Posts Tagged ‘salvation’
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…
Read MoreThe 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.…
Read MoreWas John’s baptism able to save people?
Question: Good morning sir, I have been reading about the baptism of John and how he came to make a way for Jesus to come to be accepted, but I am confused about whether his baptism was able to save people before Jesus’ baptism in Acts 2:38. If someone baptized by John died before Jesus’…
Read MoreYou’re Judging Another Person’s Salvation
By Joe R. Price May we examine a person’s personal belief about their salvation without “judging” them? More specifically, is it possible to identify an unbiblical view a person has about their salvation? Can we use the Scriptures to explain to a lost person he or she is lost? Or, are we judging that person…
Read MoreWasn’t the conversion of the Samaritans proof that God wanted Gentiles saved?
Question: Good day, The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Cornelius and his family was proof that the Gentiles were also accepted by God without the law or becoming a Jew, but Samaritans (Acts 8) were already being baptized into Christ before Acts 10. Was that not proof or were the Samaritans not looked at…
Read MoreWhy do you need to receive the gift of the Spirit again?
Question: Hi, In Ephesians 1, Paul says we are marked with a seal, the Holy Spirit, on believing the gospel. “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a…
Read MoreIs John 3:16 the only passage that we need to get to heaven?
Question: Hello, I have just found your website and have learned a great deal as well as carry great respect for your ability to answer questions biblically. That being said, I bear an immense disagreement but extremely open to reconsideration if thoroughly convinced. I’m only 23 and have been born again since I was 14.…
Read MoreAre we only judged by the things we know?
Question: Good afternoon, Brother Hamilton: I hope this message finds you well. I am looking at your site for information about accountability for the Christian, and I am having trouble wording what I’m looking for to find resources. Maybe you can help. I was at a small study with one of the wives of our…
Read MoreThe Point of the Prodigal Son
by Matthew W. Bassford I know that one should not have high expectations of religious memes, but the one below grinds my gears. Every time I saw it, I rolled my eyes a little bit harder, until I knew that either I’d have to write about it, or my eyes would get stuck that way…
Read MoreChildren of Light in the Armor of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019Fall6Children-of-Light-in-the-Armor-of-God.mp3 by Andy Cantrell Finding Our Purpose from the Past
Read MoreDoes everyone who was baptized have eternal life?
Question: Hi, From the topic of “The Thousand-Year Reign”, you stated that baptism is the first resurrection. John also states that second death will not have an effect on those who take part in the first resurrection. Then does that mean all who were baptized will have eternal life? But what about those who are…
Read MoreIs baptism necessary for salvation?
Question: Hello! I am from Brazil, and I am seeking salvation. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for my sins on the cross and rose on the third day for my justification. I am sorry for all my sins. I would like to ask you: Is baptism by immersion necessary…
Read MoreBaptism: Necessary for Salvation
by Allen Dvorak It is virtually undisputed truth that man is saved by divine grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). However, some have concluded from this fact that there is nothing that man can or must do for his salvation. It is frequently argued that “water baptism can’t possibly be necessary for salvation because it is…
Read MoreNotes on Calling
God’s Calling of Men John 6:44-45 Romans 1:6 Romans 8:30 Romans 9:24 I Corinthians 1:26 Ephesians 1:18 Ephesians 4:1-4 Philippians 3:14 I Thessalonians 2:12 II Thessalonians 2:14 Hebrews 9:15 I Peter 2:9 I Peter 5:10 II Peter 1:10 Calling on the Name of the Lord “In the name of …” means “acting with the authority…
Read MoreCalling on the Name of the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Calling-on-the-Name-of-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:14-21 I. Most linguist will tell you that one difficulty in translating between two languages is dealing with idioms A. An idiom is a phrase that doesn’t mean what is literally said, but native speakers understand them without much thought B. Examples from English are” 1. “It’s raining cats and…
Read MoreThe Thrill of Salvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TheThrillOfSalvation.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. Luke 15:10 – When someone responds to God’s message, there is excitement that reaches all the way to heaven! A. Each and every person, no matter how high or low stationed in life is important to God. B. Ezekiel 33:11 – God doesn’t look forward to punishing the…
Read MoreYou Must Be Born Again
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/08/You-Must-Be-Born-Again2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 3:1-22 I. I had a fellow ask me if I had been born again. A. In particular, he wanted to know how I came to believe such a thing. B. When I replied with I John 2:3-6; 4:6; 5:2-3, he became quite upset C. He wanted to know how I was…
Read MoreThe Conversion of Saul
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ConversionOfSaul.mp3 by Jeff Hamilton Text: I Timothy 1:12-17 I. The path that Saul took from Judaism to Christianity can teach us a lot about what it takes to become a Christian A. It is a lesson that many need to learn by people caught up in denominational teachings. B. We will look at the events that happened…
Read MoreRedeemed by a Loving God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Redeemed-by-a-Loving-God.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreGrowing in Respect to Salvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GrowingInRespectToSalvation.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreHow to Become a Christian
by W. Frank Walton “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (II Corinthians 5:17). The Bible says salvation from sin is only in Christ (Acts 4:12). The most important commitment you’ll ever make is deciding to become a true Christian. What “steps”…
Read MoreNotes on Things that Accompany Salvation
Hear Believe Repent Confess Be Baptized Obey Commanded Acts 16:31; Hebrews 11:6 Commanded Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20 Commanded Acts 10:48 Commanded Philippians 2:12 To come to God John 6:45 To please God Hebrews 11:6 To gain times of refreshing Acts 3:19 Brings joy in heaven Luke 15:7 To be confessed before God Matthew 10:32-33 To…
Read MoreShouldn’t we be skipping some verses in Ten Thousand Angels and Amazing Grace?
