Sermon Central
-
Eternal Salvation & Assurance
Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Salvation is of God, neither of the church nor of men. No creature can ever add or subtract from God’s eternal salvation. Under the NT, if you have been saved and born again then you are safe and secure forever in Christ.
Intro: The biblical word “salvation” communicates the thought of deliverance, safety, preservation, and restoration. To be saved means to be rescued from a lost, hopeless and perishing state. Divine salvation provides a removal of every charge against the sinner and grants him everlasting life in place of eternal condemnation. The Lord is the only Saviour and He alone is qualified to save!
A. BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT NEW TESTAMENT SALVATION
1. Salvation is BELIEVING in Jesus Christ (John 3:36).
2. Salvation is NOT by WORKS (Eph. 2:8-9).
3. Salvation is a FREE GIFT (Rom. 5:18; 6:23).
4. Salvation is a NEW BIRTH (I Pet. 1:23).
5. Salvation is being WASHED BY CHRIST’S BLOOD (Rev. 1:5).
6. Salvation is becoming a CHILD OF GOD (Rom. 8:15-16).
7. Salvation is being kept by the POWER OF GOD (I Pet. 1:5; I Thess. 5:23).
B. BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT ETERNAL ASSURANCE
1. Eternal salvation is eternal (Heb. 5:9). By definition eternal means never ending. Once a Christian has eternal life it can never be taken away. If it could be it would be just temporal!
2. The NT believer has eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). Every Christian has been eternally redeemed from his sins, that is, his sins were paid for in full and taken away.
3. The NT believer is a new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17). God has made the believer a new creature and no one can “uncreate” him.
4. The NT believer is perfected for ever (Heb. 10: 10, 14). A blessed position in Christ!
5. The NT believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30). No power in heaven or earth can ever break God’s seal.
6. The NT believer is kept by the power of God (Jude 24). Since God is keeping him, the Christian cannot fall from grace and lose his salvation.
7. The NT believer is safe in the hands of the Father and Son (John 10:28-29). A Christian cannot fall from grace and perish because he is in very good hands.
8. The NT believer is promised not to come into condemnation (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1) These promises would be broken if even one true Christian went to Hell.
9. Works cannot affect the believers salvation (Rom. 11:6). NT Salvation is not gained by works, so it cannot be lost by works.
10. It is God’s will that Christ lose none of those who come to Him (John 6:39).
11. Nothing can separate the believer from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). Nothing in the universe – past, present, or future – can separate a believer from Christ’s love.
12. God will finish what He started (Phil. 1:6). God began salvation and will finish it.
Conclusion: Salvation is of God, neither of the church nor of men. No creature can ever add or subtract from God’s eternal salvation. Under the NT, if you have been saved and born again then you are safe and secure forever in Christ. If, on the other hand, you are not sure of salvation, then repent of your sins and call upon God to save your soul right NOW. Jesus loves you and wants you to forever share in His joy and glory in Heaven. Dear unsaved friend, the apostle Paul solemnly reminds you today...“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).
