Category: Salvation
Subject: Salvation
Urgent Need
We are praying for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. The power of nature has been amply demonstrated. It is alarming how impotent man is when the elements unleash with fury.
The response to this tragedy is appropriate. Men have been talking about God. Prayers are solicited and offered, and the expressions of love that should be the default practice of all men has come to the forefront. For this we are thankful.
We have a Savior who showed power to still the wind and waves, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39). This power is not surprising, as He is the Creator of all things! “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).
While we thank God for all the petitions made in His Son’s name, for protection and healing in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we are mindful of a multitude of souls floundering in the morass of sin. Let us never forget the tragedy that is greater than a loss of property or life — the loss of the soul. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
You are praying for your fellow man, and offering help in time of need. Have you considered the urgent need of spiritual healing for those same souls? Are you as willing to share the gospel of our Lord? Something to think about!
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Sermon: Our Obligations Toward Truth
Our obligations toward truth include: Procuring it, Practicing it, Proclaiming it, Protecting it, and Pleading it.
I Will Call Upon the Lord
I will call upon the Lord
Who is worthy to be praised
So shall I be saved from my enemies
The Lord liveth and blessed be the Rock
And let the God of my salvation be exalted– Michael O’Shields
“I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.”(Psalm 18:1-3)
As God cared for Israel, and saved His people from harm – He desires to save all mankind. His salvation is from sin and death, His promise is life eternal in the heavens. “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.”
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“Things which angels desire to look into”
In 1 Peter, the apostle begins his epistle by discussing the salvation which comes from Jesus Christ. He noted that this salvation was preached from old by the prophets, though they did not have a full understanding of that which they foretold. He wrote:
“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things which angels desire to look into” (1:12).
How blessed we are to live in the fullness of times! Jesus has come, and His shed blood affords us the means to obtain the forgiveness of sins. His resurrection from the dead gives us a “living hope” (1:3).
The prophets dearly wanted to know what today has been revealed to us! How sad it is that so many men, in contrast, have no interest in the most sublime and important revelation to all mankind.
What about you? Are you interested in “things which angels desire to look into”?
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Sermon: Drawn to Jesus
This sermon expresses why we should desire to be drawn to Jesus, as well as how it is done.
The Power of God to Salvation
Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
His words are an interesting contrast to those of Jesus in John 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
There is no contradiction here. The gospel is powerful in that it is the means by which a sinner comes to Christ. We are saved by grace through faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no magic in the incantation of words. The Bible is not to be confused with the magician’s abracadabra.
Paul wrote, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The purpose of messianic prophecy, and the four gospels of the New Testament is to bring us to a knowledge of, and acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We must be noble as the Bereans (cf. Acts 17:11), and accept the truths that are contained in scripture. As Jesus notes, the scripture testifies of Him, and we must be willing to come to Him that we “may have life.”
Belief in Jesus requires belief in his virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection from the dead, and His ascension to God’s right hand. Will you come to Him?
Sermon: Conversion of the Jailor
A discussion of the conversion of the Philippian jailor in Acts 16, with a special emphasis on the part played by Paul and Silas.
Sermon: The Benefits of a Life Lived for Christ
A life lived for Jesus Christ brings blessings, both while we live upon the earth He created, and most importantly, in eternity!
God’s Provision
After leaving Egypt, the Israelites found themselves trapped on the shore of the Red Sea. With the sea at their backs, and Pharaoh’s army rapidly approaching, the people complained to Moses, saying that it would have been better for them to remain slaves “than that we should die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:12). Moses responded, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today” (13). Since God was with them, victory was assured. The Egyptians were wiped out.
In contrast, Joshua and the people were routed by the weak and small denizens of Ai, as recorded in Joshua 7. Why? Sin was in the camp, and God said to Joshua, “Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you” (12). Since God was against them, they were defeated.
Sermon: The “Plan” of Salvation?
The idea that there are things a man must do to be saved, some people contend to be a product of the legalistic theology of the 19th century. This lesson is a defense of the what the scriptures teach regarding the salvation of man.
Mining the Scriptures: Colossians 1:15-18
Here Paul gives us an accurate and fully developed picture of the Messiah. He is the very image of God. God’s perfect character, wisdom and glory are seen in the Christ. His is a place of preeminence as the firstborn of God. All that is exists by His word, and persists through His power. (It is important to note here that the term “firstborn” has reference to His place, not His origin. The Creator of all things was not Himself created, cf. John 1:1).
His creative work covers not only what can be seen, but also what cannot be perceived by man. It is arrogant to assume that what exists is only that which can be measured or observed. The materialist is short-sighted, and ignorant of the Lord’s power and the extent of His reign.
His preeminence extends to His church. His victory over death affirms His Person and place as our Redeemer.
Man Can’t Do It…But God Can!
Early in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he had a dream. The dream made him anxious, and he sought it’s meaning. His astrologers, sorcerers and magicians were more than willing to provide an interpretation, but Nebuchadnezzar obviously did not trust their powers of divination. So, he created a test. Before giving him the interpretation, they had to describe the dream itself. They replied, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean” (Daniel 2:10). Their explanation did not impress Nebuchadnezzar. He became angry, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be killed!
Nebuchadnezzar’s disgust was understandable, even if his murderous response was not. These dream interpreters were not claiming psychological insight. They claimed to be able to “divine” the interpretation. That is, they claimed a supernatural ability to determine a dream’s meaning. Logically, if one possessed such supernatural powers, “divining” the dream itself would be as simple as the interpretation. By their inability, they showed themselves to be charlatans.
Sermon: Our Redeemer
Galatians 4:4-5 shows God’s purpose in sending His Son to earth. To redeem man! The shedding of His blood on the cross accomplished that purpose. Because of Jesus, we have the hope of redemption!
Invitation: Now is the Day of Salvation
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul expresses the immediate nature of the need to get right with God, “Behold, now is the day of salvation.”
The Love of Christ Which Passes Knowledge
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In Ephesians 3:14-19 the apostle Paul uses the language of superlatives (but not hyperbole) to describe the nature of Christ’s love.
