salvation – Page 14 – La Vista Church of Christ

What is Salvation?

October 29, 2004

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 51 I. The question seems almost ridiculously trivial, but in the years that I have talked with people about their salvation, I’ve come to realize that some of the misinformation out there is rooted in the fact that people don’t know what they are talking about. A. There is a…

The Inheritance

September 21, 2004

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 21:6-8 I. The Christian’s relationship with God is described by several metaphors A. We are servants – I Corinthians 4:1 1. The emphasis is on our obeying the will of our Master B. We are priests – I Peter 2:4-5, 9 1. We are able to bring worship directly to God without anyone…

Can a murderer be forgiven by God and still go to heaven?

July 19, 2004

Question: Can a murderer be forgiven by God and still go to heaven? Answer: Jesus stated, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28-29).…

What is the difference between being born again and saved?

July 12, 2004

Question: The thing that I’m trying to figure out is the difference between being born again and saved. I was told that they are the same thing, but I don’t see how they are. Does the new birth save the soul? I thought the new birth causes the spirit to be recreated, and obedience to…

Is repentance necessary to be saved?

July 8, 2004

Question: When Peter preached to Cornelius and his household, was repentance anywhere in his sermon? Is a person born again by faith and repentance, or by faith? I think that I was born again when God revealed His Son to me, and I believed in Him, am I completely wrong? I believed in Him first,…

Should we call on Jesus or Jehovah to be saved?

May 4, 2004

Question: Should we call on Jesus or Jehovah to be saved? Answer: The question assumes that God the Father and God the Son have different desires for our salvation. Yet Jesus stated, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may…

Can a person be a believer and not be saved?

March 17, 2004

Question: What biblical reference is there that uses the word “believer” and says that person isn’t saved? Answer: The term “believer” is frequently used to refer to those had entered the kingdom of the Lord. For example, “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). (See also Acts…

Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace?

March 5, 2004

Question: Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace? Answer: In the Bible, grace is the concept of a freely given gift; a gift that the recipient has not earned nor has necessarily deserved to receive. God’s gift to mankind was the life of His own Son. “For God so loved the world…

The Scheme of Redemption in Type

February 23, 2004

by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 1952. In recent articles, consideration has been given with respect to the purpose and province of prophecy in the plan of salvation. In this, we wish to proceed to the study of the character and design of type in this great and glorious system of…

The Scheme of Redemption in Preparation

February 21, 2004

by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 10, August 1952. The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No.11, September 1952 From the moment of the conception of a remedial system in the mind of Jehovah, every phase of its evolvement and development of it was doubtless in the mind of the Almighty. With the statements of a…

The Scheme of Redemption in Perfection and Presentation

February 20, 2004

by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 12, October 1952. In the survey thus far of the development of God’s purposed and planned redemption of man from sin, we have reached the point wherein the promised Messiah has come in fulfillment of Divine prophecy. While here on earth, prior to His death, He very…

A refusal to accept that salvation came to Cornelius at baptism

February 10, 2004

Question: Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Cornelius was saved before he was baptized. There are two reasons why we know Cornelius was saved before being baptized. 1. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before being baptized; that he had the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:13 states that he abided in God and that God abided in…

Plan of Salvation

February 4, 2004

by Foy E. Wallace, Jr Number One Gospel Sermons, pages 46-47. When the time came to reveal that great Plan of Salvation, God assigned that function of revelation to the Holy Spirit. God is the primitive cause of man’s salvation, he willed it. Jesus Christ is the sacrificial cause of man’s salvation, he purchased it…

The Lord’s Church: Means or Result of Salvation?

January 14, 2004

by Robert F. Turner via Plain Talk About God’s Church, pages 77-80 When followers of Christ are likened to a physical body, Christ is the head and the saints are the members of that body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). All who are in Christ are, by this figure, considered members of His body. We ignore priorities…

Can a man be saved without baptism?

January 12, 2004

Brother Lipscomb: Do the Scriptures say that no one can be saved without baptism, or is it only an inference? If an inference, are not all creeds founded on inferences? I have been reading your paper [The Gospel Advocate] for some time, and I like it very well. Lipscomb’s Answer: Inferences are of different degrees…

Salvation by Grace Through Faith

October 17, 2003

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. When we read Ephesians 2:8-10, there are four important words which stand out: grace, saved, faith, and works. A. The gift mentioned in verse 8 is the gift of salvation given to us by God’s grace. 1. Grace is an unmerited favor. a. It is an action distinguished by justice.…

If man must be baptized to be saved, why do so many passages only mention faith?

October 10, 2003

Question: The Bible teaches throughout the New Testament that faith and faith alone is necessary for salvation. John 1:12-13; John 3:15; John 3:16; John 3:18; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:35; John 6:40; John 6:47; John 7:38-39; John 11:25-26; John 20:31; Acts 2:21; Acts 10:43; Acts 11:17; Acts 13:38-39; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:31; Acts 20:21; Romans 1:16;…

Does the term “brother” indicate Saul was saved prior to baptism?

October 9, 2003

Question: Since Ananias calls Saul “Brother” prior to Saul’s baptism, doesn’t this prove that Saul was saved before he was baptized? Answer: The verse in question is Acts 22:13 which reads, “and he [Ananias] stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.” As the conversation between Ananias and…

Is There Salvation Outside of Christ?

September 23, 2003

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 4:1-14 I. In the summer of 2002, Catholic theologians made the news. A. From an article by Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, August 18, 2002 A committee of the U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops has negated the death of Christ, and invalidated his declaration, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).…

I do not believe you can lose your salvation

July 2, 2003

Question: Well I do not believe you can lose salvation. There is too much teaching of it being eternal and If we could lose it that means we can also keep it right? If we can keep it that means it has something to do with us and not just of God. There is a…

Can I lose my way to heaven?

June 14, 2003

Question: Can I lose my way to heaven? Answer: Obviously, Paul thought that it was possible. “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have…

If I do all the commandments, when will I do enough?

June 14, 2003

Question: If I do all the commandments, when will I do enough? Answer: In asking this question, you have started off in the wrong direction. Essentially you have asked what is the minimum that I can do to be pleasing to God. Yet God doesn’t want our minimum effort. When a lawyer asked Jesus what…

What about the thief on the cross?

June 14, 2003

Question: I am still a little confused about what I need to actually do. I heard about baptism, but they say that the thief on the cross wasn’t baptized. Isn’t he in heaven? Answer: I appreciate the time taken to ask questions concerning your salvation. Personally, I don’t believe the confusion comes from what the…

What must I do to go to heaven?

June 13, 2003

Question: What must I do to go to Heaven when I die? Please, no opinions. Please use the Bible, it is all we have that is the truth. Answer: I really appreciate your desire for a biblical answer to your question. Far too many only want confirmation that they are right and so they search…