FAITH PLUS DOING EQUALS SALVATION

INTRO:

1. There is much said in the religious world about FAITH.

A. Most of what is said about FAITH, indicates that salvation is by FAITH ONLY.

2. There is also much said in the religious world about SALVATION.

A. It seems that most of what is said about SALVATI0N, concerns ETERNAL SALVATION here and now.

B. The idea or theory runs something like this: if you are truly saved, you are eternally saved and you cannot fall or be lost.

C. Also, it is suggested that Jesus did everything necessary to man's salvation and all that man must do is believe that: give mental acceptance to it.

1) "Jesus' perfect obedience is applied to our account, therefore covers any and all of our shortcomings."

D. But there is not much said in the religious world about those things we must do in order to be saved now and eternally.

3. But regardless of man's theories concerning FAITH and SALVATION, we are going to study both in view of DOING something.

I. MAN IS LOST BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE OR HAS FAILED TO DO.

A. There are sins of COMMISSION, what we have done that is not according to God's will. And there are sins of OMMISSION, what we have failed to do that the will of God requires us to do.

B. That which he has done, that has caused him to be lost, is called "SIN". 1 Jno. 3:4; 5:17; Isa. 59:1,2; Ezk. 18:20; Jas. 4:17.

II. THIS SAME MAN, THE ALIEN SINNER, WHO IS LOST BECAUSE OF THINGS HE HAS DONE, MUST ALSO BE SAVED FROM HIS SINS BY THINGS THAT HE DOES, NAMELY, BY DOING GOD'S WILL.

A. Man is not lost because he has not obeyed the gospel, man is lost because he is a sinner.

B. But in order to change his condition from lost to saved, he must do God's will as is found in the New Testament. Matt. 7:21,22; Lk. 6:46; Matt. 7:24-27; Acts 2: 37-41; 9:6;22:16;16:30; Rev. 22:14.

C. The people mentioned in our introduction, that claims that man is saved by FAITH ONLY, are the same people that claim that one must KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

1. They will make such statements as: "I believe that one that believes in Christ and keeps the ten commandments will certainly be saved."

2. Let me hasten just here to say that the above statement is a paradox.

a. A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself.

3. You might ask, "How is this a paradox or a contradiction?"

a. Well, for one to believe in Christ; he must believe in and accept what He has done.

1) Jesus, Himself, said that he came to fulfill the law of Moses, Matt. 5:17,18.

2) Paul said that Jesus did just this, and He nailed the law of Moses to His cross. Eph. 2:14-18; Col. 2:14.

4. So, if one says that he believes in Christ and still claims to keep the ten commandments, he contradicts himself.

a. The ten commandments are a part of that law that Jesus fulfilled and took out of the way through His cross.

III. A CHRISTIAN, ONE THAT HAS BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF HIS SINS, HAS THINGS THAT HE MUST DO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ETERNAL SALVATION.

A. It seems that some that have been baptized into Christ think that this gives them a guarantee of eternal life.

B. But there is more to Christianity than just being baptized. Jas. 4:17; 1:27,21, 22, 25; Matt. 10:22; Rev. 2:10; 20:12; Acts 2:42;Heb. 10:25.

IV. BUT, IN OUR DOING, WE MUST DO THE LORD'S WILL: WE CANNOT DO JUST ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING AND STILL PLEASE GOD.

A. Jesus, Himself, warned against doing one's own will. Matt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46-49; Jas. 1:21-25; Rev. 22:14; Col. 3:17; Acts 9:6; 17:22-31;Rom. 10:1-3.

V. BUT ONE MIGHT ASK, "HOW MUCH OF GOD'S WILL MUST I OBEY?" 50%?, 75%?, 90%?

A. "Every scripture is inspired of God..." 2 Tim. 3:16,17, to help us be complete in Him. Jas. 2:10,11.

VI. GOD HAS NEVER BEEN PLEASED NOR ACCEPTED PARTIAL OBEDIENCE.

A. He told the Laodiceans that He preferred full obedience or none at all. Rev. 3:14- 18.

1. Lukewarmness on their part was an indication of partial obedience.

2. We today, try to pick and choose among God's commandments; and do only those things that we agree with and like to do. Mk. 10:17-22.

a. This is cafeteria style religion.

3. Let us note some scriptures along this line: 1 Sam. 15; Matt. 4:4; Acts 20;20, 27; Jas. 2:1-11; Gal. 5:3.

VII. IN BEING SAVED FROM PAST SINS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE: HEAR, BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS, BE BAPTIZED.

A. Which of these would not indicate some kind of action on our part?

B. Yes, I realize that the Bible is full of the idea of : FAITH, BELIEF, and BELIEVE.

C. But, the same Bible is also full of such statements as: DO, DOES, DOETH, DID, and DONE.

CONCLUSION:

1. Yes, FAITH plus DOING equals SALVATION.

2. Do you believe in God, His Son, and His Word?

A. Well, why not DO His will today in order to be saved?

by Jim Sasser

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