Saved Through Water

by Matthew W. Bassford Genesis 7:11-24 tells the story of the greatest cataclysm ever to overtake the earth. Because the wickedness of man was great on the earth, God sent a flood to cleanse it by destroying everything that lived on the land. In this flood, every human being died except for eight. The patriarch…

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Is salvation a miracle?

Question: Hello Brother Jeffrey, Is salvation considered a miracle? I ask because the gospel is described as the power of God and in the Strong’s Concordance, the same word is used in some places for miracles. Also, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:4-7, II Timothy 1:9-10, John 6:44-45, Colossians 2:11-12, II Timothy 2:24-26, Acts 2:48, Philippians 1:3,…

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If One Verse Was All We Needed

by Terry Wane Benton If one verse said it all, and we needed no more than one verse to be saved, I would choose Ephesians 2:5. “By grace you have been saved.” That way I wouldn’t have to believe, repent, confess, or be baptized. I would rest my case here and just tell people they…

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Am I really saved if I didn’t understand Jesus’ resurrection?

Question: Lately, I’ve been struggling with wondering how long I’ve been saved. For a while, I think that I might’ve been under the impression that Jesus’ resurrection was just spiritual rather than both physical and spiritual. I don’t really know why I assumed that for a period of time, but I did. I was later…

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Jericho and our Salvation

by Jefferson David Tant After reading the title, some might wonder what the battle of Jericho has to do with our salvation today. The battle when Israel conquered Jericho was about 1410 B.C., over 3,400 years ago. Thus the question might be, “What in the world would some event over three thousand years ago have…

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Prisoners of Hope

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Prisoners-of-Hope.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Zechariah 9:9-12   I.         The book of Zechariah is one of both scoldings and exhortation.             A.        The people after their return from captivity had fallen into complacency and indifference toward their religion.             B.        Zechariah calls them to change through warnings – Zechariah 1:2-6             C.        And he encourages them through visions of the future.…

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I want my friend to be saved but she isn’t listening

Question: Sir, Keep up the good work. I want my friend to be saved. She is falling away from Jesus Christ constantly and she is only fifteen! She knows the truth, but she just does not want to listen. She is falling away like Sodom and Gomorrah! My question is who are the two witnesses?…

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Chariots of Fire

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Chariots-of-Fire.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 6:8-23   I.         Ben-hadad, king of Syria, caused much grief for the northern kingdom of Israel             A.        He made many raids into Israel, but he soon ran into problems             B.        While his strategies were planned in top-secret, the king of Israel always seemed to know them in advance and had…

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The Harvest Is Past

by Jarrod Jacobs “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20 KJV). In context, these words were spoken by people desperate for someone to deliver them from the consequences of their decisions. Some Bible versions even use phrases like “we have not been delivered,” “rescued,” and “we have…

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Justification by Works and Baptism

by Matthew W. Bassford At the end of Romans 3 and the beginning of Romans 4, we encounter the most famous of Paul’s teachings: justification by faith in Jesus. Throughout the context, he contrasts it with justification by works. Abraham was not justified by works, nor was David, nor can we be. From this magnificent…

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Hard Sayings

Hard Sayings – Part 1Hard Sayings – Part 2 Text: Hebrews 5:5-14   I.         There are hard sayings in the Bible             A.        When Jesus was followed by a crowd looking for free food, he began explaining that they needed to seek spiritual food that only he could offer – John 6:35                         1.         Eventually Jesus said something hard to…

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Was baptism commanded in the Old Testament at the time of John the Baptist?

Question: Was baptism commanded in the Old Covenant at the time of John the Baptist? I thought baptism was not commanded in the Old Testament for salvation. I have always heard that baptism was not commanded in the Old Testament. Am I missing something here? Mark 1:4 mentions John’s baptism of repentance for the remission…

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No Condemnation

by Ken Green Text: Romans 8:1-4 The major theme the apostle is dealing with continues to be the results of justification by faith. This thesis was taken up in Romans 5:1, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have…” The closing verses of chapters 5, 6, and 7 serve to underscore the direction of the…

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The Living Redeemer

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Living-Redeemer.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 49   I.         When we get ourselves into difficulties, most of us depend on our family to help us out             A.        I Timothy 5:8 – A Christian is to provide for his own.             B.        Proverbs 17:17 – A brother is born for adversity II.        In the days of the Old Law a…

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Resist the Devil

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Resist-the-Devil.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 4:1-10   I.         When we are faced with temptation, it is a struggle to resist             A.        The urge to give in seems overwhelming. Even when we know we should not, too often we do it anyway – Romans 7:14-15                         1.         Since the action goes against what we know and want to…

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By Grace Through Faith with the Washing of Water

by Terry Wane Benton Notice the prepositions: by, through, and with. The Book of Ephesians uses all three to describe what is involved with our salvation. It teaches we are saved by grace. It teaches we are saved through faith. It teaches we are saved with the washing of water by the word. It is…

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Is salvation in Acts 2:21 salvation from the destruction of Jerusalem?

