Examining and reproving these myths in light of God

1

• Examining and reproving these myths in light of
  Gods word

2
The Need

• There is much division on the topic of salvation
• 1 Corinthians 110 - Now I plead with you,
  brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
  that you all speak the same thing, and that there
  be no divisions among you, but that you be
  perfectly joined together in the same mind and in
  the same judgment.
• Philippians 127 - Only let your conduct be
  worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I
  come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your
  affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with
  one mind striving together for the faith of the
  gospel
• Ephesians 43 - endeavoring to keep the unity of
  the Spirit in the bond of peace.

3
The Need

• Many false teachers have gone out into the world
• 1 John 41 -1 Beloved, do not believe every
  spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of
  God because many false prophets have gone out
  into the world.
• 2 Peter 21 -1 But there were also false prophets
  among the people, even as there will be false
  teachers among you, who will secretly bring in
  destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who
  bought them, and bring on themselves swift
  destruction.
• Acts 1512 -1 And certain men came down from
  Judea and taught the brethren, Unless you are
  circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you
  cannot be saved.

4
The Need

• Many need to examine their beliefs
• 2 Corinthians 135 -5 Examine yourselves as to
  whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do
  you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
  you?unless indeed you are disqualified.
• Proverbs 1817 -17 The first one to plead his
  cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and
  examines him.

5
Will you pursue truth or believe a lie?

• John 83132
• 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed
  Him, If you abide in My word, you are My
  disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the
  truth, and the truth shall make you free.

• 2 Thessalonians 2911
• 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to
  the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and
  lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous
  deception among those who perish, because they
  did not receive the love of the truth, that they
  might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will
  send them strong delusion, that they should
  believe the lie

6

• If I am a Good Person, I Will Be Saved

7
The Position

• Among those who expect to go to Heaven, there
  were differences in how they anticipate such an
  end would be attained. Nearly half of those who
  say they are Heaven bound (43) believe they will
  go to Heaven because they have confessed their
  sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.
  Others felt they will get to Heaven because they
  have tried to obey the 10 Commandments (15) or
  because they are basically a good person (15).
  Another 6 believed their entrance to Heaven
  would be based upon the fact that God loves all
  people and will not let them perish. (Barna
  Research Group, www.barna.org)

8
The Position

• While white evangelicals look mainly to faith as
  the key to salvation, white Catholics tend to
  look to actions. Nearly half of this group (47)
  says that one's actions are the key to
  determining eternal fate, with nearly one-third
  (29) saying that being a good, moral person is
  the key to everlasting life. (2008 Pew Forum
  Poll, www.pewforum.org)

9
The Position

• An informal poll
• Do you believe a loving God would never condemn
  good people?
• Do you believe there are good people in all
  denominations of Christianity who are saved?
• Do you believe that there are good people in all
  world religions who are saved?
• Do you believe that some atheists and agnostics
  who live good lives will be saved?
• Are you willing to publically admit and declare
  that there are good people who will be condemned?

10
General Reproofs

• Who is really good?
• Matthew 1917 - So He said to him, Why do you
  call Me good? No one is good but One, that is,
  God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the
  commandments.
• Romans 31012 -10 As it is written There is
  none righteous, no, not one 11 There is none who
  understands There is none who seeks after God.
  12 They have all turned aside They have together
  become unprofitable There is none who does good,
  no, not one.

11
General Reproofs

• All have sinned!
• Romans 3923 -9 What then? Are we better than
  they? Not at all. For we have previously charged
  both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
  . . . 19 Now we know that whatever the law says,
  it says to those who are under the law, that
  every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
  become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the
  deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in
  His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of
  sin. 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

12
General Reproofs

• Few find the narrow way that leads to life!
• Matthew 71314 -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.
• 1 Timothy 24 - who desires all men to be saved
  and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

13
General Reproofs

• Iniquity is possible in good lives!
• Matthew 72123 -21 Not everyone who says to Me,
  Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
  but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
  22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord,
  have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
  demons in Your name, and done many wonders in
  Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them,
  I never knew you depart from Me, you who
  practice lawlessness!

