The Power That Saves Us

1 Cor 15:1-4

A Response to Our Ads

• A coalition of 11 local churches answered one of our ads from April • It has run 4 times, will run 2 more • Several points of agreement, of which they seem to be unaware • Several points of disagreement • One troubling misquote

Points of Agreement not stated

• The full, verbal, inerrant inspiration of the Bible • A commitment to righteous living without compromise with the world’s values • The deity and authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Agreement expressly stated

• Salvation is by grace.

• Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away sin.

• The church is undenominational.

“The ‘kind’ of church CHRIST has in mind makes no reference to any one local congregation, external organization, or religious denomination on earth.”

Points of Disagreement

• When the gospel saves us • Whether obedience is required to receive grace.

• Whether repentance and baptism are works of merit.

• Whether the “Sinner’s Prayer” has the same authority as Scripture

A troubling misquote

• Commentator Matthew Henry is misquoted and misrepresented on Acts 22:16.

• The words “(not our baptism)” are added to his comments.

• Henry supports neither their position nor ours.

• This was unintentional on their part, but 2 uncorrected reprints have occurred since they were made aware of it.

• They plan to correct, but not to retract.

The Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:1 - 4

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, the Scriptures, 4 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to and that He was buried,

The Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of Christ

The Power of God For Salvation

Romans 1:16-17

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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

The Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of Christ The Power of God For Salvation

More Than Just a Story To Believe

Romans 10:9-16

… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…. 13 For

“whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? ….

Revelation 14:6 - 7

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 9

… when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

The Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of Christ The Power of God For Salvation More Than Just a Story To Believe

When We Are Baptized

Mark 16:15 - 16

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 8

12 But when they believed Philip as he

preached the things concerning the

kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, water. What hinders me from being baptized?” here is

Acts 22:16

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Baptism is essential to: belief obedience calling on the name of the Lord

The Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of Christ The Power of God For Salvation More Than Just a Story To Believe When We Are Baptized

Not Revealed to the OT Saints

Romans 16:25-26

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Ephesians 3:3 - 5

how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, Christ),

5

4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of

which in other ages was not made known to the sons of

men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

1 Peter 1:10-12

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully… Christ….

12 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of 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….

Repentance from Sin is Required for Salvation

From ad in Herald-Banner Sun 6/22/07: “True repentance concerning salvation occurs whenever a person ‘changes his mind’ (i.e., repents) concerning who he is…. “The mistake Judas made is in ‘turning from his sin’ (i.e., what he had done to an innocent man) instead of ‘changing his mind’ about his sinfulness (i.e., the fact that he was a sinner in need of a Savior).”

Acts 26:20

…but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

• Repentance required that unbelievers change their ways.

2 Timothy 2:25 - 26

…in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, will. 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his • Repentance is something you do, not merely something you decide.

More next week…

• True meaning of salvation by grace, not works.

• The role of baptism in salvation.