Matters of Faith and Salvation
Here are some articles and sermon outlines you may find interesting. Contact us for more information.
God’s Chain of Salvation
• GOD OUR SAVIOUR – (~1 Timothy 4:10~) ~Isaiah 12.2~ ~Romans 6:23~
• JESUS CHRIST SAVES – Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 5:8-9; I Timothy 1:15
• HOLY SPIRIT SAVES – I Corinthians 6:11; John. 14:26; 16:7-13
• SAVED BY GRACE – Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-12; Romans 3:24
• SAVED BY JESUS BLOOD – Romans 5:8-9; Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7
• SAVED BY JESUS NAME – Acts 4:12; 10:43; John 20:30-31
• SAVED BY THE GOSPEL – I Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 1:16; James 1:21
• SAVED BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD – Romans 10:14-17
• SAVED BY FAITH – Hebrews 11:6; Acts 16:31
• SAVED BY REPENTANCE – Luke 13:3; ~Acts 17:30~
• SAVED BY BAPTISM – Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 8:30-39; I Peter 3:21
Which of these links are non-essential to salvation?
One broken link ruins the chain!
No chain is stronger than its weakest link!
JESUS WILL COME AGAIN, BUT WILL YOU BE READY?
I. WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?
1. Same will doubt (2 Pet. 3:1-14)
2. “I will came again” (Jn. 14:1-4)
3. Jesus spoke of his coming. (Mt. 25:31-32)
4. “Coming in the clouds” (Mt. 26:64)
5. “….shall come in like manner (Ac. 1:11)
II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING:
1. To raise the dead. (Jn. 5:28-29)
2. To change the living. (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:50-58)
3. To judge all. (Mt. 25:31-32; 2 Tim. 4:1)
4. To reward the righteous. (Rev. 21:4-7)
5. To punish the disobedient. (2 Thess. 1:7-9; Mt. 25:46)
6. To destroy the universe. (2 Pet. 3:7-10)
III. THE TIME OF HIS COMING:
1. As sudden as the flood in Noah’s day. (Mt.24:36-39)
2. “As a thief in the night” (I Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10)
3. “watch and be ready!” (Mk.13:32-37)
NOTE: God has not revealed that day in order that man might observe all days to his glory.
What Is The Church Of Christ?
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
I. IT BELONGS TO CHRIST BECAUSE:
A. It was built by Christ himself——— Matt. 16:18; Psa. 127:1
B. He purchased it with his own blood————Acts 20:28.
C. He gave himself for it ——Eph. 5:25.
1. There is only ONE body ———Eph. 4:4
2. He is the head of the body———Col. 1:18.
D. He is the head of the church ———Eph. 1:22-23.
E. He is the Savior of the church ——— Eph. 5:23.
II. THE CHURCH IS CALLED:
A. The temple of God——I Cor. 3:16.
B The church of God.——I Cor. 1:2; Acts 20:27-28.
C. The house of God——— I Tim. 3:15.
D. The kingdom of God——Col. 1:13; Matt. 16:18-19; Rom. 14:17.
E. The church ———Eph. 3:10.
F. The church of the first born———Heb. 12:23.
G. The church of the Lord———Acts 20:28
H. The body of Christ———Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:24.
I. The bride of Christ—— Eph. 5:22-32.
J. The churches of Christ——Rom. 16:16.
III. THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE FIRST PENTECOST AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
A. The church/kingdom was to come with power——Mark 9:1.
B. The power was to come when the Holy Spirit came———Acts 1:8.
C. The Holy Spirit came on that Jewish feast day (Pentecost) ——Acts 2:1-4.
1. Therefore, the church was established on that day.
2. The Lord added the saved to it.———Acts 2:47.
IV. HOW DOES ONE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH?
A. First, one must be forgiven of their past sins.
1. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ——Heb. 11:6; Acts 16:31.
2. Repent (turn from) of your past sins——Acts 2:38; Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30.
3. Confess one’s faith in Christ——-Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10.
4. Be buried in baptism for the remission (doing away) of sins
——Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16; Rom. 6:3-4; I Pet. 3:21.
B. When the people in Acts two did these things, they were added to
the church by the Lord. —— Acts 2:47.
1. Notice in this verse that the Lord added them to the church, but they did
not join the church.
