John chapter 10 28, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish
Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. The title of the sermon tonight is they shall never
Perish they shall never perish. It's my third sermon my third and final sermon on salvation
Okay, my third and final sermon on salvation. I don't want to spend time on any more sermons on salvation moving forward from this
Okay, but there are three main things you need to cover in this day and age when you're preaching on the gospel
Even though we know the simplicity of the gospel
We know that Jesus Christ paid it all and that it's by grace through faith and not of works
Yet I still have to spend three sermons on that right the first sermon just
Explaining why it's by faith why it's on the shed blood of Jesus Christ
The second sermon dealing with the topic of repentance and the false teaching that's out there that tries to add works
Behind the scenes to salvation and now we need to cover the topic of eternal security
They shall never perish once you are saved. You are always saved. You never need to doubt about it
You don't need to doubt and say God, maybe you've taken away my salvation Oh God, you know
Maybe I'm still on my way to hell. No, if you place your faith on Christ, you can be assured of this
This is a promise that Jesus gives us there in verse 28 and I give unto them eternal life
Guys it's eternal life given by Jesus Christ and they shall never perish
I mean the fact that it's eternal life already means you can never perish but it's like Jesus has to repeat it
They're just to clarify a little bit more
They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand
So when we're saved we're held by the hand of who the hand of Jesus Christ
Your salvation is not dependent upon you hold it on but being held by Jesus Christ look at verse 29
my father which gave of them me is greater than all and
No, man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand
So you're eternally secure in the hand of Jesus Christ and then above that hand the one that's greater than all
The father you're safe and secure in his hand as well
I mean, even if you had the fear that Jesus might let go of me
Hey, the father still hold on to you
Okay, both Jesus Christ and the father is holding on to you what salvation is received. It cannot be lost
I mean, this is the great promise
This gives us great now the burden just rolls off our back knowing that we're eternally secure on our way to heaven
It's going to make you more bold as a believer
Okay, if you still have doubts you're going to be limited in how you can serve the Lord
You're going to be limited in your confidence in this salvation that God has given us
So the first thing I want to do as we go through this topic is just give you how many reasons do I have here?
I think it's eight reasons. I want to give you eight reasons why you cannot lose your salvation eight reasons
Okay, and obviously the first one very clearly as we saw in that that passage right there is that especially verse 29?
Okay, and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand
Okay
Now one of the things that I often hear when I go through solely and I bring up this topic of eternal security
They'll say yeah. Okay. God will not let go of you, but you can let go of God
Okay, you can let go of God. But what did verse 29 just tell us?
You know, we don't need to get too complex in this. We just have to believe the Bible by faith
Once we're in the father's hand it says no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand now that includes you
Unless you're God
Okay, obviously you we have put your faith in Christ
You are but a man and it says that no man is able to pluck them out of the father's hand that includes you
Okay, so even if you were lacking in faith, you know, you were backslidden you got out of church, you know
You stopped reading the Bible all these kind of things once you're in the father's hand
There is no man that can take you out of that hand including yourself
Okay, look if you think you can be removed out of Jesus hand in the father's hand
You're essentially saying you're more powerful than God himself
Right your grip your your release is greater and more powerful than God himself
And such it's such a ridiculous thing to think that you can be taken out of the hand of God by your own strength
Knowing full well that you're being held by Jesus Christ and by the Heavenly Father
So reason number one guys is that no man can pluck you out of out of God's hands
No, man can pluck you out of Jesus hand. No man can pluck you out of the father's hand
Now, please turn to John 3 16 John 3 16
Okay, John 3 16
Actually, John 3 15 John 3 15. Okay. Let's have a look at these two verses
John 3 15
The Bible reads that whosoever
Believest in him should not perish
Okay, but have what have eternal life. Okay, you see that word?
Eternal life if you've put your faith on Christ you've believed on him you have eternal life
Verse 16 forgot to love the world that he gave his only begotten Son
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have
Everlasting life ever last in life. What's verse 15 eternal life? What's verse 16?
Everlasting life God is telling us in two different ways how we can it's called eternal life
It's called everlasting life for a reason and those two words actually have slightly different ways of explaining eternity
I mean think about everlasting, you know, I guess if you get you know, those that are experienced all to those soul winners
Usually when we get to John's freedom, that's what I do. Anyway, when I get to John 3 16
I asked them what does it mean to have everlasting life? How long is everlasting?
How they no one respond it's forever, right? It lasts because it's basically in that word it lasts forever
Okay, it lasts forever
But what does he tell me
Is it just a synonymous word sort of they are very similar, but eternal means it never ends
Okay, eternal means it never ends. Okay, so everlasting life is this idea, you know
You're sort of at one point looking forward it lasts forever
But then eternal is coming from the other point saying well, he never ends either it never ends and it lasts forever
God wants us to understand this life that he gives us is eternal and everlasting
It's called everlasting for a reason
Okay, and one thing that I've started to employ in how I go daughter the song in, you know
When people give you the answer, yes, my faith on Jesus Christ alone, and then you ask them
Hey, can you ever lose your salvation and they say yes, and I often ask more how and they'll probably say something like well
You know, you stop believing or if you you know, you you go into a life of sin whatever that means
Whatever one of those reasons are I'll often just ask them. Look. Do you believe you have eternal life?
Do you believe you have everlasting life? They'll often say yes, and then you just ask them that question
Well, how long is everlasting and then they'll say forever then hold on if you have a nice life
How could you possibly lose it? It's called everlasting for a reason. I've got eternal for a reason
And
I'll just I'll just give you a little story
So obviously, you know our church up there on Sunshine Coast, you know does weekly daughter little song winning
Well, there's a pastor that I respect
He's writing the gospel up there
But when he found out that we also not only do we teach that's how it is by grace for faith
That we also tell them that they're eternally secure
Kind of laughed at that and said well, why are you teaching that at the door?
