I want to challenge your faith!
Section Three: "Feel the Wrath!"
"Escaping God's Fury" Part One, Application Chapter
The Whole Truth About Salvation
In the opening section of this book, I dismissed many of the man-made laws for interpreting Scripture (hermeneutics) and suggested that the “Jeremiah Generation” restore Heaven’s hermeneutics. In that material I told you that, according to Christ’s words in Matthew 15:9 and 28:19-20, “Heaven’s hermeneutics are as follows: 1. Men have no right to make a doctrinal command out of something that God has not commanded. 2. When God gives a command He expects it to be taught and kept.”
To be consistant and, more importantly, to honor God’s rules for interpreting Scripture, we must apply them to this most important topic of salvation. We must dismiss anything that man says is necessary for salvation and, without compromise, submit to everything God has commanded.
Many try to convince themselves that they are saved by using the argument, "I am basically a good person. Compared with others like Judas, Gingus Khan or Hitler, I am a great person. I must be saved, because I am good." Although this argument seems logical, and even convincing, peace with God is never the result.
Goodness is a relative term. Compared to a mass murderer, we are all good. But compared to Jesus, who never committed even one sin, we are all very bad. In fact, Isaiah 64:6 says that "...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" when compared to God.
To come back to God, we must find goodness. Our goodness is clearly not enough. Only God can provide what we need.
The prodigal son tried to convince himself that he could make it without his father. He wasted his inheritance on wild parties and soon found himself friendless and so hungry that he desired the slop that the pigs were eating. In Luke 15:17, the Scripture says that "...he came to his senses" and returned to his father with a humbled heart.
In order to come back to our Father, we too must come to our senses. Consider Matthew 7:21-23.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name
drive out demons and perform miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evil doers!’”
This paragraph reveals three eye-opening facts about “good” people. Before listing them for you, I want to ask that you prepare yourself. Clear your mind of all preconceived opinions and religious teachings. The purpose of this lesson is to discover what God wants, even if it contradicts everything that we have believed and been taught in the past. We want to be honest with ourselves and with God as we look at this very important part of His Word.
Goodness Is Not Found In Just Saying The Right Things
First, this passage teaches us that goodness is not found solely in what we say. Millions of people around the world say they are Christians, but does that really make them so? Read the verse again. Jesus says that in the end many will call him “Lord” or master, yet not be saved. Notice what Jesus said about some very religious people in another passage. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Matthew 15:8-9) Here we find that lip service only makes our worship in vain. It is not nearly enough to just say we are Christians, we must actually be Christians by God’s definition.
Many believe that just because they have a biblical name over their door, or a scriptural title on their church letterhead, that they are automatically saved. Remember, it is not what you say you are, but what God says you are that counts! It is not the name on the building that saves, it is the name on the heart. The question is - has Jesus signed your heart?
Goodness Is Not Found In Just Doing What You Think Is Right
Secondly, we must understand that doing “good” deeds is not a guarantee of Heaven either. Look at the passage again.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23)
Sadly enough, this passage teaches that many will stand before God on the day of judgment expecting to go to Heaven, yet they will be turned away. Why will they be turned away? Not for a lack of “good” works. Not for a lack of “good” claims. The passage clearly says that they did many “good” deeds and they spoke many “good” words. So why will they be turned away from the gates of Heaven? They will be refused because they did not do and say what God had commanded.
Too many people are risking their eternity on the words of a preacher or their feelings. Others base their salvation on being part of the “majority". Because they come from a large denomination or worship with a large congregation, they believe that the “majority” must be right. Please consider Matthew 7:14. “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it.” The religion of the “majority” is never a safe guide. What does God say? We must do it His way even if the "majority” does it another way. Only God's opinion really matters.
Goodness Is Only Found In Doing It God's Way
So far, we have discovered that goodness is not found in what we profess to be or in doing what we think is right. We have also learned that God’s way is not always the most popular or the most practiced. Knowing this, we have a very important decision to make. Are we really interested in discovering God’s way or are we content to follow our own feelings and the opinions of others on the subject of salvation?
CAUTION!
The rest of this chapter was designed for people who are really interested in discovering God’s commanded plan of salvation. The material must not be compromised. It is not a “disputable matter” (Romans 14:1) and, therefore, it is not open to debate or Christian liberty. For you to be part of the “Jeremiah Generation”, you must accept and teach all that God has commanded. Much of what is to follow is not fully embraced by many who call themselves Christians. Just as in the days of Jeremiah, many today have taken false confidence in their own understanding of God’s will rather than accepting what God has actually said. The “Jeremiah Generation” must expose this danger.
