Sunday, November 5, 2017 - Salvation from Sin!
Pastor Roger Marcos
Nov. 5, 2017
What do you think it takes for someone to get to heaven? Is it luck? Good deeds? Nothing at all or is there something more? The Bible has the real answer to this question. It's a matter of FAITH in Jesus Christ.
We cannot have eternal life without God's forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7a says, "In Him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins."
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
What Sin Is & What Sin Does? 1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
This verse, however, is a good place to begin. Sin is directly connected to breaking laws. "Law," especially in the Old Testament, frequently means the broader term "instruction." Thus, we have more to consider as sin than just the breaking of a specific law. However, sin is not a complicated concept.
You’ll never understand what God is doing right here, right now until you understand what sin does to the way that your heart functions. We all know that sin makes all of us lawbreakers, but many of us miss the fact that sin does something much more foundationally destructive in our hearts. Sin makes all of us awe breakers.
Sin- an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.
All Are Slaves To Sin.
Rom. 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 16
The number sixteen is symbolic of love and loving. Christians are to become perfected in God's love not just by physically obeying the Commandments (which should be done anyway) but also by following the full spiritual INTENT of our Creator's laws and judgments (Matthew 22:37 - 40). This duality of true love is represented by 8 + 8 = 16.
In the Old Testament, 16 of the various names and titles for God specially signify His constant, never-ending love for the children of Israel.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
Rom. 3:23 “.for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,.”
How Do We Come Back? God is not mad at you! He isn't counting your sins and holding them against you. He wants, so much, to have a personal relationship with you that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to shed His blood, die on the cross, and then be raised from the dead. He did all that so that you can be set free from the bondage of sin and the fear of death, and enter into eternal life. Dr. Larry Hutton
Is. 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.
If disobedience is the thing that separates us from God and condemns us, how do we come back to Him?
REVERSE THE PROCESS!!!
Acts 2:36-38 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Not Good Enough To Be:
Prov. 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Jer. 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
Mat. 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
There is Only ONE Way
Hear Him
1. Believe
Mark 16:16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
John 8:24
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
2. Repent.
Acts 2:38Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 13:3I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
3. Confess
Mat. 10:32-33"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Acts 8:37Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
4. Be Baptized.
Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?“ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:36-38
Conclusion:
Steps toward Salvation
Gal. 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Notice
- Believing, Repenting & Confessing get you moving toward salvation
- BAPTISM puts you INTO CHRIST
- THAT IS WHERE THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS ARE
If you stop one step short you are not IN CHRIST