Question: A member of the church has told me that Acts 2:21 is talking about rescue from danger or destruction, not salvation. He told me “saved” in verse 21 is not salvation from sin, it is saved from the Jerusalem destruction. Another member of the church said in the immediate context of the quotation from…

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Why Water?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Why-Water.mp3 Text: John 3:1-12   I.         Jesus stated that unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven – John 3:5             A.        We understand, despite efforts by many to avoid it, that Jesus refers to baptism when he said one must be born of water             B.        Today, I would like to…

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My past makes me unworthy of God

Question: I have been doing well concerning abstaining from pornography. I suppose it has been over a year since I last involved myself in that mess. Prior to that, I had gone about three years without giving in to it. I certainly can’t say I have overcome that sin, but I guess I would say…

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How Noah Was Saved

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/How-Noah-Was-Saved.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 3:18-22   I.         In our reading, Peter draws on the account of Noah’s salvation to illustrate how the Christian is saved.             A.        Many people object to the straight forward reading of I Peter 3:21 because it stands contrary to what they have accepted.                         1.         To many people, baptism is simply…

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Another Chance

by Carey Scott Many people in the denominational world embrace doctrines which offer a second chance to everyone. Many realize that they will fail God, and the thought that they might get a second chance intrigues them. For some, this is all the crutch they need to just continue in their sins, for after all:…

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Genealogy Women

by Whit Sasser The genealogy of Jesus Christ, recorded in chapter 1 of Matthew, is interesting and educational in more ways than one. But, one item of interest has to be the women who are mentioned. Generally, it is a list of the male ancestors of Jesus beginning with Abraham, but a few women are…

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How can my sins be forgiven without receiving salvation?

Question: Good day, Acts 2:38 says after obeying the gospel our sins will be forgiven and we will receive salvation (gift of Holy Spirit). Please expound on how my sins can be forgiven without receiving salvation.   Thanks. Answer: “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus…

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A Salvation Issue

by Bobby Graham In more recent years some have responded in this way with increasing frequency to our insistence upon adherence to the Scriptural pattern:  “Well, it’s not a salvation issue.”   It might be a matter of the organization of the local church, the use of women in roles of leadership, or the use of…

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Who’s God Looking For?

by Flora Hartsell Tant “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (II Chronicles 16:9). I was just thinking: What or who is God looking for? I remember the words of our dear brother Sewell Hall: “The…

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The Gift of the Holy Spirit

by Matthew W. Bassford If there is any verse in the Bible that is of particular significance to brethren, it is Acts 2:38. It says in so many words that the purpose of baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, a truth clearly taught in Scripture but rejected by much of the wider religious world.…

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The Meaning of Life: Where Are You Going?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Meaning-of-Life-Where-Are-You-Going.mp3 Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10   I.         Having a goal in mind gives direction to the choices that you must make.             A.        The meaning of life is more than what you are doing with your life right now. It is also where you are letting life take you.             B.        One thing is certain, you are going to die -…

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What About the Thief on the Cross?

by Matthew W. Bassford When it comes to discussion about baptism for the forgiveness of sins, most Christians know all the steps of the dance. If we’re studying with a non-Christian and we show them passages like Acts 2:38 and I Peter 3:21, one of two things is going to happen. Either they are going…

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Obedience to God

by Paul Southern via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 10, August 1952. The subject of obedience is an important theme that should engage the thought of every responsible person. Rebellion against constituted authority seems to be a trait inherent with mankind. On every hand, we witness infractions of constitutional, statutory, and social laws. Hence, it…

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Being a Christian Will Not Save You

Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 1Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 2Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jude 1-10   I.         Why did you become a Christian?             A.        For most of us, we desired the promise – Ephesians 1:13-14             B.        We wanted…

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Does Ezekiel 14:12-23 teach that some are saved by their own righteousness?

Question: Is Ezekiel 14:12-23 a passage about these men being saved by their own righteousness? Were they perfect so they could save themselves, apart from God’s grace, since “all have sinned”? And is an inference of eternal salvation valid from this passage? I ask this because I’m convinced that you can crush this solid food…

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The Fullness of Time

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TheFullnessOfTime.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Galatians 3:26-4:7   I.         For a plan to succeed there must be preparation             A.        The plans of the diligent succeed – Proverbs 21:5                         1.         In part because he isn’t lazy about accomplishing what he plans – Proverbs 13:4                         2.         The lesson of the ant is that they prepare in advance of their needs…

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Can you be saved by having the devil beaten out of you?

Question: Please do not dismiss my mail to you as it is very serious and I am honest as well as discreet, as I am sure you will be the same. I am looking to visit you at a local church, or to your ministerial home or suitable confessional venue. Firstly let me say I…

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The Message of the Cross

I.         I Corinthians 1:18-24             A.        The core of salvation is the fact that Jesus died for our sins.             B.        The center of our hope is the knowledge that Jesus arose triumphant over death.             C.        Yet many are unable to understand this message.                         1.         The Jews wanted something else. They wanted further proof from God.                         2.         The Greeks thought it was silly.…

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