God’s Commanded
Plan of Salvation
The following material can be used by the “Jeremiah Generation” to summarize God’s plan for saving the soul of a sinner. This is only a summary. Use it only as a guide and never feel limited to draw from other passages that address the same subject.
Every student should be encouraged to open their own Bible and view for themselves the message God has for their life. After each Scripture, there are important questions to help them apply the message. Nothing is more important than encouraging them to be honest with themselves and with God’s Word. Have them circle the answers that the Bible gives even if they are different from the way they have always believed. Remind them that it is more important to want to know what God says. Their goodness and opinions are not enough.
Romans 3:23
“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...”
Yes No Have you sinned?
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The word “death” in this passage means separation. Here it means separation from God.
Yes No Since we have all sinned, is it true that our payment (“wages”) for sinning is separation from God eternally?
Yes No Since eternal life is a “gift”, is there any way to earn it or work hard enough to deserve it?
Yes No Can anyone other than God give us this gift?
Yes No Is the gift found anywhere other than in Christ Jesus?
Yes No Is it important to be "in Christ Jesus"?
Romans 5:8
“...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Yes No Since Christ died for us while we were still sinners, can we accept forgiveness while still sinners?
Yes No Some say, “I’ll be saved as soon as I break a few of my sinful habits.” Is that doing things backwards?
Romans 10:9
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The word “Lord”, in this passage, is far more than just a second name for Jesus. It is also His title or description. The word “Lord” means master, ruler or boss.
The word “believe” also has a far deeper meaning than just mental acknowledgment or confidence. Biblical belief has always been a combination of both confidence and obedience. (See James 2:14-26. Let the Bible interpret the Bible. Trust only Scripture.) Yes, as this verse says, belief will save you, but only if it is true biblical belief that is full of obedience. Continue reading to discover what kind of obedience God requires.
Yes No Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord, master or boss?
Yes No Have you confessed this fact before men?
Yes No Do you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead?
Yes No Can you be justifed by faith only? (See James 2:24)
Yes No Do demons believe? (See James 2:19)
Yes No Is faith without obedience useless? (See James 2:20, 26)
Romans 2:4
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness
leads you towards repentance?”
The word “repentance” refers to the act of turning ones life around, walking in a new direction or following after a new master.
Yes No Have you repented of your sins?
Yes No Are you trying to live a changed life?
Too many are satisfied with just approaching God. Just like the prodigal son who, upon his return home, expected only to become one of his father's slaves, they ask only to stand at a distance. But God wants much more. He wants to bring us back into the family. It is not enough to just come back to God. He wants us to come inside!
Many centuries ago, God used the flood to cleanse the earth of sin. The same water that destroyed the wicked saved the family of Noah. In I Peter 3:20-21, God uses that flood as a parallel of the way we are saved today. "...God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Undoubtedly, there were many people in Noah's day who approached the ark. Some may have even listened to his sermons. But the only ones who were saved from the flood were those who went inside.
In the remaining material, we will uncover the doorway that leads us inside the salvation of God. Romans 6:23 says, “...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The word "in" is such a small word, but it means so very much. Eternal life is not found by just coming back to God, eternal life is found by coming inside.
How does one get inside Christ Jesus? The answer is simple and found only a few verses earlier in Romans 6:3, "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus...." Verse four goes on to say that "a new life" comes after one is baptized. Baptism is undoubtedly the door that gets us inside.
In the parallel between Noah and our salvation, the Holy Spirit clearly writes that "...this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also." (I Peter 3:21) Baptism saves and baptism puts us into Christ (Romans 6:3). Baptism must be an important part of God's plan of salvation.
Let’s notice this passage more closely.
Roman 6:3,4
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
In this passage, we are told that baptism is the door that leads “into Christ”. It is a very important step. We also find that baptism is a duplication of the greatest event in history - the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Every time a person is baptized, he/she duplicates the very steps that Jesus went through to save us from sin. Baptism is like an instant replay of the greatest victory of all time - Jesus' defeat of Satan. Baptism is God's favorite instant replay and He loves to see it over and over again.
Yes No Can you get “into Christ” without being baptized?
The word “baptism” in this passage means to immerse, surround or cover over. We know this for many reasons, but the most obvious is that it is called a burial in this same passage.
Yes No Is it possible to bury a person in water if you only sprinkle or pour water on their head?
Yes No According to this passage, does the “new life” come after the burial (baptism)?
Yes No Is baptism just an outward sign that you were saved at an earlier time?
Yes No If baptism is the step that washes sins and gives you a “new life”, is it possible to be saved before baptism?
