] sin; for his [God's] seed
remaineth in him: ... In this the children of God are manifest, and
the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not
of God," I JOHN 3:9-10
8) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD IS CONSTANTLY GROWING
SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER'S INTERVENTION IN HIS
LIFE. "For whom he [God] did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed [changed] to the
image of his Son [Christ]," ROMANS 8:29
Yet many trusting in their baptism cannot look back a year
or two ago and say, 'I have grown to be more Christlike (less selfish,
more patient, more compassionate etc.).' In many cases the opposite
is true. IF THERE IS NO GROWTH THEN SALVATION HAS NOT TAKEN
PLACE. In fact, the unsaved person is pictured as a tree not
capable of producing good fruit. "...therefore every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire." MATTHEW 3:10
9) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD HAS A REPENTANT
ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS FATHER. "Testifying both to the
Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ." ACTS 20:21
This is an attitude exemplified by the parable of the
prodigal son: "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto
him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before
thee," LUKE 15:18
Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change
from self will to following God's will. It is an attitude that says,
'whatever you tell me to do Father, I will do it!' It is the opposite
of a rebellious attitude. Another Biblical parable illustrates this
repentant attitude: "But what think ye? A certain man had two
sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my
vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he
repented, and went." MATTHEW 21:28-29
Yet many thinking that baptism has made them a child of
God, grow up rebelling against God's will and not following His Word.
They refuse to submit to God's authority over their lives.
10) A TRUE CHILD OF GOD IS DISCIPLINED BY
HIS FATHER WHEN HE SINS. "...My son, despise not thou
the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art
rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." HEBREWS 12:5
There are three levels of discipline mentioned in this
verse:
1. rebuked - to convict, to expose
2. chasteneth - to train, to correct
3. scourgeth - discipline involving calamities.
The true child of God cannot sin without God dealing
with it, be it through simple conviction or a calamity occurring in
their life as a result of their sin. This discipline comes with the
full knowledge that God is behind it. "If ye endure chastening,
God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not?" HEBREWS 12:7
Yet many who think baptism made them a child of God can go
on sinning without any immediate conviction or correction from their
Father. The BIBLE says: "But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards
[illegitimate], and not sons." HEBREWS 12:8
Once again the bottom line is this:
A true child of God has a real relationship with God. Through God's indwelling Spirit they are continuously aware of God's presence in their life. Their thoughts, desires, decisions and actions revolve around the will of their Father. Yet millions have been told that baptism has made them a child of God and are running their lives as if God doesn't exist. They only acknowledge He exists one day a week, and even then they do it more out of duty than genuine desire. In fact, considering all the millions upon millions who have been baptized, one would expect the world to be a much less sinful place with all these 'children of God' running around doing their Father's will. But reality shows that is not the case. If those millions were honest with themselves, they would have to admit that THEIR BAPTISM DID NOT MAKE THEM A CHILD OF GOD; instead it only satisfied an inherent aspect of man's fallen state - the desire to be religious!
Through baptism many are assuming they know God, but the real question is, does He know them?
What is 'easy believe-ism'? It is a phrase that has been used to describe a version of the gospel in which repentance is not emphasized. This 'simply believe without repenting' gospel has managed to creep its way into many churches. It is best described by comparing the following two personal testimonies with what the BIBLE says. (Both examples are based on true stories)
Bob's Testimony:
Bob was there on a friend's invitation. This was the
first time Bob had come to a church that preached a gospel message.
He was hearing things he had never heard before. In fact, the message
was making him emotionally unsettled. When it was over, the preacher
invited all who wanted to accept Christ to come forward. Many people
responded as they began to walk toward the front. Bob too, was
debating whether or not he should walk when his friend said, 'Go ahead
Bob. Jesus loves you.'
Once everyone was in front, the Preacher led them in the
following prayer:
John's Testimony:
John had come to church on a friend's invitation. He had
never before been to a church like this. He saw a man standing up
front preaching from the BIBLE. His message was unsettling and
throughout the following week John kept thinking about what he had
heard. He knew what the preacher had implied, but he wondered if it
was true. For several weeks he kept attending the services and as
time went on the feeling in the pit of his stomach grew until he could
no longer sleep well at night. 'What if it's true?', he kept
thinking. After two more weeks he no longer wondered if it was true,
he now knew for a fact it was. So he asked to speak with someone at
the local church and soon they were both sitting in a room, just the
two of them and a BIBLE.
There seems to be something on your mind, John,
would you like to talk about it?
Yes I would, I need to get saved.
Saved from what?
From God's judgment and wrath.
You really don't believe you deserve God's wrath do
you?
Yes, I have sinned against Him, I'm guilty, I now realize I am a
sinner in God's eyes.
So where would you go if you were to die right now?
To Hell.
Are you sure you wouldn't want to think about it some
more and come back, say, in a few days?
Look! I'm lost, I need to get saved, I could die at any moment and
then it would be too late!
Now John, Jesus said "...except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish." LUKE 13:3
To repent means to change your mind about the direction
you have been going in.
You mean when it comes to my sin?
Yes. But it also includes changing your mind about the
things that you are trusting in to get you to Heaven. Tell me, what
have you been trusting in to get you to Heaven?
I guess my baptism, and any good deeds I've done along the way.
John, the BIBLE says "For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
EPHESIANS 2:8-9 Do you realize that baptism and good deeds are
"works" that cannot save you?
Well, I guess they haven't done me any good, because right now I
realize that I might die and go to Hell at any moment.
Then will you change your mind about trusting in your
baptism and good deeds to save you?
Yes I will.
Now, you must understand that repentance is not just
turning away from sin but it's also turning toward God. "Let the
wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon
him;" ISAIAH 55:7
I'm willing to do whatever God says in the BIBLE.
