Category: Salvation
Subject: Salvation
Sermon: Wise Men Still Seek Him
When the Messiah was born, wise men from the East came seeking the baby Jesus. Today, wise men still seek Him as their Lord and Savior.
The Patternists: The Five Steps to Salvation
The question is as old as the Kingdom itself, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (cf. Acts 2:37). When confronted with the reality of sin, those convicted of their guilt desire to know what they must do to be saved from condemnation.
An examination of God’s word reveals five things to be done for a person to be saved. So, Christians have often referred to the five steps to salvation. This phrase has been ridiculed as simplistic, legalistic, PATTERNISTIC. What it is, is scriptural.
- HEAR. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
- BELIEVE. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…” (Romans 10:10).
- REPENT. “Repent…for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38).
- CONFESS. (That “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” Acts 8:37) “…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
- BE BAPTIZED. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
The process of passing from death to life begins when an alien sinner hears the good news of Jesus Christ, and is completed when he arises from the waters of baptism to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
For those who object to such a listing of steps to salvation, we ask two simple questions. Are any of the listed steps unnecessary? Did we leave any steps out? In reality, this teaching approach has led to the salvation of multitudes. The gospel is sublime, but simple.
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Mining the Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-25
The circumstances of Jesus’ birth are established forthrightly by Matthew and Luke. While modernists struggle with the concept of a child being born of a virgin, the believer accepts God’s intent, purpose and ability to bring this event about.
Matthew reveals the following in this short section of his gospel:
- After Joseph and Mary were betrothed (a type of engagement), Mary became pregnant.
- At this time Mary was a virgin, the conception was the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Joseph was informed of God’s plan, and scuttled his plans to put away Mary (as he obviously had thought from her pregnancy that she had been with another man).
- God’s plan was that the virgin would bear a son named Jesus, who would be the Savior of mankind (vs. 21).
- The birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). That prophecy refers to the child as “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” Thus, Jesus was declared from birth to be God on earth (cf. John 1:14).
- In answer to the vision from God, Joseph did not have sexual relations with his wife until after she gave birth to Jesus.
This account marks the beginning of the events leading to the ultimate redemption of mankind (cf. John 17:3).
Sermon: The Call of Christ
Jeremiah Cox discusses the call of Christ, referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15.
Sermon: The Plan of Salvation
From the very beginning God had a plan in place to redeem man. This plan was necessary because of the sin of man. It consists of the grace of God, and man’s response to the saving power of the gospel.
Sermon: Are You Ready for Judgment?
Jeremiah Cox preached this short lesson, brought on our fifth Sunday singing night. He asked the question, Are you ready for the judgment day? The lesson explains what it means to be prepared for Christ’s coming.
Sermon: What About the Thief on the Cross
When a discussion centers on what a man must do to be saved, it is commonly asked “What about the thief on the cross?” Does Jesus’ pardon of the thief, recorded in Luke 23, have any bearing on what He expects of us as we respond to the gospel?
From the Preacher’s Pen: Aspire to an Idyllic Life!
The second chapter of the book of Acts records the activities of Christians at the dawn of the church’s existence. “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (vs. 44-47).
The text reveals an idyllic state among the people of God — one to which we today should aspire. Luke quickly begins to recount sin among the brethren (Acts 5), cultural conflicts (Acts 6) as well as persecution from without (Acts 7). But, early on there was only joy and encouragement as brethren showed hospitality toward each other, and came together in praise and worship to God.
No doubt such joy is available to Christians today. It is possible for righteous people of God to have the same mind, to endure opposition, and maintain the peace and joy that comes from our common heritage. It must be fostered and maintained, but it is possible, and it is a state God desires for his people.
If you want that joy, then do as they did in Acts 2. Assemble with the saints to worship God. Show love to your brethren through benevolence and hospitality. Thank God for the wonderful blessings you receive. Be glad for who you are, and the hope of heaven you enjoy. It is wonderful to be a child of God, and to rejoice in the hope of heaven!
Invitation: The Road to Salvation
Invitation delivered by: Josh Jackson
Josh uses the Paul’s epistle to the Romans to talk about the road to salvation. He emphasizes the need for salvation, how salvation is obtained, the need to remain on the road, and how that can be done.
Sermon: Philip’s Part in the Eunuch’s Conversion
As we consider all of the acts of conversion recorded in the book of Acts, there are different circumstances, but the same steps required for conversion. Philip’s interaction with the Ethiopian Eunuch supplies us the opportunity to see the part that a preacher plays in the conversion of men.
Sermon: Super Conquerors
Lesson 3 of 8 in a series on Awesome Texts.
Romans 8:31-39 gives us great comfort as we realize that in Christ we are “more than conquerors.”
Sermon: Age of Accountability
Sermon by Marc Smith.
In this lesson Marc answers from scripture the often troubling question, “When do children become accountable for sin, before Almighty God?” Scriptural principles give parents guidance on the question.
Sermon: “Borne by Four”
Sermon by Marc Smith.
In this lesson, Marc uses Mark 2, and the phrase from the KJV indicating that the paralytic man was carried by four men to see Jesus. The phrase is used to illustrate the point that each of us have those who have borne, or influenced us in our lives. Saul of Tarsis is a good example, and four men are mentioned: Gamaliel, Stephen, Annanias and Barnabas who had a profound influence upon him and his conversion to Christ.
Mining the Scriptures: Titus 1:1-4
The apostle Paul wrote this epistle to Titus, “a true son in our common faith” (vs. 4). The salutation indicates that, as with Timothy (cf. 1 Timothy 1:2), Paul’s teaching had led to Titus’ conversion.
It was common for Paul, in his epistles, to defend his apostleship as being from God. Paul was not a usurper. In these few verses he states an eloquent argument for his apostleship, as a part of God’s overreaching scheme of redemption for man.
Paul’s apostleship was according to faith. It emanated from God. He states that God had committed him to the proclamation of that faith. God chose through the “foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
So, the emphasis here is not really on Paul as a bondservant and an apostle, but on the message he was to proclaim. Paul describes that gospel as that which “accords with godliness” (vs. 1). It leads to a holy life. As such, it is “in hope of eternal life.” That is, in leading the elect to righteousness, it provides standing with God in judgment. This eternal hope is something we are assured of, as it is promised by God, and God can not lie (cf. vs. 2, Hebrews 6:18). This promise, as Paul indicated, predates the creation of man (cf. vs. 2).
Sermon: This is a Faithful Saying…
Sermon by Jeremiah Cox (Note: His first time preaching a full sermon, Age 19).
The scriptures are profitable to complete a man, and equip him for every good work (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jeremiah identifies and applies the truths found in four verses designated by the Holy Spirit as “faithful sayings.”
