- The Old Testament is a dictionary for the New Testament.
- The New Testament is the Old Testament contained, an Old Testament is the New Testament explained.
- There are many opinions among men and their opinions are always changed, but God’s opinion never changes.
God looks at men differently than man does
I Sam. 16:7 “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”
- God looks at man’s heart.
- We can only see the outside, but God sees the inside.
The ways of God are far superior than the ways of man
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord….”
- When looking at the Word of God, we must look at it the way God does – not man.
- Man attempts to change the Word to fit what he wants to believe.
*God has divided the world up into two basic divisions:
a. No relationship, “lost”
b. Relationship, “saved”
God’s “Righteousness”
Roman 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe….”
- Is available to everyone (“unto all”).
- But it’s the actual possession “upon all” of only those who believe.
God credits His death on the cross to everyone who believes in Christ
Roman 4:1-6 “…Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness”
- Abraham and David received the same righteousness that God offers to mankind today.
- They looked forward to the cross, we look back.
- It’s the belief in the Lord Jesus Christ that saves men.
Once a person comes in faith to Jesus Christ, they’re given “eternal life”
John 5:24 “…..he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life”
- God promises everlasting life to those that hear the Word and believe the Word of God.
- Once God brings a person from “no relationship” to “relationship” (salvation) there is no going back.
- Once a person is saved, they’re saved forever. (assurance of salvation or once saved always saved!)
- Jesus called this life – eternal life.
*Contrary to what is taught in many churches, there is no work a person can do to obtain
salvation.
No works
Eph. 2:8-9 “…..Not of works lest any man should boast”
- Salvation comes by God’s grace, through faith.
No works
Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done”
- A work is something that I do to obtain something.
No works
Isaiah 64:6 “….all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags….”
- Whatever I might try to do to obtain salvation, no matter how good in man’s eyes it is, but in God’s eyes it’s as filthy rags.
- God says just believe. It’s that simple.
*Churches sometimes tend to imply that living better and faithfully performing religious
activity will somehow result in salvation; but God flatly says it will not work.
*It’s what God says, and not what man says, that really matters.
*The world and even various religious groups who call themselves “Christians” insist on a
variety of fine acts of conduct to be saved. Some insist on baptism. Others insist on a
faithful output of good deeds. Many say membership in their church is essential to
salvation and others say you haven’t received salvation if you have not “spoken in an
unknown tongue”. Most people and religious groups would say that you just won’t make it
to heaven if you haven’t lived a good life.
BUT GOD, THROUGH HIS WORD, TELLS US
THAT SALVATION HAPPENS ONLY ONE WAY…HIS WAY. GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION, NOT MAN’S.
The question must be asked…..
Acts 16:25-31 “….Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”
- Paul and Silas were in jail singing and praying.
- The jailer had been listening to them. Then after the earthquake he asked a question.
- “What must I do to be saved?” The answer, BELIEVE.
- No baptism, no church membership, nothing but belief.
He that heareth and believeth shall be saved
John 5:24 “…he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life..”
- Hear the Word of God.
- Believe in Him and instantly a person receives everlasting life.
- What does everlasting life mean?
- Exactly what it says, FOREVER.
- After a person receives everlasting life, they can no longer come into condemnation.
- Condemnation does not mean that they will no longer sin. God saves a man’s soul. That soul becomes perfect, but the flesh still sins.
Whosoever believeth shall not perish
John 3:15-18 “Whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life….”
- Belief in Jesus Christ is what saves a person.
- Again, everlasting life. God promises everlasting life to ALL who believe in Him.
- A person who does not believe in Christ is on the road to Hell.
With the heart man believeth
Roman 10:10 “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness….”
- The type of belief that saves man is the belief that can only come from the heart.
- The only way the heart can believe is through faith.
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom…..
John 3:1-14 “….ye must be born again”
- Christ compares the physical birth with the spiritual birth.
- Just as a man must be born of the woman, he must also be born of the spirit in order to enter into heaven.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God
I John 5:1
- There can be no doubt that the new birth occurs at the point of faith.
*God is using family imagery in the Bible to illustrate spiritual truth.
*As it takes a physical birth to gain entrance into a physical family, it takes a spiritual birth to
gain entrance into the spiritual family of God.
*Just as a person cannot remove themselves from their physical family, they cannot remove
themselves from the spiritual family of God.
He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life
John 3:36
- “Hath” is old English for “Has”. That means right now, present time a person receives everlasting life.
- The body still is mortal, but the spirit has everlasting life.
- This verifies the fact that a person can know if he/she is saved.
That ye may know that ye have eternal life
I John 5:11-13
- A person can know that they have eternal life.
- We don’t have to go through life wondering or hoping. We can know.
- How do we know? By that which is written in the Bible.
