Church of the True Way: Bible Lesson 21

Welcome to this offering of the Bible study. We will begin this study by reading from Roman’s chapter ten; and I would ask that if it be possible for you, that you stop right now and read that chapter of the Bible. If you are in a position where you can’t reach your Bible right now, make mental notes to read chapter ten of Romans as soon as possible. Romans chapter ten makes it clear that we are saved by faith in facts about Jesus Christ. That’s right, we are saved by FAITH……in FACTS….about JESUS CHRIST and His Person and Work on Calvary.

Forget the ideas of mystical, hyper-spiritual, formula based ideas that man has devised and that attempt to manipulate our Almighty God. God cannot be manipulated. I’m afraid that our "user friendly" churches, which turn out to be nothing more than social clubs, have given us the idea that it is actions that we take and movements that we make, and words that we speak, that causes God to save us.

Do not ever bet your eternal security on that kind of thinking!

No man has ever been saved, that way. All salvation comes when we know what God would have us to do, and then we do that as we love and glorify our God, Jehovah, and we do exactly what He says we are to do. And that is the Fact that we must understand, if we are ever to be saved.

The fact is, that we have chosen to desert personal and private study of God's Word, the Holy Bible; however God has not forgotten, nor changed what He inspired the Holy men of old to write down for our admonition. God has said many things that are essential to our being saved and they are all Biblical Facts.

There will be many on that day (Judgment day) that will try to convince God that they have gone to church regularly, paid their tithes, even done good works, and that they had believed everything that their preachers had said; but God will not hear them, and will profess to them that He had never known them. (Matthew 7:21-23).

The question now becomes for us who are able to read this Bible study today, what do I believe about what the Bible says? Don't use the old dodge about believing what the Bible says; because most people today do not really know what the Bible says. Too many, simply do not know the FACTS.

The Fact is, that God elected a people, from every tribe, nation and tongue, without distinction but not without exception, before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4; Rev.5:9).

The fact is, that God did not chose to tell us which ones were elect and which were not. The only way that any of us can ever know if we are elect, is that those who are, will come to the knowledge of God, be quickened by the Holy Spirit and called by God and they will come to God through Jesus Christ and be saved. We are all born dead in trespass and sin, and only by a work of God in our lives will we ever desire to really be saved. True Salvation is demonstrated by an obedience to the Word and will of God. (Ephesians 2:1-14; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:44; Matthew 7:13-14; Titus 2:11-12).

The fact is that Salvation does not happen, because of a decision that we as creatures make, or as a result of our completing some formula that has been made up by well meaning people who would have everyone to join their particular church. Salvation belongs to God and only God decides, only God accepts, only God calls, and only God quickens, or restores our spirit that is able to commune with God, and in the end, it is God and God alone, who saves us. Yes, we cooperate, but only because God has given us the will to cooperate. (Psalms 65:4; Deuteronomy 4:35-38; Luke 6:13;John 15:16; Matthew 20:16; Mark 13:20; 2nd Thess. 2:13; 1st Peter 2:9; Rev. 17:14;Philippians 2:13)

The fact is that the Cross of Christ, was a watershed in God's dealing with mankind. Jesus Christ came to the earth and took on the form and flesh of man, but he never sinned, He taught us and left us the message that we needed to repent and turn to the true God; and He substituted Himself for the elect on the cross and as a result of the cross, every person chosen by God before the foundation of the world, will be saved in time. If you are truly concerned about your eternity and where you will spend it, do not…I repeat, do not, stand back and complain that God is unfair or that there is no hope for you: if you really want to be saved, enough to obey God and submit your life to Him, come on in, Jesus said if you come the way He has said you must come (Luke 14:26-32) that He would not turn you away. The ball is in your court. (John 19:30: Hebrews 12:2; John 3:16-21).

The fact is that there is a death, to the old creature, and a new birth connected with true salvation. There is a new creature, with a newness of life, that is created in true salvation. God does not simply take the old creature and remove all the dents and dings and then put a fresh paint job on it. God puts the old creature to death, nailed him to the cross with Christ; and produces a new creature with the old things passed away and all things being new. (Romans 6:3-11; John 3:3,5; Ephesians 2:10;

2nd Cor. 5:17).

The fact is that it is not in man's power to save himself, or even desire to want to be saved. Man is in love with the world and the things of the world; and that makes him the enemy of God. (Titus 3:2-8; James 4:4)

The fact is that we have attempted to pervert the Word of God and have done a great job of misrepresenting it to those who will not read and study their Bibles for themselves. We have wanted to believe that God owes us His love and mercy, that Jesus Christ cannot help but love us everyone, regardless of what we believe or do; but the fact is that God owes us nothing, does not need any of us and could destroy us all and begin all over again and still be Just. Jesus Christ says to us plainly in the Word of God that We are his friends, if ,we do whatsoever He commands. Jesus said in John chapter 14 and verses 21-24, that the people who know His commandments, and keepeth them, are the people that love Him and He says there, that His Father will love those people and He will also.

Think on these things: read the listed scriptures for yourselves and be sure that what you have been taught, is what God says; and not what me or some other preacher has made up. I invite your questions or comments. ….. bro bob.