The Power That Saves Us

The Power That Saves Us

1 Cor 15:1-41 Cor 15:1-4

A Response to Our AdsA Response to Our Ads

• A coalition of 11 local churches answered one of our ads from April

• It has run 4 times, will run 2 more• Several points of agreement, of

which they seem to be unaware• Several points of disagreement• One troubling misquote

• A coalition of 11 local churches answered one of our ads from April

• It has run 4 times, will run 2 more• Several points of agreement, of

which they seem to be unaware• Several points of disagreement• One troubling misquote

Points of Agreement not stated

Points of Agreement not stated

• The full, verbal, inerrant inspiration of the Bible

• A commitment to righteous living without compromise with the world’s values

• The deity and authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

• The full, verbal, inerrant inspiration of the Bible

• A commitment to righteous living without compromise with the world’s values

• The deity and authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Agreement expressly stated

Agreement expressly stated

• Salvation is by grace.• Nothing but the blood of Jesus can

wash away sin.• The church is undenominational.“The ‘kind’ of church CHRIST has in

mind makes no reference to any one local congregation, external organization, or religious denomination on earth.”

• Salvation is by grace.• Nothing but the blood of Jesus can

wash away sin.• The church is undenominational.“The ‘kind’ of church CHRIST has in

mind makes no reference to any one local congregation, external organization, or religious denomination on earth.”

Points of DisagreementPoints of Disagreement

• When the gospel saves us• Whether obedience is required to

receive grace.• Whether repentance and baptism

are works of merit.• Whether the “Sinner’s Prayer” has

the same authority as Scripture

• When the gospel saves us• Whether obedience is required to

receive grace.• Whether repentance and baptism

are works of merit.• Whether the “Sinner’s Prayer” has

the same authority as Scripture

A troubling misquoteA troubling misquote• Commentator Matthew Henry is

misquoted and misrepresented on Acts 22:16.

• The words “(not our baptism)” are added to his comments.

• Henry supports neither their position nor ours.

• This was unintentional on their part, but 2 uncorrected reprints have occurred since they were made aware of it.

• They plan to correct, but not to retract.

• Commentator Matthew Henry is misquoted and misrepresented on Acts 22:16.

• The words “(not our baptism)” are added to his comments.

• Henry supports neither their position nor ours.

• This was unintentional on their part, but 2 uncorrected reprints have occurred since they were made aware of it.

• They plan to correct, but not to retract.

The Gospel Saves UsThe Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of ChristThe Saving Work of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Corinthians 15:1 - 4Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the

gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,  2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,  2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 

The Gospel Saves UsThe Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For Salvation

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For Salvation

Romans 1:16-17Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

The Gospel Saves UsThe Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For SalvationMore Than Just a Story To

Believe

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For SalvationMore Than Just a Story To

Believe

Romans 10:9-16Romans 10:9-16… if you confess with your mouth

the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…. 13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14How then shall they call on Him in whom

they have not believed? …. 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…. 13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14How then shall they call on Him in whom

they have not believed? …. 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

Revelation 14:6 - 7Revelation 14:6 - 7Then I saw another angel flying in the

midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 92 Thessalonians 1:7 - 9… when the Lord Jesus is revealed from

heaven with His mighty angels, 8in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

… when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

The Gospel Saves UsThe Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For SalvationMore Than Just a Story To BelieveWhen We Are Baptized

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For SalvationMore Than Just a Story To BelieveWhen We Are Baptized

Mark 16:15 - 16Mark 16:15 - 16

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 8Acts 812But when they believed Philip as he

preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.  36Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

12But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.  36Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

Acts 22:16Acts 22:16

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Baptism is essential to:beliefobediencecalling on the name of the Lord

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Baptism is essential to:beliefobediencecalling on the name of the Lord

The Gospel Saves UsThe Gospel Saves Us

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For SalvationMore Than Just a Story To BelieveWhen We Are BaptizedNot Revealed to the OT Saints

The Saving Work of ChristThe Power of God For SalvationMore Than Just a Story To BelieveWhen We Are BaptizedNot Revealed to the OT Saints

Romans 16:25-26Romans 16:25-26Now to Him who is able to establish

you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began  26but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began  26but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Ephesians 3:3 - 5Ephesians 3:3 - 5 how that by revelation He made

known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,  4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,  4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

1 Peter 1:10-121 Peter 1:10-12Of this salvation the prophets have

inquired and searched carefully… 11searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ….  12To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit….

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully… 11searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ….  12To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit….

Repentance from Sin is Required for SalvationRepentance from Sin is Required for Salvation

From ad in Herald-Banner Sun 6/22/07:“True repentance concerning salvation

occurs whenever a person ‘changes his mind’ (i.e., repents) concerning who he is….

“The mistake Judas made is in ‘turning from his sin’ (i.e., what he had done to an innocent man) instead of ‘changing his mind’ about his sinfulness (i.e., the fact that he was a sinner in need of a Savior).”

From ad in Herald-Banner Sun 6/22/07:“True repentance concerning salvation

occurs whenever a person ‘changes his mind’ (i.e., repents) concerning who he is….

“The mistake Judas made is in ‘turning from his sin’ (i.e., what he had done to an innocent man) instead of ‘changing his mind’ about his sinfulness (i.e., the fact that he was a sinner in need of a Savior).”

Acts 26:20Acts 26:20…but declared first to those in

Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 

• Repentance required that unbelievers change their ways.

…but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 

• Repentance required that unbelievers change their ways.

2 Timothy 2:25 - 262 Timothy 2:25 - 26…in humility correcting those who are in

opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  26and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

• Repentance is something you do, not merely something you decide.

…in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  26and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

• Repentance is something you do, not merely something you decide.

More next week…More next week…

• True meaning of salvation by grace, not works.

• The role of baptism in salvation.

• True meaning of salvation by grace, not works.

• The role of baptism in salvation.