Tag Archives: Salvation

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Pastor, Are You Distinguishing Between Salvation And Discipleship

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Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting under a two week Sunday school series on the distinction between salvation and discipleship. Pastor Roger Luiken of Liberty Baptist Church in Fremont, Nebraska taught this and I was blessed.

Now this may seem to be an elementary issue that 99.999% of people would be on top of. Not so! More and more, people, in varying denominations, are muddying the waters and blurring the lines between these two major doctrines of the Scriptures. To us, who know Bible terminology, there is not much of a problem, but to a lost person, this can be very confusing!

Listed below is the main outline of what Pastor Luiken had to say about this topic.

7 Distinctions Between 
Salvation And Discipleship
#1 – Salvation is “Come UNTO Me” (Matthew 11:28) – while – Discipleship is “Come AFTER Me” (Matthew 16:24)
#2 – Salvation is about the cross of Christ (Matthew 16:21) – while – Discipleship is about your own cross (Matthew 16:24)
#3 – In Salvation, you receive a gift (John 4:10) – while – in Discipleship, you give a gift (Your life as a sacrifice… Romans 12:1-2)
#4 – Salvation is made once (John 5:24, John 6:37-40 and John 10:27-28) – while – Discipleship is made again and again (Take up cross daily… Luke 9:23)
#5 – Salvation is a sure thing (No condemnation… Romans 8:1, Given Holy Ghost… Romans 8:9-11 and No separation… Romans 8:35) – while – Discipleship is always in danger of failing (“CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE”… Luke 14:25-27)
#6 – Salvation is by GRACE (Ephesians 2:5-9) – while – Discipleship is by WORKS (Revelation 22:12)
#7 – The results of Salvation is eternal life in Christ (John 3:16) – while – the results of Discipleship is eternal rewards from successful discipleship (Matthew 16:27)

Conclusion

There is a big difference between SALVATION and DISCIPLESHIP. The next time we quote Scripture to a lost person, let us be more careful to give out verses that are plain and “rightly divided”. Though some famous evangelists of the past have blurred terminology on purpose to reach certain religious groups outside their own denominations, we must refrain from this. Always use Bible terminology when dealing with people and you will do just fine!

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482518: Spiritual Discipleship: Principles of Following Christ for Every Believer Spiritual Discipleship: Principles of Following Christ for Every Believer

By J. Oswald Sanders / Moody Publishers

As J. Oswald Sanders points out, true discipleship is more than intellectual assent to a belief in Christ—it involves the whole person and lifestyle.
Those with only a superficial belief will soon fall away from the faith, but Sanders says a true disciple would rather be presented with a difficult challenge than a soft option. Disciples are charged with the task of training themselves to be godly, because it is their responsibility to remain spiritually fit. Ever-fresh topics in this time-tested volume include:

  • the disciple’s second chance
  • the disciple’s ambition
  • the disciple’s senior partner
  • the disciple’s olympics
  • the disciple’s right
  • the disciple’s maturity

In addition, a “For Reflection” guide is included, making this book ideal for both individual and group study.

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The Completeness Of Our Salvation

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This outline shows, from the Scripture, how that salvation, in Christ, is complete. It encourages every Christian about the completeness of their redemption. Just looking back over this outline stirred my soul! Trust it will encourage you.


Title: “The Completeness Of Our Salvation!”

Text: Colossians 2:10-15

(Colossians 2:10-15) “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”  (KJV)

Introduction:

•    In our day we find that so much is not what it seems. Though there is merit in this attitude in some cases, it is not so with salvation!
•    There is not some hidden knowledge found in salvation as the Gnostics believe!
•    Many seem to think that salvation is only a matter of the intellect. The direct result of this thinking produces loose and sinful living.
•    They see Christ as only a medium of truth, relegated to that of a higher order of beings in relation to humans, but lower than Deity.
•    Paul writes to the Colossians to refute the error of intellectual salvation and to establish the fact that Christ was God in the flesh!
•    He went on to make it clear that salvation in Christ is complete!
•    Our text verse will show how complete our salvation really is!


Proposition: There are three things that happen when a soul is saved that show how completely one is saved!

I.    When A Soul Is Saved He Has A New Identification!

(Colossians 2:11-12) “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”  (KJV)

A.    The Old Covenant was with the sign of circumcision. This was enacted by the volition of man, but the New Covenant is enacted by God Himself when He regenerates a man.

B.    This circumcision is made by God and not man!

C.    Paul relates this new Spiritual Identification of inner circumcision with the outward symbol of baptism.

D.    As baptism relates to all outwardly that you have a new Lord and that you are identified Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

E.    The inner circumcision by God and the outward act of baptism both serve to illustrate that every soul which is saved has a new identification!