Why are you teaching eternal security at the door? That's adoption they can learn later. That's adoption. They can learn in the church
And what blew my mind is
And look this guy's running the gospel
But what blew my mind was like well if you're not telling them that you're eternally secure
What gospel are you preaching? I mean if anybody gets to John 3 16
And I look I've seen many people many plans of salvation
They all include John 3 16 if you don't read everlasting life. What are you telling them at the door?
What are you offering them at the door? Okay of salvation. Well, how long is salvation?
It's eternal, you know eternal life is part of the gospel
You can't just put that away at some other time
Because it's eternal life that gives somebody the security to know that they are forever in the Lord Jesus Christ
That I can never lose a salvation there if they're on their way to heaven have that security and that boldness in Jesus Christ
Let's look at reason number three, I'll get you guys to turn to Hebrews chapter 9, please Hebrews chapter 9
Hebrews chapter 9 verse 26
The reason you can never lose your salvation reason number three the reason why you have eternal life is
Because Jesus died for all your sins
Guys, he died for your past sins. He's died for your present sins
Yes, the sins you've committed today and he's died for your future sins the sins that are yet to come
Okay, and you will have future sins
Now one teaching that's out there guys, is that our salvation
Yes, they believe it's by grace through faith. But the idea is when I received Christ
That's the moment that all my past sins have been forgiven
But now that I'm saved I need to make sure I live a clean and holy life
You know to take care of my future sins
That's the kind of ideas that some people have that is that the moment I believe on Jesus is the moment my past sins are
Forgiven but my future sins. I've got to take care of them. I've got to turn from them
I've got to overcome them and I don't know if you've ever heard this statement from some people where they say what maybe it's better
To believe on Jesus Christ at my deathbed
Maybe it's better just just about my last breath before I die to place my faith in Jesus
Because then I know all my past sins are forgiven and then hopefully I just die before I commit a future sin
All right, because they know they can't control their sin nature. I
Mean that that's just obviously ridiculous
Someone that's holding back from trusting in Christ to the deathbed aren't going to believe in Jesus Christ at the end, right?
I mean to be rejected in Jesus Christ their entire life and then think they're going to believe in Jesus at the deathbed
It's not going to happen. Right? Jesus Christ died for all our sins. Look at Hebrews 9 26 Hebrews 9 26
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world
But now once in the end of the world have he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself
Yes
2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ came to this earth was crucified and paid for our sins
But did you know according to the Bible it says that payment was from the foundation of the world
It was from the very beginning
The effect of his shed blood
Goes all the way back to Adam and Eve and all the way to the to the last person that's ever lived
Jesus Christ's sacrifice is not this one time period but it is for all time since the foundation of the world
Now you and I might not fully understand that I don't fully understand it
How can Jesus Christ have come 2,000 years ago and yet his sacrifice was in effect since the foundation of the world?
I don't fully understand that but obviously, you know, Jesus Christ being God being eternal our being he can do that
You know that his blood was available to Adam and Eve right from the beginning, right?
And of course you need to understand then those Old Testament Saints would sacrifice animals
It was just picturing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ the blood of goats and bulls could never take away sin
Okay, but it was that object lesson teaching them of Jesus Christ that he would come the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world
Please turn to the next chapter there Hebrews 10 14
Hebrews 10 14 Hebrews 10 14
The Bible reads for by one offering he have perfected forever
Them that are sanctified you say that
For by one offering that one offering of himself on the cross he have perfected forever
Them that are sanctified look all your sins are covered
Okay, your sins we pay for once you place your faith on Jesus forever. You'll be forever sanctified
Okay, because when you're saved you have that new man in you you have that new spirit
Which is perfect without sin without a sin nature in Christ Jesus
Okay, and that man is perfected forever, yes, we have the flesh, you know, we have this flesh
We have the sin nature in us, but that new man is always there that new man is sinless
Okay, and has been made righteous before in Christ
Let me give you a reason number four guys, I should actually told you this keep a finger in John 3
Please go back to John 3
John 3
John 3 6 guys
John 3 chapter 6 John 3 John chapter 3 verse 6
John 3 verse 6 guys look at this
That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
Marvel not that I said unto thee ye must be born again
What's the fourth reason that you're saved forever is that you were a born child of God
Once you have placed your faith on him
You've been born again being born of God and the father is now your Heavenly Father
You become a child of God
Right, but as many as received him to them gave me power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name
If you placed your faith on Jesus Christ
That makes you a child of God that makes you born into his family
Guys, and you know, we have some children here today, you know parents. They've been born into your family
Now if they grow up and become rebellious teenagers, they want to leave the house
Let's say I mean, let's say they're just horrible kids, right? They say mom and dad. I want nothing to do with you
I'm out of this house and you may not see them for 10 years 15 years 20 years
Does that mean they're not your child
No, they're your child, right? It doesn't matter if they're a rebellious son
Okay
Now hopefully while doing that in your house as a rebellious child they get chastised
They get disciplined right and God himself as your Heavenly Father will chastise you he will discipline you
But no how no matter how far you go away from the Lord no matter how backslidden you are
No matter how disinterested you are in the things of God
You are still a born child of God
Just like a little child cannot be unborn out of his family
Once you're saved you cannot be unborn out of God's family. You're his forever
You're a child of God forever and no children of God will ever be damned to help
Okay, you're going to receive the inheritance through Jesus Christ. That's reason number four that you were a born child of God
Now I want you to turn here let me have a look
Actually, I will get you to turn here, please turn to Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 Philippians chapter 1 verse 6
Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. Let me give you the fifth reason
Why you will never perish the fifth reason?