Question: In the song “Ten Thousand Angels,” the last words in the fourth verse states: “Salvation’s wondrous plan was done.” In the preceding words, He gave himself to die, followed by Salvation’s wondrous plan was done gives the idea that there was nothing left for Christ to do in order for salvation to be accomplished.…
Read MoreDo You Expect to Go to Heaven?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DoYouExpectToGoToHeaven.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Should God save you? A. Paul was able to say, “Yes, I did the Lord’s will.” – II Tim. 4:6-8 B. Can you say that about your own life? C. How did you become a Christian? 1. Converted from a denomination or from out of the world? 2. Raised in the church? D. All are the…
Read MoreWhen I have days where I don’t read or pray as much as I usually do, does that mean I won’t reach heaven?
Question: Hey Mr. Jeffrey, I have resolved to walk in all of God’s ways, and I’ve been faithfully doing as best as I can. I’ve been behaving, but when I see places where Jesus says to strive to enter into narrow gate because many seek to enter, but will not be able to. Also, He…
Read MoreWill my Hindu grandparents go to heaven if they don’t follow Christianity?
Question: My grandparents are Hindu and very religious. They pray every day for 30 minutes and on the weekends they go to their church and stay there for hours. They are good-hearted, kind people. But can they still go to heaven if they don’t follow Christianity? It’s not like they don’t believe in Jesus, they…
Read MoreYou Can Be Loved But Not Yet Accepted
by Terry Wane Benton God loves the lost and seeks to save them. They are not saved and accepted just because God loves them. Love longs for reconciliation, but just because God loves us it does not mean we are reconciled to God. God demonstrated His love by giving His only Son for us (John…
Read MoreCan you explain whether people are saved in these four scenarios?
Question: The gospel was preached to four people who accepted the Word and wanted to be baptized. The first person confessed his drinking habit and asked to be baptized but will gradually stop the drinking later. Can he be baptized to become a Christian? Why or why not? The second person hides his sin with…
Read MoreFaithfulness, Not Perfection
by Matthew W. Bassford Over the past few weeks, Shawn and I have spent Sunday mornings explaining how it is that we can know that we are heaven-bound for certain. We’ve seen that we can put our confidence in the powerful sacrifice of Jesus and in the perfect forgiveness of God. However, that doesn’t quiet the…
Read MoreHow do I show my coworker that it is not faith alone that saves?
Question: Hello, I am in a discussion of the Bible with a man that I work with. He is Lutheran and I go to a church of Christ. His beliefs are that faith saves and continues to recite the verse from Ephesians 2:8-9. I’m sure you’re very familiar with that verse. I have shared with…
Read MoreI’m trying to turn my life around, but it just doesn’t feel like when I was first saved
Question: Thank you so much for taking my question. Many years ago, when I was about 18 years old, I was saved. My life was completely changed at that moment, and I remember how for weeks following, I would go outside at night by myself and look up in the sky and contemplate God, in…
Read MoreWhat if I’m not good enough for God?
Question: I read something on your website about a statement made that says that if a person could not be trusted with things on earth, then why would God trust him with things in heaven? Does this mean if somebody is a complete failure, they have no hope of even getting to heaven? How does…
Read MoreHow many are going to heaven?
Question: How many are going to heaven? Answer: We don’t know how many there will be. There is no upper limit on how many heaven could hold. Descriptions of heaven tell us that there will be a great multitude of all who followed God through the ages. “After these things I looked, and behold, a…
Read MoreAm I following God because of my fear of hell and my selfish desire to be saved?
Question: Hello, I have been a Christian for most of my life. Recently my heart has fallen under heavy conviction (I think), and I feel as if I have not desired God above all else in my walk with Him. With this, I began to fear that I was not actually saved, and a deep…
Read MoreViews of Mark 16:16
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ViewsOfMark16.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 16:14-20 I. Jesus had just one meaning in mind when he spoke Mark 16:16. A. It isn’t for men to put their own spin on Jesus’ words – II Peter 1:20-21 B. Not that this has ever stopped people from trying C. God doesn’t author confusion – I Corinthians 14:33 D. But…
Read MoreIf I get baptized, does that mean I wasn’t saved before?
Question: Hello, I am a teenager, and I have a few questions I’d like to ask. I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church. I said the sinner’s prayer (or something like it) when I was 6 or 7 years old. I wanted to follow God (I think), but I never got around to being…
Read MoreAre We Condemning Those Who Never Heard the Gospel?
by Matthew W. Bassford I received the following question: “I heard one yesterday I’ve been pondering. The man said that unless you believe in God you will be lost. So what about all those people who have never had the opportunity? I have him some answers but I’d be interested to hear what you think.”…
Read MoreCan someone lose his reward but retain his salvation?
Question: Dear minister of God, Would you be kind enough to assist me in answering the following: For me, my understanding is that the believer’s eternal salvation is a matter of grace through faith alone. His reward is based on righteousness and works. Whereas the believer’s eternal salvation can never be lost, his reward can…
Read MoreCan I remove sin by myself?
Question: Hi, I want to know if I can remove the sin by myself or do I have to trust Jesus in order for this to work? Answer: When you sin, you put yourself into debt and into slavery. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that…
Read MoreDoes faith alone save one from his sins?
Question: Does faith alone save one from his sins? Answer: Faith does save (Acts 16:31). Grace saves (Acts 15:11). Jesus saves (Acts 4:12). The message saves (Acts 11:14). The resurrection saves (Romans 5:10). Hope saves (Romans 8:24). Confession saves (Romans 10:10). The gospel saves (I Corinthians 15:2). Knowledge saves (1 Timothy 4:2). The washing of…
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