F.    This identification is permanent and real so long as one is truly converted!

G.    Thus we see that In Christ we are complete in our new identification! We are under a new authority and power, which completely consumes our person and identity!


II.    When A Soul Is Saved He Is Made Alive Spiritually!


(Colossians 2:13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  (KJV)

A.    We were reckoned dead spiritually, and when we were regenerated we were made alive! Ephesians 2:1-10

(Ephesians 2:1-10) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  (KJV)

B.    Jesus termed it as the new birth! (John 3)

C.    We were once dead, now we are alive!

D.    This is very significant because we now have the ability to serve the Lord and live for Him! This is very complete as is described in II Corinthians 5:17

(2 Corinthians 5:17) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  (KJV)

E.    Thus we see that salvation brings about a complete change!

III.    When A Soul Is Saved He Is Entirely Forgiven!

(Colossians 2:13-14) “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”  (KJV)

A.    Forgiveness is not on an installment plan as some believe, though they will never admit it, but they display it by their actions!

B.    When the soul was saved, he or she was then completely forgiven of all sins: past, present and future!

C.    You may ask, “How did Christ do this?” Here in our verses we see that he “rubbed out” all of the sins we committed. This is picturesque of marking out a sheet with writing on it!

D.    He suffered the penalty for these sins as he “nailed it” to the cross!

E.    He shed His precious blood for my sins! He died for my sins and your sins, etc!

(1 Peter 1:18-21) “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”  (KJV)

F.    A man is saved and forgiven completely based upon what Christ did on the cross!

Conclusion:

To The Sinner:

•    Repent and believe the Gospel!
•    Get your sins under the blood!

To the Christian:

•    Your salvation is complete in Christ!

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9 Truths About Salvation That Every Pastor Needs To Proclaim

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Preacher, Proclaim Salvation’s Story!

There are numerous topics that a preacher can speak about, but none so precious and important as the doctrine of salvation. What the Bible says about sin, the sinner, Heaven and Hell is very serious. The ramifications of one’s knowledge about these particular issues has eternal consequences. This post seeks to point out some essential precepts that must be proclaimed by God’s men concerning salvation!

The following outline was taken from a Sunday School Series taught by Pastor Roger Luiken of Liberty Baptist Church of Fremont, Nebraska.

Listed below are nine very important truths about salvation!

#1 – You Can Know That You Are Saved

(1 John 5:12-13) “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (KJV)

Salvation is very important in the eyes of God and He has made it very plain that He wants people to know they have it!

#2 – A Minority Of People Are Truly Saved

(Matthew 7:13-14) “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  (KJV)

Just because it is very clear that few get saved does not give us the right to give up on people.

#3 – Some People Will Deceive Themselves Into Thinking That They Are Saved

(Matthew 7:21-23) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  (KJV)

These verses are some of the saddest ones in the Bible. In view of this, it is apparent that what people believe about how one is saved has a direct influence upon their soul’s destination. This is a fearful passage! One must remember that salvation is built upon Christ and not works!

#4 – There Will Be Carnal Christians… This Is A Reality

(1 Corinthians 3:1-3) “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”  (KJV)

We must remember that some, who get saved, will not grow up in Christ. If the Apostle Paul had this problem, then what does that say for us?

#5 – Sometimes It Is Hard To Distinguish Between The Saved And The Lost

(2 Peter 2:4-8) “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”  (KJV)

It is not hard to grasp the fact that Noah was a saved man in the Bible. Lot, however, is a horse of a different color. If it were not for the verses shown above, nobody would say that Lot was saved. Thus we can conclude that some people… well… only God knows they are saved!

#6 – Every Christian Should Be Growing

(2 Peter 3:16-18) “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”  (KJV)

Everyone, who is saved, should be following RIGHT teaching. They should be GROWING in Christ!

#7 – There Is An Important Relationship Between Faith And Works

What salvation looks like before you get saved…

(Ephesians 2:8-10) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  (KJV)

What salvation looks like after you are saved…

(James 2:14-20) “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”  (KJV)

Many think the scriptures contradict each other here in these two passages, but we must understand that faith in Jesus’ shed blood alone is what saves a person. That same individual, who is truly saved, will produce works… to some degree!

#8 – You Cannot Lose Your Salvation

(John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (KJV)

There are numerous verse that prove this truth about salvation. This one is very clear!

#9 – There Will Be Rewards At The Judgment Seat Of Christ

(Romans 14:12) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”  (KJV)

(1 Corinthians 3:11-15) “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”  (KJV)

(2 Corinthians 5:6-10) “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  (KJV)

Every saved person will be rewarded for their good works. These same works are not what saves them. These people perform good works because they are saved!

Conclusion

So much can be said about salvation. Ask 100 people how to get to Heaven and you will get 102 different answers. The fact of the matter is that we must stick with the Bible and what it says about the subject of salvation. Preacher, Proclaim It!

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