Philippians 1 verse 6
The Bible reads being confident of this very thing
So be confident about this, right
He says I want you to be confident about this very thing that he which has begun a good work in you
Will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
Okay, Jesus Christ has begun a work in you. You've been saved been born again. You have the Holy Ghost
Indwelling in you. Okay. Now he's going to continue working in your life
Okay, even if you're a rebellious child of God the Holy Ghost will be working in you
Okay, now how does that all come to be? I don't fully understand that right, but there will be some element of growth in your life
Now you might not grow as much as others that are serving the Lord faithfully
But the Holy Ghost here is going to be working in your life. Jesus Christ will be working. It says when?
until the day of Jesus Christ
Now if you know about the end times if you know that day of Jesus Christ is it's the day of the rapture
It's the day of the resurrection the resurrection being when you get your resurrected bodies
Okay. Now when you receive those resurrected bodies, remember those bodies are sinless. They're without a sin nature
They're perfect. Okay, they're immortal. They cannot die
And so if the promise here is that Jesus Christ will begin the work
Until that day of the rapture when you have those resurrected bodies
That means you cannot lose your salvation because you go to sin the new body and that body will never sin
That body is perfect without error
Okay, that resurrected body will be just like the body of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ
Okay
Now let me give you the sixth reason the sixth reason and this is a very basic reason
It's I'm not going to go too much in depth of this because we have covered this in our second sermon
But obviously the reason number six is that salvation is not of works
Okay, your salvation is not of works and quite often when you knock on someone's door and they tell you they can lose their
Salvation and you ask them, you know, how can you lose your salvation?
Don't be saying something along the lines of hey, you know, you're not living a whole enough life
You're not keeping the commandments of God or you know
You lose interest in the things of God and that's how they think you can lose your salvation
Okay, in other words, they're trusting in their works
They're trusting in Jesus Christ plus their performance to be assured of heaven
Okay, but we know, you know Ephesians 2 8 and 9 for by grace are you saved through faith and that not yourselves
It is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast
Okay, so if salvation is not of works
Then your lack of works is not going to get you unsaved
Right, your lack of works is not going to get you unsaved because your works never got you saved in the first place
Okay reason number six is that salvation is not of works
Okay, and look
No amount of good works was enough to get you saved
Which means not enough of bad works to get you unsaved because it's not based on your performance
Not basing your performance at all. And by the way, sin is contained in this sinful flesh
Okay, as sin is contained in this flesh not in that you man that Jesus Christ has given us
And we'll look at that very shortly
But reason number seven, let me give you reason number seven
Is that the new man the man that's born again that child of God is perfect and cannot sin
Reason number seven is that the new man is perfect and cannot sin. Okay
Now, let me just quickly give you a I know I've covered this before but let me just quickly cover this again
First Corinthians 15 verse 50 says now this I say brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God
Flesh and blood. So this flesh that you're in you're not going to go to heaven in this place that you're in
Okay, this flesh is sinful. It cannot take the kingdom of God
And so that's why God had to give us that new man
And that's why God promises us that new resurrected body so we can be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever. I
Will just quickly read to you
Actually, I'll get to turn there first John chapter 3 turn to first John chapter 3 if you got your Bible first John chapter 3
verse 9
First John chapter 3 verse 9
The new man is perfect and cannot sing guys first John chapter 3 verse 9 the Bible reads
Who saw that is born of God doth not commit sin
So, let me just ask you guys do you commit sin
You probably do there's a hand. Okay. We've got some admitting to it we do
But it says there that we don't commit sin
But it says who survey is born of God the new man. Okay, the spiritual man in you
Cannot does not commit sin for his seed
Remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God that new man in you guys is perfect
Even when this flesh sins that new man remains perfect and pure
okay, and so if this new man inside of me the one that God has created the one I was born of God one of
The spirit if that new man is perfect and cannot sin
Then it cannot lose its salvation cannot because it goes to heaven perfect in the righteousness of Jesus Christ
It goes to heaven in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and I've said this to you before
This when you sin it's in this flesh
Okay, it's in this flesh. I'm not giving you an excuse to sin. I'm not saying it's okay to sin
I'm just saying to you when you sit in this sinful flesh and this sinful flesh was not going to heaven anyway
Okay, but you know what was going to it's going to heaven the new man when this body dies
The soul will leave the body and will be forever with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven
Because it's perfect in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Okay born of God just for his seed remaineth in him
There is a part of you that is the seed of God and the seed of God obviously God cannot sin and is perfect
Now, let me give you the eighth reason for this the eighth reason that you cannot lose your salvation
And I'll get to turn to this one as well second Timothy second Timothy chapter 2 verse 13
second Timothy chapter 2 verse 13 and this one might be a bit of a controversial one, but let me give you some
Expands a little bit
Second Timothy chapter 2
verse 13
The reason the eighth reason why you cannot lose your salvation is because God cannot deny himself
God cannot deny himself
The Bible reads that if we believe not
Yet he abideth faithful. He cannot deny himself
Listen, you can deny God
You can get to a point where you have doubts about God that you get to a point where you even disbelieve
You no longer believe what you've been reading the Bible, but if you've been truly
Saved the Bible says that God cannot deny himself
Because when you're truly saved you have the Holy Ghost in dwelling in you you have God himself
In dwelling you as that temple of the living God and he cannot deny himself
That's what keeps you perfect because you're in Christ Jesus
Okay, the father cannot deny his son
His son lived a perfect life, you know paid for the sins of the whole world
So even if you deny the Lord the Lord cannot deny himself meaning that you're secure and safe forever
Okay
now
One of the things that comes up with this is if you look at the verse if we believe not
And think about who's writing this it's obviously the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy
Who's a pastor church pastor?
