Temple Baptist Church - 9-21-2025
Jude 1-3
A. The importance of the Doctrine of Soteriology? Because there is so much confusion on the subject, as most major denominations view salvation in different ways, and if you do not get salvation right, nothing else matters!
1. Religion is comfortable, as you can live a sinful life and be right with God.
2. Look at the results of religion in the Bible Belt. From godliness to “Sipping and
Strolling on the Square.”
3. Nudity instead of Modesty. Witness to them, and they all profess to belong to a church.
4. Unfaithfulness instead of Faithfulness to the Church on Sunday.
5. The list could go on, but I think that we all get it.
B. I chose a familiar text to begin the Doctrine of Salvation that gives us two words that tell us that everyone, in all dispensations, gets saved the same way! Like it or not, the “common salvation” is a doctrinal truth that is well established in the Bible. We are Biblicists! The Bible is the FINAL AUTHORITY for both faith and practice. Therefore, leave your denominational teachings on salvation outside and listen to what God says on the subject.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
C. Our day is full of spiritual confusion. I want to read a couple of verses and apply them to our lesson on Soteriology, the Doctrine of Salvation.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
D. It is imperative that we understand that salvation is the same for all. It is a “common salvation.”
E. The Book of Jude is one of the epistles written concerning the apostasy both present then and prophetic of our day.
1. Apostasy was already prevalent in Jude’s day – almost 2,000 years ago. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2. The spirit of Antichrist was there, and disciples were being drawn away. 1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
F. The very foundation of our faith is now under satanic attack from both without and within. Jude is all about infiltration!
1. Not everyone sitting on the pews of churches is saved.
2. Not everyone sitting on the pews of churches loves the Lord.
3. