Title: Salvation Depends on Christ
Date: Oct 2, 2008
Topic(s): Salvation
Scripture: Romans 3:19-31, Acts 13:37-3:39, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 2:8-10, Hebrews 11:6
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What do you need to do to obtain eternal salvation? How can you be certain that you are pleasing God, or pleasing Him enough that He will be happy with you and let you into heaven?
If being sincere about your religion will save you, how can you know that you are sincere enough? How many times do you need to repent and ask God's forgiveness in order to be sure of eternal life? Will God give you a second chance if you blow it here?
What religion pleases God the most, or is He pleased with them all? If you attend church regularly, what other special things do you have to do in order to keep your salvation?
Many people voice concerns and questions that stem from the same mistaken idea: The belief that their salvation somehow depends on human effort and that God is looking at their performance in order to determine whether He will let them into heaven or not. They simply cannot fathom that God has a totally different way and is not impressed at all with human performance when it comes to the matter of salvation.
Let's look at what God has to say about it.
God's heavenly home is for people of all ages, from all nations, languages and races. People from earth who may have been healthy or sick, rich or deprived, educated or illiterate--those from every walk of life will be there.
But trusting in one's own good works will get no one there!
Read Hebrews 11:6.
What is essential in order to please God?
Read Acts 13:37-39, where the apostle Paul speaks of Jesus' Resurrection.
Read Ephesians 2:8-9.
Now, read the next verse, Ephesians 2:10.
Salvation and ultimately a home in heaven totally rests on the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. The difference between Christianity and every religious scheme in the world is that man-made religions teach works to obtain salvation, but God freely offers salvation by faith in the person of Christ, which, when received, results in useful service for God. Eternal life depends on the work of Christ alone; the believer's eternal rewards, however, depend on his or her faithfulness to Christ.
Titus 3:4-7 (ESV) declares, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Read Romans 3:19-31 and note Paul's argument for salvation by faith in Christ versus man's attempts to be saved by legalistic works
Memorize Ephesians 2:8-9 from your own Bible.
What Does God Say?
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