So you've got an apostle and a church pastor and it says if we who's the we?
Paul and Timothy right saved believers people, you know leadership position
He says if we believe not yet here by the faithful the question becomes can I believe ah
Can someone that's saved actually stop believing in Jesus Christ I get to a point where you know
They want nothing to do the Word of God. Is that possible?
Well, if we take this verse at face value, it's possible
But and this is where it gets controversial a little bit
Let me explain a couple of things to you. Okay
Now if you meet someone that says oh, I used to believe the gospel
But now I no longer believe I no longer believe now
There's two options here. This was one of two things
number one
And I think this is probably gonna be the most likely case number one
They didn't believe and they just weren't they weren't saved to begin with, you know
Some of that says look I used to believe by now
I no longer believe they probably won't even weren't even safe in the first place
Because when you understand the gospel when you understand that it's not based on you on your performance and it's based on Christ alone
And you have that assurance of salvation
It would take a really corrupted mind to get to a point where you're like, you know what this is rubbish
You know, what once you appreciate and understand what Jesus Christ has done for you
Okay, they probably weren't safe in the first place but that's not always the case
Okay
because there are people that I know of in my life that have believed the gospel that could have quoted it to you word for
word and are now like at a church not interested anymore kind of thing now I'm
Expecting these people and don't tell me I don't believe anymore or something along those lines. Okay
Now again, could it be that they won't say I guess it's possible
Okay, but you know how it is obviously if you're saying you're safe forever
Okay, and even if you stopped believing you would still be saved
Okay now
Let me think about a few people in the Bible that we know of
Think of who's the greatest man that's ever lived according to Jesus Christ
It was John the Baptist right John the Baptist and if you remember the story when he was taken into
When he was arrested and taken into prison
He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was actually the one to come
You know, John the Baptist was the one who proclaimed the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
John the Baptist was the one that heard the voice of heaven say this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased
He saw the Holy Ghost he sent of Jesus Christ as a dove, you know bodily as a dove
John the Baptist witnessed some amazing things right and yet when he was arrested
He started to doubt a little bit right because he was going through persecution. He was going through difficulties
You know, he wasn't sure if he was going to live or die in prison
And so the doubts came right and when you start doubting it's because you start, you know
You're no longer 100% sure
You're no longer 100% confident
They came some disbelief in the life of John the Baptist for a period of time about Jesus Christ
So yes, it's possible to start to lose some faith
Does that mean he lost his salvation or does that mean he was never saved? No, he was always saved
Now think of the Apostle Peter
remember when Jesus Christ was arrested and Peter came following Jesus Christ to see what would happen to him and
Three times he was pointed out as being one of the followers of Jesus
Right and they would ask him, you know three different people asked him. Hey, you're one of those Galileans
Hey, you're one of the the disciples of Jesus and what did he do? He denied Jesus Christ
Three times denied him denied him denied him was Peter unsaved
No, he was saved right, but he was telling everybody else. I don't even know this man. I don't even believe in this man
I don't know. I don't know who that is. You've got me confused with someone else
But then when the Lord Jesus Christ looked at Peter he wept remember when the cock threw he got down and he wept
Okay. So here's what I think can happen to a believer
A believer can have doubts as we saw with John the Baptist a believer can even
Lie to others and say I don't even know I don't even know this man. I don't even believe in him. Okay, but
They're lying to themselves
Because a saved man has that new man in them
Okay has the Holy Ghost in dwelling in them, you know, that's telling them that they're saved
That's telling them that the Word of God is true and that they're in Jesus Christ
And you know, who knows maybe if we go through some difficulties obviously a apostle Peter was was afraid
Not knowing what's gonna happen to Jesus afraid that he might be arrested and that put his faith on trial
And he failed three times. He failed three times denied the Lord Jesus Christ, but he was still saved but it's inside
He knew the truth. He knew that he believed in Jesus Christ. Okay, so
That's where the controversy is if someone says, you know, I don't believe anymore
Yes, it's possible that they were never safe to begin with
But it's also possible that there they are a true believer and they're just lying to themselves
Okay, they're lying to themselves about the truth that's in their hearts about Jesus Christ
Okay. Now those are the eight reasons why you cannot lose your salvation if you guys have some other reasons
Let me know after the service. Okay, but let me just get into some other things
Let me get onto some reasons people use to teach that you can lose your salvation
So I'll get you to turn to the book of Matthew, please Matthew 24 verse 13
Matthew 24
Verse 13
And this one gets brought up a lot especially door-to-door
Verse 13 it says here, but he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved
so
Those they see look the people that get saved and those that endure to the end
You've got to remain faithful. You've got to remain serving Christ
You've got to remain, you know going to church and reading your Bible and living for Jesus
Whatever that means, you know, they'll say these things and say see you're going to endure
To be saved. Okay, then let's have a look at this
The first thing I want you to understand about the word saved in the Bible is that saved is not always about your soul
salvation
Okay. Now I
Don't know like if someone's drowning and someone pulls them out of the water
Wouldn't we say that they were saved we would say the same, right?
So when you read the word saved or salvation the Bible don't automatically think it's about the soul salvation
It's not always the case look at let's look at our four verses back to verse number nine Matthew 24 verse 9
Matthew 24 verse 9. It says look at this then shall they by the way, it's still not the tribulation here
It's not a tribulation here in the future
It says then shall they deliver you to be afflicted and shall kill you and you shall be hated of all nations
for my name's sake
So just four verses back before the viewer to the end
What is the context of what we're talking about here? What salvation what is in danger your life like your physical life?
