by Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Matthew 7:1-6<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Matthew 7:6<\/p>\n A. We don’t often think about whom we talk to about the gospel, but not everyone\nwill be receptive to the message.\n B. Jesus is basically saying don’t waste your time. Not only will the message be\nrejected but the messenger will also be attacked.\n C. But consider this: It requires judgement on our part – a judgement to know when\nto back off and realize further effort is not worth the time.\n D. That is hard at times. The person we might think won’t give us the time of day\nturns out to be very interested and response to the Gospel’s call. The person we\nare certain would like to hear the message will not have anything to do with us.\n
E. The key is not to prejudge the situation, but to see the reaction for what it is.<\/p>\nII. Many people just assume all religious people are interested in the Bible and are going to\nheaven.\n
A. Yet Jesus plainly says otherwise – Matthew 7:21-23<\/p>\n
B. Few will actually make it to heaven – Matthew 7:13-14<\/p>\n C. There are people who will acknowledge Jesus, claim to be Christians, but will not\nmake it to heaven – Luke 6:46-49\n
III. Think how many have not obeyed the great commission – Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16<\/p>\n A. Most who claim Christ have accepted the Protestant idea that one is saved the\nmoment he accepts Jesus as his personal Savior.\n
1. Billy Graham wrote, “Eternal life is yours the moment you believe.”<\/p>\n 2. Hiscox, “The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches”, under “Justification”\nwrote, “We believe the Scriptures teach that the great blessing which Christ\nsecures to such as believe in him is justification; that justification includes\nthe pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness;\nthat it is bestowed, not in consideration of any words of righteousness\nwhich we have done, but solely through faith in Christ; by means of which\nfaith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by God; that it brings\nus into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every\nother blessing needed for time and eternity.”\n 3. What is interesting is this same writer in the same book writes, “Salvation\nof sinners is wholly of grace.”\n
4. “Solely of faith” and “wholly of grace” – I wonder which it should be?<\/p>\n B. Yet in another place in this manual, he writes, “We believe the Scriptures teach\nthat in order to be saved, men must be regenerated, or born again; that\nregeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a\nmanner above our comprehension by the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine\ntruth, as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper\nevidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.”\n
1. Perhaps you didn’t catch what he said<\/p>\n
a. Men are first regenerated<\/p>\n b. Then the evidence of regeneration is seen by repentance, faith, and\na new life.\n
c. So one is reborn before one is saved by faith!<\/p>\n
C. “Baptism is not necessary to salvation, but necessary to obedience.”<\/p>\n
1. Therefore obedience is not necessary for salvation.<\/p>\n
2. Hebrews 5:9 – Jesus saves those who obey him<\/p>\n
3. Work and faith must go together – James 2:17-26<\/p>\n
4. You cannot be saved without works – James 1:22-25<\/p>\n D. “Baptism is not necessary to salvation, but is to a public confession of Christ\nbefore the world.”\n
1. Therefore, confession is not necessary for salvation<\/p>\n
2. Matthew 10:32-33 – Jesus will not confess those who do not confess him<\/p>\n
3. Romans 10:8-10 – Confession results in salvation<\/p>\n E. “Baptism is not necessary to salvation, but is essential for membership in the\nchurch which is His body.”\n
1. Therefore, membership in the church is not necessary for salvation<\/p>\n
2. Ephesians 5:25-27 – Christ dies for the church in order to cleanse it.<\/p>\n
3. Act 20:28 – God purchased the church with his own blood.<\/p>\n
4. Does this mean that Jesus’s sacrifice was not necessary for our salvation?<\/p>\n
a. No, look at Colossians 1:13-14<\/p>\n
5. Yet, it is the same sacrifice that purchased the church<\/p>\n
IV. Salvation is in Christ<\/p>\n
A. All spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3<\/p>\n B. The idea of being in Christ and being in the Christ’s church are equivalent – Acts\n2:47\n
1. How did this addition come? By baptism – Acts 2:40-41<\/p>\n
2. Baptism puts us into Christ – Galatians 3:26-28<\/p>\n
C. Baptism is the final act that pulls us out of the world and into Christ<\/p>\n 1. John 3:3-5 – You cannot enter the kingdom without being born of water and\nSpirit\n
2. We are baptized into one body – I Corinthians 12:13<\/p>\n D. Baptism is the representation of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. – Romans\n6:3-4\n
1. With Jesus we are made alive and forgiven – Colossians 2:9-13<\/p>\n
2. Through Jesus we are regenerated – Titus 3:3-7<\/p>\n a. Notice that God’s grace and mercy is demonstrated though the\nwashing of regeneration – through baptism!\n
V. Sadly many will appear before Christ, never obeying his teaching<\/p>\n
A. Oh, they believe they are Christ’s. They accept him as their Savior<\/p>\n
B. But, … – Matthew 7:16-23<\/p>\n C. You need not face the rejection of Jesus. You can obey his word. Will you not do\nso this day?\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 7:1-6 I. Matthew 7:6 A. We don’t often think about whom we talk to about the gospel, but not everyone will be receptive to the message. B. Jesus is basically saying don’t waste your time. Not only will the message be rejected but the messenger will also be attacked. C. But consider…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32],"tags":[52,47],"class_list":["post-62756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-baptism","tag-salvation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46048,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/remember-lots-wife-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":62756,"position":0},"title":"Remember Lot’s Wife (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 17:22-37 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus reminds his disciples of God\u2019s past judgments on the wicked. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In particular, he warns them not to look back when the time approaches - Luke 17:31 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To emphasis his point he asks them to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24537,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/that-prophet-you-called-false-was-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":62756,"position":1},"title":"That prophet you called false was right!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 14, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read\u00a0your response to the gentlman who was claiming to be a prophet\u00a0and telling you of the judgement looming over you. I wanted to state first of all that he is correct. Judgement is looming over the head of every man because the blood of 50 million babies cries\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63425,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/salvation-in-no-one-else\/","url_meta":{"origin":62756,"position":2},"title":"Salvation in No One Else","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 4:5-12 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In April, 2011, Time Magazine listed their 100 most influential people, among whom was Rob Bell, a preacher who founded a church called \u201cMars Hill.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It isn\u2019t connected with any denomination. Time reveled in calling Mr. Bell and his church \u201cevangelical,\u201d but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2415,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-saves-a-person\/","url_meta":{"origin":62756,"position":3},"title":"What Saves a Person?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Since, \"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance\" (II Peter 3:9), it would be sensible to understand that in order to get people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/gospelReenacted.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/gospelReenacted.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/gospelReenacted.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/gospelReenacted.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31840,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-gospel\/","url_meta":{"origin":62756,"position":4},"title":"The Gospel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 2:1-11 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The word \u201cgospel\u201d translates a Greek word that means \u201cgood news\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The gospel is a message that is to be heralded to all the world - Mark 16:15 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a message that brings hope to those who hear it - Colossians\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61534,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/notes-on-judgment\/","url_meta":{"origin":62756,"position":5},"title":"Notes on Judgment","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 25, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"The determination of who enters heaven or burns in hell is God's - Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:16; I Corinthians 5:13; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; II Timothy 4:8; Jude 1:9, 14-15 God has told us, in advance, the standard of his judgment - John 12:48; Romans 2:16; II Thessalonians 1:8; James 2:11-13\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Notes","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62756"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62756\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}