Transcript 7 Myths About Salvation - 3

Examining and reproving these myths in light of God’s word
The Need for Authority…
• Many try to enter by the broad way!
– Matthew 7:13–14 -13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide
is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction,
and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and
there are few who find it.
The Need for Authority…
• The doctrines of men have turned people away
from God since the days of Isaiah!
– Matthew 15:8–9 -8 “‘These people draw near to Me with
their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart
is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
The Need for Authority…
• Many are not diligent with their convictions!
– 2 Timothy 2:15 -15 Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A Simple Challenge!
Acts 17:11
These were more fair-minded than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find
out whether these things were so.
#3
“I am Saved by Grace Alone”
The Position
“What the Scriptures say about Sola Gratia: Simply stated,
if the Scriptures are clear that men and women are sinful
by nature and cannot do anything to save themselves or
even prepare themselves to be saved, the Scriptures are
equally clear that it is God who saves by grace alone
through faith alone on account of Christ alone. This means
that it is God who acts first, upon the sinner, while the
sinner is dead in sin. For as we have seen, the sinner is
enslaved to the sinful nature and its passions, and will not
come to God, as Paul declares. But the good news is that
while sinners do not seek God, God seeks sinners. And this
is what we mean by the phrase, grace alone.”
(Grace Alone: An Evangelical Problem? By Kim Riddlebarger,
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/gracealone.html)
The Position
“The hallmark and glory of Protestant theology is its
commitment to sola gratia, or the assertion that we are
saved by grace alone. This is not limited to those who are
Reformed in their theology but also to those who are
Arminian in their theology. No true evangelical Christian
will claim that their salvation did “not” come to them
entirely by the grace of God alone. However, many who
support the Arminian position will also come dangerously
close to the heresy taught by the Roman Catholic Church
and others in that the grace of God “must” be coupled
with something that “I” do in order for me to be saved.”
(What is Sola Gratia? By Sam Hughey,
http://www.reformedreader.org/sola_gratia.htm)
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” then what about faith?
– Ephesians 2:8–9 -8 For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” then what about faith?
– Romans 3:21–26 -21 But now the righteousness of God apart from
the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to
all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom
God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to
demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God
had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to
demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might
be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” why then are not
all men saved?
– Titus 2:11–15 -11 For the grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the
blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might
redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His
own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these
things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one
despise you.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” why then are not
all men saved?
– 1 Timothy 2:3–4 -3 For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
– Acts 13:46 -46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It
was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you
first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy
of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” why then are not
all men saved?
– Romans 10:14–17 -14 How then shall they call on Him in
whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they
are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those
who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of
good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For
Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17 So then
faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” why then are not
all men saved?
– 1 Peter 4:17 -17 For the time has come for judgment to begin
at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be
the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
– 2 Thessalonians 1:8 -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.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” then why did Paul and
Silas answer the Philippian Jailor the way they did?
– Acts 16:30–34 -30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your
household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him
and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the
same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And
immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now
when he had brought them into his house, he set food before
them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his
household.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” then why did Paul and
Silas answer the Philippian Jailor the way they did?
– Romans 6:4–6 -4 Therefore we were buried with Him
through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united
together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall
be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that
our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin
might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves
of sin.
General Reproofs
• If we are saved by “grace alone,” how is it that man can
fall from grace and need restoration with the help of
other men reproving them and turning them away from
the error of their way?
– Galatians 5:4 -4 You have become estranged from Christ, you
who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from
grace.
– James 5:19–20 -19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders
from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him
know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way
will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Case Studies
• Noah…
– Genesis 6:8 -8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the
LORD.
– Hebrews 11:7 -7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of
things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an
ark for the saving of his household, by which he
condemned the world and became heir of the
righteousness which is according to faith.
Case Studies
• Noah…
– 1 Peter 3:18–22 -18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just
for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He
went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were
disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the
days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few,
that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also
an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who
has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and
authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Case Studies
• Abraham…
– Romans 4:1–4 -1 What then shall we say that Abraham our
father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham
was justified by works, he has something to boast about,
but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are
not counted as grace but as debt.
Case Studies
• Abraham…
– Hebrews 11:8–9, 17-19 -8 By faith Abraham obeyed when
he was called to go out to the place which he would
receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing
where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of
promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac
and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise . . . . 17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed
shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead, from which he also received
him in a figurative sense.
Case Studies
• Abraham…
– Romans 11:1–6 -1 I say then, has God cast away His people?
Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people
whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says
of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “LORD,
they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I
alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the
divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven
thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so
then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the
election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works;
otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no
longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Case Studies
• The Apostle Paul…
– 2 Timothy 1:8–12 -8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me
in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior
Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was
appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am
not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him
until that Day.
Case Studies
• The Apostle Paul…
– Acts 9:6 -6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord,
what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him,
“Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you
must do.”
– Acts 22:16 -16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name
of the Lord.’
– Philippians 2:12–13 -12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have
always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both
to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Case Studies
• The Apostles and the First Gentile Converts…
– Acts 15:6–11 -6 Now the apostles and elders came together to
consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute,
Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know
that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth
the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8
So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving
them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no
distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the
neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able
to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Case Studies
• The Apostles and the First Gentile Converts…
– Acts 2:38–47 -38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let
every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your
children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord
our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he
testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this
perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received
his word were baptized; and that day about three
thousand souls were added to them. . . . 47b And the Lord
added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Case Studies
• The Apostles and the First Gentile Converts…
– Acts 10:44–48 -44 While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the
word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift
of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles
also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and
magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid
water, that these should not be baptized who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Luke 17:10
“So likewise you, when you have done all
those things which you are commanded,
say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We
have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
Hebrews 5:8-9
8
“
… though He was a Son, yet He
learned obedience by the things
which He suffered. 9 And having been
perfected, He became the author of
eternal salvation to all who obey
Him…”