Who? - Luke 9:20
August 11, 2024
have you ever been confused when reading the bible… you’re not alone…
Lifeway Research
* 57% of Protestant church-goers find it challenging to make sense of the Bible
* Only 20% have read thru all of the bible at least once
* 53% say they have only read a few passages and stories or haven’t read it at all
* Record low 20% say bible is literal word of God… 29% say its fable, legend, history
American Bible Society
* only 39% of Christians read their bible more than three times in a year
* main reason: they have been taught only preachers can understand the bible
* other reasons: struggle to know how to read or understand; going to church is enough
not what God intended… explore difficult topics… made simple in Christ… pray…
Psa 119:130… “opening of Your word gives light… understanding to the simple…”
2Cor 11:3… “fear… your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity in Christ…”
2Tim 3:16… “all scripture is useful for… teaching, rebuking, correcting, training…”
most important topic is salvation… religions disagree… want you in bondage to
them to control you… Christ wants you free… answer starts with simple question…
Luke 9:18-20… “who do they say that I am… who do you say that I am…”
John 3:16-36… “sent His Son not to condemn the world… but to save the world…”
Gal 5:1… “for freedom, Christ set us free… don’t submit again to yoke of slavery…”
zygos… troublesome laws, especially the Mosaic law…
What is Salvation?
simple… salvation is Jesus… much more than just heaven… salvation is literally benefits and blessings in this world… present possession of all true Christians…
Psa 25:5… “guide me in Your truth… teach me… for You are my salvation…”
Psa 62:1… “I rest in God alone… my salvation comes from Him…”
yeshua… deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, prosperity, victory, health…
Rom 1:16-17… “gospel… power of salvation… to everyone who believes…”
Rom 10:9-10… “confess with mouth… resulting in salvation…”
soteria (n)… deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation; benefits and blessings…
Acts 2:21… “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…”
Acts 4:12… “salvation in no one else… no other name by which we are saved…”
sozo (v)… keep safe; rescue from danger; make well, heal, restore to health; preserve…
Who can receive Salvation?
simple… everyone can, though not all do… personal choice… offered freely to all…
Psa 67:2… “may Your way be known… to bring salvation to all nations…”
John 3:15-36… “everyone who believes… anyone who believes… the one who believes…”
John 11:25-26… “everyone who believes in Me will never die…”
Acts 10:34… “nothing could be plainer… God plays no favorites… makes no difference who you are or where you’re from… if you want God and are ready… door is open thru Jesus…”
Rom 10:13… “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…”
1Tim 2:4… “God wants everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of truth…”
How do I receive Salvation?
simple… like a child… a child trusts… a child obeys… a child believes… child-like belief in Jesus is the only thing required… not behavior, baptism or denomination…
Matt 18:3… “unless you become like a little child… you will never enter Heaven…”
Mark 10:13-14… “let children come to Me… kingdom belongs to such as these…”
John 1:12… “to all who receive… gave right to be children… to all who believe…”
John 6:40-47… “everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life… I assure you…”
Acts 16:30-31… “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”
1Cor 1:21… “God was pleased to save those who believe…”
pistueo (v)… think to be true; place confidence in; trust Jesus is able to do something…
Why should I receive Salvation?
simple… inheritance… God loves everyone, but not everyone is His child… only children receive the inheritance… for this world, not the next…
Deut 4:20… “the Lord selected you… to be a people for His inheritance…”
Acts 20:32… “I commit you to grace… which is able to give you an inheritance…”
Rom 8:15-32… “if children, then heirs… gave His Son… freely give us all things…”
Eph 1… “in Him we have received an inheritance… HS is down payment… I pray the eyes of your heart will be enlightened to know wealth of His inheritance…”
Heb 9:15… “mediator of NC… so those who are called might receive inheritance…”
1Pet 1:4… “priceless inheritance… kept in heaven (bank)… beyond change, decay…”
what does our inheritance include… simple… all good things… if God did not
withhold His greatest gift (Jesus)… He is surely not going to withhold lesser gifts…
Deut 28:1-14… “all these blessings will come and overtake you…”
Deut 30:15-19… “set before you life and prosperity… death and adversity… I have set before you life and death… blessing and curse… choose life so you may live…”
Psa 84:11… “the Lord will give grace and glory… not withhold any good thing…”
Matt 4:23… “Jesus… preaching good news… healing every disease and sickness…”
Matt 7:11… “how much more will your Father give good gifts to those who ask…”
John 14:27… “My peace I leave you… My peace I give to you…”
Rom 6:23… “the gift of God is life in Christ Jesus…”
2Cor 1… “we have put our hope in Him… it is He who strengthens us…”
Eph 1… “we are accepted in the Beloved… in Him, we receive an inheritance…”
How long does Salvation last?
simple… eternal and everlasting… nothing can separate you from His love…
Psa 37:28… “God loves justice… not forsake saints… they’re preserved forever…”
Isa 51:6… “My salvation will last forever… My righteousness will never end…”
John 3:16… “everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life…”
John 10:28… “I give them eternal life… no one will snatch them out of My hand…”
Rom 6:23… “wages of sin is death… but free gift of God is eternal life in Christ…”
Rom 11:29… “God’s gracious gifts (salvation) are irrevocable…”
1Cor 1:8-9… “He will strengthen you to the end… God is faithful…”
Heb 7:25… “He is able… once and forever… to save those who come to Him…”
Heb 9… “by His own blood… obtained eternal redemption… eternal inheritance…”
1John 5:13… “written to you who believe… you may know you have eternal life…”
aionios… without beginning and end; always has been and always will be; never cease…
When should I receive Salvation?
simple… today… no reason to wait… start receiving blessings now… pray…
Isa 49… “at just right time, I will respond… on day of salvation, I will help you…”
Rom 13:11… “urgent, time is running out… wake up… day of salvation is near…”
2Cor 6:2… “now is the acceptable time… now is the day of salvation…”