Being killed not your soul salvation, but your physical life
Let's look at our verse 22 same chapter verse 22 and Jesus explains this further
It says and except though those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved
But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened
So what is that if those days of tribulations aren't shortened it says that no flesh will be saved right no flesh
So is this teaching verse 13 and during to the end for salvation is this teaching eternal life?
Salvation of the soul. No, it's teaching that salvation of the flesh
Okay, saving I've been
Saved from tribulation. Okay, then you wouldn't lose your life during the tribulation period
So please keep that in mind if someone throws verse 13 at you
You've got a four verses back and then a few verses forward verse 22
So that gives context of what that verse is about. Okay
now, um
If you guys can turn to let's have a look at this
Yeah revelation I'll get you to turn to the book of Revelation please Revelation chapter 2 verse 7
Revelation chapter 2 verse 7
Revelation chapter 2 verse 7 the Bible reads he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
To him that overcometh
Will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God?
And so these people that are trying to add works to the gospel these people that are trying to tell you they can lose your
Salvation will always find some verse that they can twist right and they say this about overcoming
He that overcome sorry
Yeah to him that overcometh
Will I give to eat of the tree of life and say see you need to overcome
You and then they'll fill in the gaps. You need to overcome sin in your life. You need to overcome, you know
Not not serving the Lord the way you ought to you need to overcome in these areas
And yet the Bible tells us what it means to overcome
Right. Okay to turn actually turn to verse 11 there same chapter
Revelation chapter 2 verse 11
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches he that overcometh
Shall not be hurt of the second death
What's the second death the lake of fire right eternity in the lake of fire? So we need to be people that overcome
But again, how do what are we overcoming those that are trying to bring works? You need to overcome sin in your life
You need to turn from your sins or whatever they'll say, right?
Look at our revelation 21 verse 7 revelation 21 verse 7
21 verse 7
It says he that overcometh
Shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son
Have you overcome have you overcome this world? Have you overcome sin your life? And so they'll try to add these works
But of course the answer is in 1st John chapter 5 1st John chapter 5 we're going to turn there please
1st John chapter 5 verse 4 1st John chapter 5 verse 4
1st John chapter 5 verse 4
The Bible reads for whatsoever is born of God. Look at this
overcometh the world and
This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith
Who is he that overcometh the world verse number five, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God
Okay, so how do we overcome?
What is it that allows us to overcome the second death the lake of fire?
It says there whose service born of God overcometh the world if you've been born again in verse number four
You've overcome the world
Okay, and this is the victory that overcomes the world. What gave you victory?
Even our faith, you know our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That's where the victory comes from. That's what gives the ability to overcome this world
Okay, so, you know, please, you know
Memorize or jot down
1st John 5 4 because this is what I see a lot as well people telling you how you've got to overcome or you won't do
It how do we overcome the salvation by grace through faith? It's free faith
The Bible is 100%
Consistent, you know all these verses they throw at you, you know, it doesn't take a rocket scientist
You know, you just read the context you just look at other verses tool in the same topic
Bible's crystal-clear that salvation is by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Salvation is being born again being born of God. That's what gives you the ability to overcome this world
Now that the final one
And I don't know if I should you know what I'll skip this actually no, I'll be very quick
They'll say eternal life is still the future, you know, and I've got a few verses here, but I won't read them all out
I'll give you the references and you can look it up later, but they'll say we don't have eternal life now
It's when you die and God judges you they'll say that's when he may or may not give you eternal life
Okay, because you know as someone that believes once saved always saved
That means we're essentially saying that as soon as you believe in the Lord, you have eternal life right now, okay?
It's not something that comes in the future. You have it right now and
I
Can give you I'll give you one verse, you know, John 3 36 which says he that believeth on the Sun
have
Everlasting life if you believed in the Sun if you believed on Jesus Christ today you have
Everlasting life right now
present tense
Okay, it's not something that comes in the future or when you pass away or the rapture eternal life is received immediately
Okay, you're going to live forever
Okay, if you're saved you don't have to be afraid of dying you have everlasting life right now
Yes, the body will die
But you the true you the soul the spirit and one day with that future resurrected body will live forever
some other references that talk about this is John 5 24 John 6 47 John 6 54 and
I'll get to turn to 1st John chapter 5 1st John chapter 5
1st John chapter 5 verse 10
This is actually an awesome passage 1st John chapter 5 great Bibles placed on there 1st John chapter 5 verse 10
He that believeth on the Son of God have to witness in himself
So if you if you believe on him, there's a witness in you that testifies of these things
He that believeth not
So that believeth not God have made him a liar
So what makes you a liar it says because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son
So you see the one that it's not saying the one that believes not does not believe the record that God gave of his son
Say what is the record? What's this record that we need to believe in order to be saved?
Verse 11 tells us and this is the record that God hath given us eternal life
That's the record. You need to believe to be saved that God hath given us to us
eternal life
So those that think that they're those that believe that they don't have eternal life right now
Those that believe that eternal life is some future thing have not believed the record. They've made God a liar and are unsaved
This is why eternal security is such an important doctrine to teach when you're giving someone the gospel
Because they have to believe that God has given to them eternal life. That means they have it right now
it's not something that they're going to attain in the future and
This life is in his son Jesus Christ. Look at verse 12
He that hath the son hath life and he that hath not the son hath not life
These things have I written unto you. Look at this
That believe in the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have
Eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God
You know
God has given us this record. God has given us eternal life right now
So that we can know so we can be confident that we have eternal life
You
Know a lack of confidence is going to make you
Just unable to serve God not knowing for sure. It's just going to make you hopeless
You know, I gave you the example of brother Michael, you know, we heard about him, you know
We didn't that soul in the Czech Republic and now she's got the confidence of eternal life. She believes in Jesus Christ
She knows she's saved
But what's the pastor trying to do
What's these crazy people in the church trying to do trying to cause it to doubt the salvation?
