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SALVATION IS A GIFT TO BE RECEIVED Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9 by Andres C. Guevara Jr. September 20, 2005 Introduction: Everything we have and we got one of three ways:
Salvation is no exception and we can have it because I- SALVATION CANNOT BE EARNED The Bible clearly teaches that salvation cannot be earned.-Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9 The Bible in Romans 4:3-4 clearly teaches that salvation could not be the result of works. If so, it would not be of grace but of debt. If a man worked in order to be saved or tried to earn salvation, the motive behind the work could render it ineffective. Bible teaches that any work not motivated by love will not be rewarded.—I Corinthians 13:3 If a man worked in order to be saved, the motive would not be charity (love) but fear. He would be working to be saved, because he was afraid he was going to hell, not because he loved God. Again, if a man could be saved by works, then someone would have to determine exactly how much one would have to work in order to be saved. Could he work for Christ one full year? Would he have to work for 3 years? Suppose that he was required to work for 40 years and only lived 25 years. How hard would he have to work? Not all men wok with the same intensity. Some accomplish much more than others in the same period of time. If a man could be saved by working, it would make the death of Christ on the cross unimportant- Galatians 2:21 (Christ died in vain, He died for nothing.) Most of us work a lifetime, and some of us never earn a home here on earth that is, we never get a home completely paid for. How long do you think we would have to work to earn a mansion in Heaven with pearly gates and golden streets? Those who teach salvation by works have various works that must be performed in order to be saved: 1. Reformation (that you turn from all your sins and promise never to sin again) 2. Doing good deed (by keeping the 10 commandments) 3. Baptism (they say that you must be baptized by their particular church and minister in order to be saved) 4. Seven sacraments (unless you received 7 sacraments you cannot go to heaven) But Ephesians 2:8-9 says not of works Titus 3:5 warns us Matthew 7:22, 23-- those trusting in their work will not enter heaven. These people offered unto God their "many wonderful" works as a hope of salvation. Works offered to God for salvation are works of iniquity. If salvation is by grace, as the bible plainly teaches time and time again, then works have no part in it. Works and grace cannot be mixed—Romans 11:6 II- SALVATION CANNOT BE STOLEN Bible warns that the man who tries to go to heaven any other way other than by and through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is a thief and a robber. Evangelist Oliver B. Greene used to say, “The dirtiest gang of thieves this side of hell are religious thieves, thieves who try to go to heaven some way other than by and through the substitionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross.” III- SALVATION IS A GIFT Notice carefully in John 3:16 that God GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON He didn’t sell Him; He cannot be earned; He can only be received. In Romans 6:23 it says that gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. In John 4:10 Jesus told woman at the well that the living water was a gift that could only be received. In John 4:15 the woman did not try to earn the water. She simply asked for it and received it. The only thing we can do with gift is receive or reject it. In John 1:12 the word “RECEIVE” and “BELIEVE” are used synonymously. Jesus is calling on you, why not let come into your heart—Revelation 3:20 Jesus offers you a gift. |