Category: Salvation

The question is asked and answered. Does the pardon of the thief on the cross have a bearing on whether we must be baptized in order to be saved?

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In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was “Ne Plus Ultra,” which means “No More Beyond.” The word being torn away by the lion is “Ne” or “no,” making it read “Plus Ultra.” Columbus had proven that there was indeed “more beyond.”

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Columbus did not know the half of it. So many today make the same denial with regard to life after death. They live their lives, “under the sun” (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:3), without any reference to God or eternity. But, there is life after death! As the Hebrew writer wrote, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28). For those saved, there is truly “Plus Ultra”… More Beyond!

Guest Speaker: Keith Greer. There is an eternal principle that remains true in every age. Succinctly stated, God speaks, Man believes, Man obeys, God saves.

While the particulars of God’s message may change, the principle remains. This is certainly true with regard to God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

(Note: This is a two part sermon. The morning sermon covers the first 8 slides of the presentation).

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As God is with us, and is the soure of our redemption, we have nothing to fear. (Romans 8:31-39).

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In Philippians 2:12-13, the Apostle Paul exhorted Christians to “…as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” The text clearly shows that man has an obligation regarding his own standing before God. Though we are saved by grace, this does not excuse us from honest and diligent effort to obey God. He saves us, but we are sadly mistaken if we believe that He will save us without any effort on our part. Those who are unrepentant sinners will only suffer loss.

In the New Testament, there are two instances where a disciple is referred to as one who is “full of faith.” Stephen (Acts 6:5,8) and Barnabas (Acts 11:24) are the two men mentioned. The Holy Spirit chose two men who personify the apostle’s admonition to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Stephen suffered martyrdom because of his unflinching proclamation of the gospel of our Lord. In Acts 11, we are told that as a result of Barnabas’ preaching “a great many people were added to the Lord” (vs. 24). Barnabas continued steadfastly in his work, and was a great help and companion to Paul in his ministry.

Continue reading “Working Out Your Own Salvation” →

The account of Saul’s conversion is unique in many ways because it involves not only his conversion, but also his appointment as an apostle. However, Saul had to do what all have to do in order to receive the forgiveness of his sins.

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AOTS Number 52

Children want to know if their pet is going to heaven? Does God care about animals? Are we different than the animals? These are challenging questions, but fortunately, we have scriptural answers to give.

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Jesus promised his disciples (and by extension, all Christians) an eternal abode with Him in heaven. If we desire the reward, and live a life in keeping with Christ’s commands, we have a mansion prepared for us.

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As Acts 8, with Philip preaching to the Eunuch shows, the Lord gives each of us opportunities to preach the gospel of our Lord.

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AOTS Number 37

Because the hope we have in Christ does not depend upon self, there is no reason for the Christian to be a pessimist.

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Podcast Number 46

Does the text in Acts 2:38 indicate that we are baptized because our sins are forgiven, or in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. Context and a word study indicate that “for the remission of sins” indicates that repentance and baptism are necessary for salvation!

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Faith in Jesus Christ reconciles us to God, thus giving peace, sonship, heirship and eternal life.

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In his epistle to the Philippians, the apostle Paul expressed his attitude toward his service to Christ. Simply put, he wasn’t about to “count his chickens before they hatched.” In his own words, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

The reason for this single-minded approach in his service to the Lord is stated in the preceding verses, “that I may gain Christ, and be found in him” (vs. 8b-9a). Further, he longed for the result of such a fellowship with his Lord, “if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead” (vs. 11).

Continue reading ““I Press Toward the Goal”” →

The book of Acts reveals the joy of each individual as they obey the gospel of Christ, and become children of God. They rejoice when they rise from the waters of baptism, and all of God’s children rejoice with them.

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(Gospel Meeting: Mark Mayberry) Seventh in a series of nine lessons based on 1 John 2:15-17. Where the world passes away, those who live according to God’s will have the hope of eternal blessings through their relationship with the Son of God.

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