Trying to make a doubt that the record that God gave of his son
There's eternal life that we have it now by believing on his name
It's such a wicked thing
Such a wicked thing
Someone that's rejoicing about salvation someone that understands it's by grace through faith someone that believes it's eternal life
Such a wicked thing for people to turn around and try to make them doubt their salvation
You know
Have you ever have you been there? Have you been in a place where you've doubted your salvation?
Like not sure am I going to heaven? I mean, it's it's a scary thought
It's a scary thought not knowing right not knowing where am I going after this life?
And even someone that has believed the gospel and still having those doubts because of other people, you know
I mean what more do they need to do to be sure of heaven?
You know, I mean, it's kind of like you're telling people, you know, you're still not you're still not there
You're still not reached. You know the level that you need to attain whatever it is, you know, it's such a wicked thing
Now I wanted to cover I want you guys to turn to Hebrews chapter 10 guys
Hebrews chapter 10 verse 22
Because have you guys ever heard of the term
fruit inspectors a
fruit inspector
so, you know when you I'm assuming all of you guys go and buy fruits and veggies and
Before you put that fruit or veggie into your basket
Don't you tend to to have a quick look at it, you know, some people like to touch it or whatever
You know, you want to make sure
That the fruit is good. You want to make sure that before you purchase it
It's not like rotting on the inside or you know
It's going to last for a few days or whatever that that's that's a good thing to be doing right when it comes to fruit
You know buying something that's relatively fresh
It's a good thing to be a fruit inspector in that sense, right? You're purchasing fruit, but there are some
Christians that are fruit inspectors
Meaning that if you say you're saved
They won't look at your life and work it out for themselves if you're saved
Say how by asking you what you believe none
Not asking you won't believe by judging you by your works, you know
Is this person going to church is this person interested in God is this person reading their Bible is this person overcoming the sins?
And so they'll inspect the fruit inspect that person to decide if that person saved or not
And yet salvation is not by works. All right salvation is by faith now
One is one phrase and I don't know if you know, I've been in churches my whole life, right?
I've been in Baptist churches my whole life and I've been in independent fundamental Baptist churches for about 14 or 15 years, you know
And one terminology that always frustrated me that I could never understand that they will always use
Is let's say someone calls upon the name of the Lord
That it's like they're afraid to say that person saved
so what they'll say is they made a
Professional faith that's what they'll say. All right, so we know the Bible you're either saved or you're unsaved
There's no in-between
Okay, but some of some of them will say no, I don't want to say they're saved
I don't want to say they're unsaved, but we'll say they made a professional faith
Okay, what does that mean?
It means it's kind of like they're in this middle territory where we need to sort of free inspect them
We need to keep watching their lives and then once we've seen their lives long enough
Then we'll know if they're saved or we'll know if they're unsaved, you know now
Think about that idea think about that idea, you know professional faith
Isn't that putting a lot of doubt on that person?
Like you just you have no doubts you have no assurance that person is really saved
That's the concept, right?
Now that statement, you know
Professional faith is actually found once in the Bible now. I want you to look at the context of this Hebrews chapter 10 verse 22
Hebrews chapter 10 verse 22
Look at this
22 let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith a
Way to have doubts about faith or are we to come in full assurance
You know assurance is good enough
The Bible says full assurance assurance is not enough full assurance. We want to be fully assured of your faith
Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Look at verse 23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
Without wavering for he is faithful that promised
Do you see how the Bible uses this phrase the profession of faith?
What is it being fully assured?
Holding fast without wavering why because of us know for he is faithful that promised
We're trusting in Jesus Christ who promised us that eternal life
If
You have a professional faith you tell me I've believed in Jesus Christ
100% not of works is death their resurrection. I know and secure forever that professional faith
That's what that's what's going to hold you fast. That's what's going to tell me that you're saved
That's what's going to give me and going to give you the assurance of your salvation. It's not something to be doubted about
Let's put it that way and so you can see how modern-day Christians use this phrase the ology
Not for the assurance, but for the doubts, you know
It's such a wicked practice
We could practice to make people unsure of their salvation and be judged them of the works when it's not of works
such a crazy idea
Now
One issue that I do want to cover very quickly. Have you guys heard of Calvinism?
Calvinism. All right now
Calvinism
Teachers in a nutshell that when Jesus Christ came and he died on the cross that he didn't die for all man
Calvinism teaches that Jesus Christ came and only died for some
Okay, and those some are those that God had predestined to be saved and the ones that he did not die for
God had predestined them to die and go to hell say why would God do such a thing?
Well because his sovereign is the word that we use because it's just it's just God
it's just God's thoughts and his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts and
Ultimately what they're saying is the reason someone is saved is because God wanted them saved before
the creation of the world
Before God even that person was even born he wanted them saved and that person's dead because that's how just God wanted it
and I first came across I
Remember I was probably about 10 or 11 years old the first time I came across Calvinism
I was attending a church in Chile, and I had a Sunday school teacher and
I've only got one pen here, so I can't really use the analogy very well, but she grabbed a bunch of pencils
She had a bunch of pencils. She put them all out
She grabbed some pencils and said aren't you thankful that God has saved us aren't you thankful that God chose you?