Yes No Have you been baptized (immersed in water) for the forgiveness of sins?
Yes No Are you willing to do things God’s way?
Two famous preachers were scheduled to debate the topic of baptism. The huge auditorium was full of people who had crowded into every available seat. On the stage was a pulpit and two chairs for the opponents. In one chair sat the preacher who did not believe that baptism was necessary for the forgiveness of sins. The other chair was empty.
Soon, time came for the debate to begin, but the preacher who favored baptism had not arrived. Desperately searching the audience for a replacement, the host discovered an old country preacher who had never debated before in his life. Nervously, the old gentleman agreed to defend the Bible view of baptism and he slowly climbed the steps to the podium.
Finally, the host stepped behind the microphone and introduced both men. The crowd applauded for each preacher, then the host asked the elderly man to give his opening arguments. Slowly, the aged man rose from his seat and sheepishly made his way to the pulpit. As he reached the microphone, he laid his Bible on the podium and decided to let the Bible speak for itself. Slowly, he opened the cover and thumbed through the pages until he came to Acts 2:38. With an aged voice he carefully pronounced each word. "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (NKJV) To everyone's surprise, without making a single comment, the old gentleman then turned and walked back to his seat.
The young preacher, seeing his elderly opponent return to his chair, stood up and with an arrogant smirk on his face, bounced into the pulpit. "This will be easier than I imagined," came his first comment. He then proceeded to explain why he felt that baptism was not necessary. Throughout his 30 minute rampage, he slapped the pulpit, yelled at the top of his lungs and stomped his foot. By the end of his presentation, he had won the confidence of most of the people in the audience. His argument was forceful, dynamic and entertaining. Most of the people had little doubt that he had won the debate. His captivating presentation had made the old man look like a fool and his belief in baptism seem ridiculous.
Finally, the young man took a seat and his unskilled opponent was given an opportunity to offer a closing comment. Slowly, the elderly man rose from his seat, tucked the Bible under one arm and stepped beside the pulpit. The crowd grew silent. Everyone held their breath. What could this old country preacher possibly say to defend himself and his belief in baptism? Gradually, the elderly gentleman took the Bible from under his arm and thumbed through the pages until he found the passage he wanted. Then, with a slow steady voice, he leaned over to the microphone and read, "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (NKJ) "Yep, it's still there!" was his final comment. And he tucked the Bible under his arm and humbly walked off the stage.
You see, no matter how fancy the argument or how skillfully it is debated, if God said it, there is no successful argument against it. Baptism is not a popular concept among many in the religious world. Most choose to ignore it because it takes too much effort. It is easier to convince people to say the sinner's prayer than it is to be immersed in water. For that reason, many preachers delete baptism from their sermons and only preach that which is convenient. God once warned of a time like this. He said, "...the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (II Timothy 4:3)
Are you looking for God's message or are you looking for someone to say only what you want to hear? Are you sincerely interested in finding salvation according to God’s plan? If you are, then now is the time for you to be honest with yourself and with God. Are you saved? Are you inside Christ? Review the following steps for yourself:
1. You must understand that “all have sinned”, including yourself, and that salvation can only be found in the free gift of God. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8)
2. You must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 10:9, 10)
3. You must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and master, then confess that fact before men. (Romans 10:9, 10)
4. You must be willing to repent or turn from following after evil and focus your life on Christ. (Romans 2:4)
5. You must be willing to die to your own selfish desires. You must be buried in water like Jesus was buried in a tomb and you must be raised out of that water to walk a “new life”. (Romans 6:3, 4)
Have you done these things? There is no greater feeling than being saved inside the body of Christ. As we learned earlier, many on the day of judgment will expect to go to Heaven yet be turned away because they failed to do it God’s way. Please do not risk your eternal salvation on a feeling or on a confidence that comes from being part of the “majority”. Real goodness comes only from God. His opinion is all that matters. How will He judge you?
I leave you with the same advice that was also given to Paul when he was confronted with the decision that you are now facing.
Acts 22:16
"And now what are you waiting for?
Get up, be baptized and wash your sins
away, calling on his name.”
For the “Jeremiah Generation” to truly be effective, it must accept and teach all of what God has commanded with regards to salvation. Some of the material which has just been presented is not taught or accepted by many who call themselves Christians. Be advised, if you present God’s message as He has commanded it, you are likely to face persecution. Jeremiah was ignored and falsely accused. He faced imprisonment, torture and even death, yet he did not compromise the message of God. Will you present God’s Word with the same courage and commitment?
In the next chapter, we will see what God has to say about remaining in this state of salvation.
Copyright 2006 by Childs Family Publications