Just How Secure is
the Believer? Part 2
Was Christ’s Death Enough?
1 John 5:11-13 |
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July 9, 2017 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction
A.
How some people see their hope for heaven
1.
Loudly proclaim… “Just believe on Jesus and you WILL be saved from your
sin… hopefully… IF you are good enough all the way to the end!”
2.
People won’t admit it, but THAT’S the theology of so many Christians
today!
3.
What they are saying is, Once you have believed that Jesus paid for your
sins, you now need to get to work doing the following things to stay
forgiven from your sins:
a.
Keep believing – so important – can’t stop believing! No no. As
long as you “keep the faith” you will be fine!”
b.
Do lots of righteous things – make sure that you keep all the laws of God
without fail. As long as you live righteously, continuously, you will be
fine
c.
Make sure you don’t sin wilfully, because ALL your righteousnesses will be lost and
you will have to start completely over!
1)
You will have to repent of every new sin, or you will be lost again
2)
And need to be born again, again!
3)
Huh? Where is THAT is Scripture?
d.
In much of modern pop-theology
1)
No one is really saved from their sin and the punishment of their sin
until they no longer can sin!
2)
Which will only happen when they die and “hopefully” enter the presence of
Jesus in heaven.
e.
So, God OWES people heaven for all that THEY have DONE trying hard to stay
right after salvation?
f.
But NOT ME! God owes me nothing! He freely offered me the gift of God, and
I took it!
4.
This Doctrine is called “The Eternal Security of the Believer in Christ” –
Once Saved, Always Saved! And Bible believers need to know and rest in
such a great truth!
B.
From the start, let me say that, If “once saved, always saved” is not
true…
1.
Then mankind is saved by BOTH our faith at first and our works over time,
instead of by faith alone, for all time!
a.
How can I say that?
b.
Well, If we can LOSE our security in Christ by NOT doing enough good
works, then it is our good deeds that we must trust in to earn our
salvation overall.
c.
And this is contradictory to Scripture.
d.
The doctrine of “eternal security” goes hand in hand with the doctrine of
“saved by faith alone.” To deny eternal security is to endorse a “faith
plus works” salvation system. And you are back under Catholicism!
2.
If “once saved, always saved” is not true… then it also creates an
un-livable scenario where we have to try to do enough good to outweigh
our sinful natures AFTER we have claimed to be born again, when we could
not do that BEFORE we were born again!
3.
If it is not true, then you can never really know that you ARE saved –
only hope for the best. What a waste of a religious life! Definitely NOT
the Christian life!
II.
Message
A.
The Impossibility of Saving Yourself!
1.
I know this generation doesn’t like thinking about sin, and absolutes, and
God, and heaven, and hell
a.
But, We are sinners – from birth (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23)
b.
There is
NONE righteous enough – no not one! (Romans 3:10)
c.
All our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6) – not talking about how bad our SINS are,
but how worthless our RIGHTEOUS efforts are!
d.
In simple words, we all have a nature that rebels against God, and fights
God, and breaks God’s laws, and sins against not only each other, but
against HIM – we forget that!
e.
We are ALL guilty of a lifetime of sin.
1)
There is no denying it
2)
There is NO way for any guilty criminal to pay off a lifetime of sins.
f.
And because of our sin, we live under the coming wrath of a righteous
Judge, who WILL judge us one day (Heb 9:27)
2.
I hope you believe that it is IMPOSSIBLE to pay off all your sins, and
make yourself good enough to enter God’s presence, by your own goodness!
3.
Because that would be a really silly thing to believe otherwise!
4.
That is why God, humbled Himself, and became a Man, and lived a perfect
life, as GOD in the flesh, so that HE, and He alone could save all who
come to Him by faith!
B.
The Work GOD did to Save You… and everyone in the world!
1.
He had to enter into our world – “the
Word [of God] became flesh and dwelt among us”…
a.
As a baby, without a sinning nature
b.
Grew up as a Man – slowly, painfully
2.
He Kept ALL of God’s Laws
a.
Faced all the temptations that you and I constantly face, and yet did not
sin
b.
Fulfilled the law for us (Mt 5:17).
c.
He ended the ability of the Law to condemn believers, by living it for
everyone that would believe on Him!
3.
He Suffered AS a Sinner – was punished for all sins of all time – ALL sins
of ALL time
a.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath
once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us
to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
b.
1Peter 2:24 Who his own self
bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
c.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21.
d.
NEVER ever became a sinner! But was judged as IF He had sinned all the
sins of all time!
4.
Died as a substitute Lamb. Perfectly innocent. Didn’t resist. Didn’t even
defend Himself!
a.
Heb 2:9 – the whole reason he came! To experience death for EVERY person!
5.
He died for sin ONCE – note this – no continuing sacrifice for sins – just
one perfect one
a.
Rom 6:10 “For in that he died, he died unto sin once”
b.
Heb 7:26,27 “…his he did once, when he offered up himself”
c.
Heb 9:12 “...by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
d.
Heb 9:26-28 “but now once... So Christ was once offered...”
e.
Heb 10:10 “we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.”
f.
Heb 10:26 “For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
g.
So… There was only ONE sacrifice for sins and no more. It HAD to be
enough!
6.
That means He Paid for absolutely every sin – all were future to Him
a.
TOOK AWAY OUR SINS (1John 3:5)
b.
Jesus is the propitiation for all sins (1John 2:2) – full payment
c.
Our sins ARE forgiven us (1John 2:12) – not WILL be!
d.
Completely forgiven (Col 2:13) – COMPLETELY!
1)
Not just forgiven, but completely paid for – atoned for – propitiation
2)
Jesus cleared our sin record in total!
e.
All by His blood (Col 1:14; 2:14)
f.