Like I've chosen these pencils that you'd be one that's saved and that God would reject those other pencils that you're not one of those
And I remember just as a child
What in the world is this? You know I was 10
I've never heard of Calvinism before no one had to tell me about any deep doctrinal things
But I heard this and it was so foreign that God would decide who would be saved and not be saved
I thought Jesus died for all man
I thought God was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and
That
Annoyed me. I was angry as a child just hearing that I knew it was heresy as soon as I heard it right as soon as
I heard it. I didn't realize till I was later. Oh, that's Calvinism. You know that there's this whole theology on Calvinism
Now look I want to go as far as saying that all Calvinists are unsaved because a lot of Protestants
That call themselves Calvinists they don't even know what Calvinism is you know they know that salvation by grace through faith
Now they might have some ideas
I might say well God gave me the faith where it came from me either way they believe it's my faith
And they don't they don't believe it's my works, and they don't believe they can lose it or anything like that
I think I personally think there's a lot of Calvinists that are saved in fact
When I was in Chile last year I went to a church that was so called Calvinist
But when I looked at the statement of faith and when I talked to the pastor when I talked to the men in the church
They were like we're Calvinist by name only. It's like it's like we don't really believe it
But because we're you know we're a denominational church. We can't just throw out Calvinism because
You know the nomination on headquarters says you've got to be Calvinist
And so they had like the Calvinist I don't know if you guys are familiar with TULIP
T-U-L-I-P I won't go into all that right now, but they had rewritten it and if I read it to you
You'd be like wow that's the gospel. That's perfect. That's right, and so it's just interesting
There's a lot of churches a lot of people that think they're Calvinist
But they're not because they believe Jesus died for all they believe it's by faith alone, but one of the big issues
With this TULIP T-U-L-I-P is that final P
And this is basically the gospel of the doctrine of grace and what they'll say with this P
Is that in order for us to be saved you must persevere until the end
It's not what we read about you know that you need to endure to the end to be saved
It's that same ideology that you have to be faithful you have to keep serving the Lord to be sure that you're saved
You know it's kind of this idea that
Someone gets saved serves God is the best Christian maybe becomes a pastor
Serves in the church with souls does baptisms does everything that you think the ultimate Christian could do
But then it right the end of their life. They'll be like what I've had enough of this
I'm out of church, and then they die
Well to the Calvinist that person was not saved
Right because right at the end of his life
He gave it all up right at the end of his life. He became backslidden, and so they'll be like well
He wasn't saved you know and ultimately
Those that believe in hard-core Calvinism they believe in works
Ultimately they believe in that you've got to attain a certain level to be sure of salvation
And you must do it till the end of your life
you know so
All that to say this I'll get you guys to turn to second Timothy 4 to 17
Actually yeah second Timothy 4 verse 18 second Timothy 4 18. I'll get to turn there
And I want to turn I'm just going to read to you from Jude 1
the Bible reads in Jude 1 Jude the servant of Jesus Christ and
brother of James to them that are sanctified by God the Father and
Preserved in Jesus Christ and called I
Will do it are we asked to persevere another Bible says we're preserved
preserved in Jesus Christ and called
So what I want you to understand is when you're saved you're preserved forever
By your own efforts. No you're preserved in Christ
Christ is the end of the law he fulfilled the law his righteousness is what preserves you forever
you guys are in second Timothy 4 look at verse 18 and
The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me
Who will preserve you it said the Lord right the Lord will preserve you and to his heavenly kingdom?
To whom be glory forever and ever
Amen, hey to his heavenly kingdom
You're preserved till you make it to heaven then you don't need to preserve anymore because just you're forever there
right you've got eternal life in the kingdom of heaven and so it's not the
Perseverance of saints that gets you saved
It's the preservation of saints that gets you saved and you're preserved because you're in Christ Jesus
It's not your own works. It's your faith in Christ Jesus that has you preserved forever
Okay, now how am I going with time?
Because I'm gonna give you time very quickly
Okay, I'll go a little bit longer
What I want I want to go through all my notes, but I just want to talk about this one thing
Cuz fruit inspectors really bother me
They really annoy me people that think you can judge someone's salvation by their works, okay
now
Let me tell you this it's immature
It's carnal Christians that will judge someone by their work judge somebody by their works
okay, and
What I have often seen in church that I'm talking about real life experience here with real people is that they think?
Because they've been saved X amount of years or whatever and
maybe they are saved and maybe they have grown and maybe they have overcome sins in their life and maybe they're that you know
They're a model believer. Yes, you know all these things are possible
But they get to a point where they think they've reached some level of attainment and then those that don't
So that answer the same level as they they will look down those people and say I don't even know if they're saved
Because if that was saved that would be more like me, right
This is such an immature thing to do where one Christian would look at another Christian who's not at their level and say they're not
saying
But you know what? There's probably another Christian. That's more holy than they that's more spiritual than they are
More righteous than they are and that person might look at that one and say hold on
I don't know if that one's saved right very immature things do and then there might be another person that's more spiritual
That's more righteous
That's more holy and they will look at that one will say well
I don't know if they're saved because they haven't reached my level of attainment, right? You can see how this is
This is horrible, right now
Let me tell you is there a standard of goodness?
Is there a standard of works and of goodness?
Standard of righteousness
That I can judge someone's salvation by I will say to you. Yes, there is. Okay now go to Matthew
Let's say you'll get to turn to Matthew 5 Matthew 5 please
Matthew 5 48
I'll just skip some of my notes here, but let me just get the
Concept out here. Matthew 5 48. This is the level of
Goodness, this is the level of righteousness. This is the level of holiness
That if you attain I know you're saved
Okay, Matthew 5 48
be therefore
Perfect, even as your father which is in heaven which in heaven is perfect
That's the level you need to attain if you reach perfection. I know you're saved
Yeah, I know you're saved now, I don't care how self-righteous a man is
There's no way they are perfect
Doesn't matter how high
Achievers they are how much they've kept the law, you know
They are not perfect
Okay, and so yes
You need to reach a level of perfection to be saved and second Corinthians 5 21 says this
For he have made him speaking of Jesus to be sin for us
Who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him?