C. Baptism requires:
1. Water——Acts 8:36; Acts 10:47; (much water—John 3:23)
2. Going to water ——Acts 8:36; Mat. 3:5-6.
3. Going into the water ——Acts 8:38.
4. Buried——Rom. 6:4.
5. Planted—— Rom. 6:5.
6. Washed——Acts 22:16.
V. THOSE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH ARE:
A. Members——I Cor. 12:20, 27.
B. Disciples——Acts 6:1.
C. Saints——Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1.
D. The saved——Acts 2:47.
E. Priests—— I Per. 2:9; Rev. 1:6.
F. Children of God——I John 3:1-2.
G. Christians———Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28-29; I Pet 4:16.
VI. THE CHURCH IN WORSHIP:
(It is to be done in Spirit and in Truth John 4:24)
A. Christians should partake (eat) the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the
week. — Acts 20:7; I Cor. 10:16-17; I Cor. 11:20-30.
B. Christians should sing and make melody in their heart—Eph. 5:19; Col.
3:16.
C. Christians should be a praying people——Luke 18:1; I Thess. 5:17.
D. Christians should teach others the Gospel——Acts 2:42; Mat 28:19-20.
E. Christians should give of their means on the first Day of the week
according as they have been prospered—— I Cor, 16:1-2.
VII. THE CHURCH IS TO HAVE ELDERS IN EACH CONGREGATION.
A. Ordained of God that there should be elders in every church—Acts 14:23;
Titus 1:5.
1. However, these men must be qualified before being appointed
——I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-13.
2. Elders are to be overseers of the congregation——Acts 20:28.
3. They have the oversight——I Per. 5:2.
B. Deacons also work with the church——Acts 6:1-2; I Tim. 3:1; v. 8; Phil.
1:1.
VIII. THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH ARE SIMPLE:
A. The church is to teach the teachings of Christ ——Matt. 28:19-20
B. The church is to teach the Gospel of Christ——Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 1:16.
C. The church is to teach the Holy Scriptures——II Tim. 3:16-17.
D. The church realizes that they cannot change God’s commandments or
instructions— Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19.
IX. THE WORK OF THE CHURCH:
A. Preaching the Gospel——I Thess. 1:8; II Tim. 4:1-2.
B. Teaching the Gospel——II Tim. 2: 1-2; Eph. 3:10.
C. Visiting the sick——Matt. 25:34-40.
D. Feeding the hungry— Acts 6:1-5; James 1:27.
E. Caring for the fatherless and widows——Jas. 1:27.
F. Edifying one another——I Cor 14:15-27
X. THE CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL:
A. One must be in the church to be saved——II Tim. 2:10; I John 5:11.
B. The church is the body of Christ——Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.
C. Christ has only ONE body———Eph. 4:4; I Cor. 12:13, 20.
D. Christ is the Savior of the body, (which is the church)
——Eph. 5:23; Eph. 5:26-27.
E. The Lord adds the saved to the church (which is his body)
—Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22-23.
The Bible Versus The Religious World
The Religious world is in direct conflict with simple Bible passages. We have included a few topics where the Bible speaks concerning matters of salvation and yet denominations teach otherwise. Folks, here is the contrast:
BAPTISM
The Word of God says:
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16)
Denominations teach:
He that believes and is saved may be baptized if he chooses.
The Word of God says:
“Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38)
Denominations teach:
Repent and be baptized because your sins have already been forgiven.
The Word of God says:
“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” (John 3:5)
Denominations teach:
Baptism is not essential for salvation. This “birth of water” is natural childbirth.
The Word of God says:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
Denominations teach::
We were buried therefore with him by belief into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
The Word of God says:
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-5)
Denominations teach:
There are many baptisms and many bodies, and many faiths.
The Word of God says:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)
Denominations teach:
We are justified by faith only. We are saved by faith plus nothing.
The Word of God says:
“and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)
Denominations teach:
Baptism is a work of Man.
The Word of God says:
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
Denominations teach:
Baptism does not put us into Christ….belief alone does.
The Word of God says:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Denominations teach:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, telling them to pray for me to come into their life, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
The Word of God says:
“And as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said,
“See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If
you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And
both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now
when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so
that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:36-39)
Denominations teach:
Baptism is required, but not in water, for baptism is in “Spirit”. If water is used, sprinkling or pouring is ok and the candidate for baptism need not believe (such as with infants).
The Word of God says:
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling
on his name.” (Acts 22:16)
Denominations teach:
Paul had been praying and fasting for three days at this point, and called Jesus
“Lord”, so he was already saved. Baptism had nothing to do with having his sins
washed away, it was the sinners prayer alone that saved him.