That's the attitude God wants, John. Now lets talk
about faith because while repentance brings you to salvation's door,
it takes faith to open it. The BIBLE says "He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him." JOHN 3:36 Believe means to trust or put confidence in
something. This means that you need to trust Jesus Christ to save
you, based upon the fact that He died for your sins. Let me
illustrate. Do you believe a person can safely go to the Moon?
Yes, of course I do, it's been done.
Ok, but would you be willing to trust in what you
believe and actually go there yourself?
I'm not sure if I'd go that far.
That's because there's a difference between simply
believing it's safe and actually trusting that it's safe. The same
applies to salvation. It's one thing to believe Christ died for your
sins, but God wants you to TRUST in Him to forgive you for your
sins. Referring to Christ, the BIBLE says: "In whom ye also
TRUSTED, after that ye heard the word of truth..." EPHESIANS
1:13
It was necessary that John see himself as lost. (By lost, the BIBLE means condemned, separated from God, on the way to Hell. Lost does NOT mean confused and misguided.) Jesus relates how salvation and understanding the Gospel are interwoven:
John heard enough of God's Word to understand that his need was to repent and trust Christ.
Bob however made his decision prematurely. Did he truly see himself as lost? Did he understand his need to repent and trust Christ? Unfortunately the church he attended did not sit down with him and clearly show him from the BIBLE how a person is saved. Millions like Bob, have been led through a simple 'sinner's prayer' that does not emphasize repentance nor prepares the heart. The result has been many who are assuming they are saved but are tragically still lost, as in Bob's case. Sadly, without having repented and trusted Christ, poor Bob believed in vain. The Apostle Paul, questioning the salvation of some of the members at the church at Corinth said:
One night a man named Nicodemus paid Jesus a visit. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious leader of the Jews. He was a sincere man. He prayed 3 times a day, fasted twice a week, gave alms to the poor, observed the Sabbath and did anything else his religion required. Yet with all his religious zeal he still felt something was missing. He had no assurance that he would go to Heaven when he died. He didn't even know God on a personal basis. What he didn't realize was that he was spiritually dead and cut off from God. He needed to be reconnected spiritually with his Creator. He needed a spiritual birth. Jesus told him:
Nicodemus thought Jesus meant he had to be physically born again but Jesus made it clear that He meant a spiritual birth:
Nicodemus had been taught all his life 'do the best you can, be as faithful as you can at keeping the Law and try to please God with all your might.' Unfortunately no one, until Jesus, had told him that as a spiritually dead sinner, it was impossible for him to keep the Law or even please God.
He needed to be born again! Many today are in a similar situation as Nicodemus. They have been taught to get baptized, take communion, go to confession, keep the Ten Commandments, etc., and yet in spite of their life-long efforts, they still sense something is missing. The spiritual void never gets filled. Some even drop out of religion because of all the hypocrisy they see in church from members who claim to follow God yet behave as if He doesn't exist. But these poor souls can't help but act 'hypocritically'. They have no indwelling Spirit to empower them, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BORN AGAIN.
Cornelius is another example: he also was a very religious man. He feared God, prayed, gave money to the poor (Acts 10:2). He referred to God as Lord (Acts 10:4). He even fasted (Acts 10:30). Yet with all his religious zeal God looked down upon him in mercy and sent Peter to preach to him the Gospel. The BIBLE says as a result of hearing the Gospel he received the Holy Spirit and was born again! (Acts 10:44) Religion never saved anyone; in fact, religion is the opposite of true BIBLE salvation.
RELIGION is what man does for God. SALVATION is what God
does for man. (Isaiah 53:6)
RELIGION is trusting in a work we do. SALVATION is trusting in
Christ's work. (Hebrews 10:10)
RELIGION depends on our behaving. SALVATION depends on our
believing. (Acts 16:31)
RELIGION is the improvement of the old nature. SALVATION is
the imparting of a new nature through receiving Jesus Christ as
Saviour and Lord. (John 1:12)
Nothing any one can do will bring about this spiritual
birth: not works, not baptism, not self righteousness, not religion.
Only God, through His Word can do it:
8:30 AM - Plumber makes a house
call...
...that pipe is all rusted, you need a new one, it'll cost you $65.00.
TRUST ME!
Like the dickens I will! Sir you are grossly mistaken if you
believe for one second that, I.M. Prudent III, will simply accept your
assessment of the matter without obtaining a second opinion. Good
Day!
10:00 AM - Mechanic looks over the
car...
...right now you're misfiring on one cylinder. Leave your car here
for a day, and we will have her all fixed up; for $50.00 that is.
TRUST ME!
Sir you must assume me to have been in my mother's womb the day
before yesterday. I assure you that I.M. Prudent Ill does not simply
'leave any car' without securing a second opinion. Good day!
1:00 PM - Dentist office...
...your tooth's in bad shape Mr. Prudent. You need a new crown.
And...
How much?
$150.00. TRUST ME!
Simply trust one opinion with so much at stake? My fine man, I've
known you for many years. Yet in spite of our prolonged friendship I
still must insist upon a second opinion. Good day!
4:30 PM - Minister's office...
...that's right, Just stay faithful and keep working on those good
deeds and you might have a fairly halfway decent chance of maybe
getting to Heaven when you die. TRUST ME!
Ok!
********** A Sneak Preview ************In our next and final lesson we will learn that the most important reason why God gave us the BIBLE was for the salvation and consequent spiritual growth of mankind. We will deal with the following questions:
* What happens after salvation?
* Why is salvation only through repentance and faith.
* How much faith does it take to be saved?
* Can a person lose their salvation?
* How much can a person grow spiritually?
Move to Lesson #6's worksheet
Go to Lesson #7