Paid for (Acts 20:28) – at no cost to the recipient. We were
the slaves of sin, but have been bought with a price
g.
You have been paid for (1Cor 6:19,20)
1)
You now are God's property.
NOT YOUR OWN ANYMORE!
2)
And, you are HIS responsibility - He WILL take good care of you! All the
way home!
7.
We have now been Made Righteous - Fully Justified (Acts 13:38,39) – made
right in God’s sight – to God, we look like we have never sinned!
a.
A believer IS righteous – forever.
b.
A believer has IMPUTED righteousness from the only Perfect Man who ever
lived!
c.
The Lord will now NOT impute sin to me – all my sin has been imputed to
Jesus Christ (Romans 4:7,8)
8.
We have been brought into the family of God
a.
A
believer is in a moment, instantly Born all over again – on the inside (John 3:7) – this time born of God, with ETERNAL life –
According to John 1:12, I am a son of God – I am in God’s family now!
b.
Salvation makes us Adopted (Rom 8:15) into God’s family
9.
We are forever KEPT
a.
Held onto, protected and preserved – by the power and ability of GOD
(1Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24)
b.
He SEALED us (Eph 4:30) – we are a packaged until we arrive in heaven –
unopenable!
10.
He Constantly intercedes for us (Heb 7:25) – keeps us
saved to the extreme!
11.
All because of GRACE, not works (Eph 2:8,9)
a.
We have NO boasting (Rom 3:27)
b.
All any of us did was just believe it!
C.
It’s All Finished! It is a finished work of God – nothing left to do…
FOREVER!
1.
Folks, there is no such thing as probationary salvation IN Christ – it is
a done deal. Period!
2.
We don’t HAVE to live righteously to attain righteousness – we already ARE
righteous now, since we are in the Righteousness of Christ!
3.
Jesus said in John 5:24, "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth
my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto
life." .
4.
Titus 3:5,6 “he saved us” PAST
TENSE
D.
The Work that Brought Us Salvation is the SAME that Keeps Us Saved!
1.
None of the above results of FAITH can be UNDONE by our failures to live
holy lives, nor by ANY sinful act, nor by ANY lack of faith later in
life! Because none of the above GIFTS were granted because of our
efforts or abilities!
2.
The Lord tells us in Hebrews 13:5 that He will NEVER leave us or forsake
us.
3.
Eternal Life is a PRESENT POSSESSION for the Christian.
If you've believed Jesus Christ died in your place, then you HAVE
eternal life.
4.
You cannot go to Hell now, even if you tried! I AM DEAD SERIOUS!
5.
Our life goal a Christians is to NOW live UNTO righteousness – that’s our
goal – not to get forgiveness anymore. (1Peter 2:24)
Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
E.
The Only Thing to do to BE Saved
1.
The only thing you must do to be saved is…
2.
Nothing.
3.
Just believe that Jesus died for you, in your place. He did it all!
4.
And then accept His life for yours as a gift!
5.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, ONCE for all time (Acts 16:30,31; John
6:27-29)
6.
LET Him save you today! Right now dear sinner!
F.
Salvation is settled – it depends only and completely on Jesus
1.
That means, Salvation isn't yours to lose.
a.
Your salvation is based entirely upon the FINISHED work of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
b.
HE lived a perfect life – not you
c.
He died – not you (thankfully)
d.
HE rose again victorious over sin and death
e.
He intercedes RIGHT NOW for all of us as our mediator
f.
Perfection is not expected anymore – you have been placed INTO perfection
(2Cor 5:17)
g.
You didn't earn salvation by any good work of your own, and you can't lose
salvation by any bad work of your own.
2.
It means, Jesus promises to KEEP us saved
a.
Jesus will finish what He started in us (Philp 1:6)
b.
Rom 8:38,39
c.
His work is perfect, so MY work doesn’t have to be! Isn’t that wonderful?!
3.
You're His son, or His daughter if you're saved, and that's the way it's
going to stay.
G.
The Only Thing to do to STAY Saved
1.
Is REST in His care, His abilities.
2.
YOU never were responsible for saving yourself
3.
And YOU are not now responsible for keeping yourself saved!
4.
So, rest in so great a gift as the forgiveness of your sins! (Isaiah
30:15) For thus saith the
Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be
saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye
would not [believe it].
III.
Next Week
A.
People in the Bible Who SHOULD Have Lost Their Salvation, but DIDN’T
B.
Expose Modern Confusion
1.
New doctrines are confusing
2.
Modern bibles are confusing
3.
Most religions are confusing
4.
Our own Pride is why people don’t mind being confused – as long as people
can honour THEIR efforts, they will believe anything!
C.
I’ll Show You What Actually Happens Then When We Sin
D.
And, I will Focus on the Judgment Seat of Christ, and God’s Treatment of
a Believer When They Sin
E.
This month’s subject is so important – don’t miss a minute of the
Bible’s teaching!
IV.
Conclusion
A.
We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment.
B.
Yet God did all the necessary work to give you eternal life
1.
He sent His only Son to take all our places under that judgment for those
who would just believe in Him.
2.
Jesus, and only Jesus lived a sinless life, loved us so much that He died
for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and
rose from the dead according to the Bible.
3.
A person who willingly, humbly, repents of the sinfulness of his or her
life, and believes in the perfect work of Jesus on the cross, that
person will be INSTANTLY saved from hell and spend eternity with God in
heaven (Acts 16:31; John 6:37; John 14:6).
C.
That salvation is once and for all, eternal, and secure. They have been
saved, and will remain saved always and forever!
D.
How does that sound to you? Sounds pretty good to ME!
E.
If “I” wasn’t saved, I certainly would get saved right now!
F.
Why not you? |
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