14
General Reproofs

• One must be born again!
• John 33 - Jesus answered and said to him, Most
  assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
  again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

15
General Reproofs

• What you choose to believe does matter!
• 2 Thessalonians 29-11 - 9 The coming of the
  lawless one is according to the working of Satan,
  with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and
  with all unrighteous deception among those who
  perish, because they did not receive the love of
  the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for
  this reason God will send them strong delusion,
  that they should believe the lie

16
3 Case Studies

• The Rich Young Ruler
• Mark 101722 -17 Now as He was going out on the
  road, one came running, knelt before Him, and
  asked Him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I
  may inherit eternal life? 18 So Jesus said to
  him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good but
  One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments
  Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do
  not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not
  defraud, Honor your father and your mother.
  20 And he answered and said to Him, Teacher, all
  these things I have kept from my youth. 21 Then
  Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to
  him, One thing you lack Go your way, sell
  whatever you have and give to the poor, and you
  will have treasure in heaven and come, take up
  the cross, and follow Me. 22 But he was sad at
  this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had
  great possessions.

17
3 Case Studies

• The Apostle Paul
• Acts 231 - Then Paul, looking earnestly at the
  council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in
  all good conscience before God until this day.
• Acts 2416 - This being so, I myself always
  strive to have a conscience without offense
  toward God and men.
• 1 Timothy 11516 -15 This is a faithful saying
  and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus
  came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
  chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained
  mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show
  all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are
  going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

18
3 Case Studies

• The Apostle Paul
• Acts 916 -1 Then Saul, still breathing threats
  and murder against the disciples of the Lord,
  went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from
  him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he
  found any who were of the Way, whether men or
  women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3
  As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and
  suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4
  Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice
  saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you
  persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You,
  Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you
  are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick
  against the goads. 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.

19
3 Case Studies

• The Apostle Paul
• Acts 91018 -10 Now there was a certain disciple
  at Damascus named Ananias and to him the Lord
  said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I
  am, Lord. 11 So the Lord said to him, Arise and
  go to the street called Straight, and inquire at
  the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus,
  for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he
  has seen a man named Ananias coming in and
  putting his hand on him, so that he might receive
  his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I
  have heard from many about this man, how much
  harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14
  And here he has authority from the chief priests
  to bind all who call on Your name. 15 But the
  Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel
  of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings,
  and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show
  him how many things he must suffer for My names
  sake. 17 And Ananias went his way and entered
  the house and laying his hands on him he said,
  Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to
  you on the road as you came, has sent me that you
  may receive your sight and be filled with the
  Holy Spirit. 18 Immediately there fell from his
  eyes something like scales, and he received his
  sight at once and he arose and was baptized.

20
3 Case Studies

• The Apostle Paul
• Acts 221216 -12 Then a certain Ananias, a
  devout man according to the law, having a good
  testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13
  came to me and he stood and said to me, Brother
  Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour
  I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, The God of
  our fathers has chosen you that you should know
  His will, and see the Just One, and hear the
  voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His
  witness to all men of what you have seen and
  heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and
  be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on
  the name of the Lord.

21
3 Case Studies

• The Centurion Cornelius
• Acts 1012 -1 There was a certain man in
  Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what
  was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man
  and one who feared God with all his household,
  who gave alms generously to the people, and
  prayed to God always.
• Acts 1036 -3 About the ninth hour of the day he
  saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in
  and saying to him, Cornelius! 4 And when he
  observed him, he was afraid, and said, What is
  it, lord? So he said to him, Your prayers and
  your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
  5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose
  surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a
  tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell
  you what you must do.
• Acts 111314 -13 And he told us how he had seen
  an angel standing in his house, who said to him,
  Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose
  surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by
  which you and all your household will be saved.

22
3 Case Studies

• The Centurion Cornelius
• Acts 1022 -22 And they said, Cornelius the
  centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has
  a good reputation among all the nation of the
  Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to
  summon you to his house, and to hear words from
  you.
• Acts 102933 -29 Therefore I came without
  objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then,
  for what reason have you sent for me? 30 So
  Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting
  until this hour and at the ninth hour I prayed
  in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in
  bright clothing, 31 and said, Cornelius, your
  prayer has been heard, and your alms are
  remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore
  to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is
  Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a
  tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak
  to you. 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you
  have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all
  present before God, to hear all the things
  commanded you by God.

23
3 Case Studies

• The Centurion Cornelius
• Acts 104348 -43 To Him all the prophets witness
  that, through His name, whoever believes in Him
  will receive remission of sins. 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.

24
We must not suppose that if we succeeded in
making everyone nice we should have saved their
souls. A world of nice people, content in their
own niceness, looking no further, turned away
from God, would be just as desperately in need of
salvation as a miserable world. C.S. Lewis
(Mere Christianity)
25
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you
think you have eternal life and these are they
which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing
to come to Me that you may have life. Jesus
Christ (John 539-40, The Holy Bible)