Okay, so this is how you reach the level of perfection
You receive the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ
That's why believing on his name by believing his death-bearing resurrection
You now have had your sins paid for by Jesus Christ
But you've also had his righteousness imputed upon you. And so when God the Father looks at you, what does he see?
He sees perfection as the Holy as the Father is in in in heaven that is perfect
Not because you're perfect
But because the perfect mess of Jesus Christ his righteousness is imputed upon you when the God the Father looks at you
He sees you through the veil of the righteousness of Jesus Christ
Okay, that's what makes you perfect
And so if you can tell me that if you give me that profession of faith that you have it on Jesus Christ
Then you are perfect. You are perfect. Even if you've been saved for today
Even if you were saved today, I can say you have reached perfection because you believed on Jesus Christ
Okay, so you can see how immature it is to be judging people by their works
They should be judging them by their faith. That's what makes them perfect faith on Jesus Christ
Now I'm gonna wrap things up in two just very quick quick ways here
without going into too much detail, but
When you knock on someone's door and you tell them about the freeness of salvation and you tell them like they can never lose it
The thing that gets a lot of people especially care Pentecostals that gets them like this
Stumbling block is the idea
well
so what you're saying to me is what they'll say what you're saying to me is that I can live however I want and
God doesn't care. God just he's happy for me to live however I want. Okay, and
I can understand
to some extent that concern
All right, because you know, we're a church here and I don't want I mean as your pastor
I don't want you to live however you want
I don't want you to just go out there and
Live like the world and live like the devil and destroy your life
I don't want to see that
Right and so I can understand the concern that someone might come and say you're saying we can live however you want
Okay, so the two things that you need to drive home to these people
Number one is that God does want us to serve him. God does want us to keep the commandments
Okay, and I've got verses here
Right now just explain to them, right
The purpose of the law explain to them the purpose of keeping the commandments of God
Explain the purpose of having fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ
Okay, and asking him for forgiveness in their lives after salvation and that is to attain
Rewards in heaven. Okay, that is to lay up treasures in heaven and not lay up treasure on earth, right?
To put the righteousness of Christ first in our lives and his kingdom first in our lives and
God will add things in our life here on temporal life on his own. Tell them hey look the reason why
We do preach keeping the commandments. The reason we do preach holiness
The reason we do preach that you need to turn from your sins is not for salvation
That's been paid for in Jesus Christ, but that we can attain rewards in heaven
Okay, because the truth is when we go to heaven it's not
Communism. Okay
Heaven is not a communist place
Where God just divvies up equally everything and gives equally to everybody no matter what you've done for him
No, those that worked hard for God those that served him will have the greater rewards for eternity
Okay, and then all the way down to the one that never worked for him the one that never served him the one that never
Tried to keep commandments and not become sin the Christian that lived just like the world. He's going to make it
He's gonna make it because of Jesus
Okay, and but his bank accounts gonna be very little
Okay, but still it's better than hell being saved and having the righteousness of Christ in you. Okay
So this is a reality guys and we're gonna get sweet
We're going to get to heaven and we're gonna be looking looking back at our measly 70 years on this earth
Whatever it is and go. I wish I served the Lord more, you know, I wish I did more
That's probably gonna be the biggest regret that we're gonna have right because you know, you might say to me Kevin
I'm just happy to make it to heaven. I've let people say this to me. I'm just happy to make it to heaven
Why do I need all those rewards look you understand it?
In fact you understand it today, why do people want rewards today, right?
Why do people work to achieve and accomplish and you know make more money or make something on the cells?
It's because it gives great satisfaction
It's not gonna be any different in heaven knowing that you've been serving the Lord Jesus Christ and having those rewards for all eternity
I've been I've been a bit embarrassed if I make it to heaven and it's like well done Kevin, but
You know
You know, we ought to be trying to serve him and that's the purpose of it. Okay, so we're not against works
We're not against keeping the commandments
We're not against overcoming sin, but we do it to please the Lord and earn rewards in heaven
And the last thing I'll get you to turn to Hebrews chapter 12 verse verse 6 Hebrews chapter 12 verse 6
You finish on this note
He
Was shut the 12 verse 6
He was shut the 12 verse 6
the Bible reads for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and
Scourges every son whom he receiveth, you know
If you're saved the Bible tells us that he scourges every son whom he receiveth
Meaning that we're all gonna go for the chastisement of the Lord. We probably already have in our lives
Somehow right the Lord has corrected us for our errors for our mistakes verse 7 if ye and you are chastening
God dealeth with you as we've sons for what son is he whom that father chasteneth not
So this is what you tell them at the door
You serve the Lord you do good for him
Rewards in heaven you please the father you live like the world you live like the devil you destroy your life
God is sure to bring chastisement upon your life, you know, and it's going to get to a point
Where it's clearly coming from the Lord clearly coming from the Lord now
That's a it's a blessing to be chastised by God
Because that means he wants you to grow and to mature and not to remain the same condition that you've been in the past
So I'm just telling you these two things because if you're going through the gospel with somebody they've understood it
But they're really struggling what you're saying. I can live however you want. These two things are important
There's reward for doing good and there's punishment for doing wrong
But regardless you go into heaven because it's a free gift by Jesus Christ. All right, let's pray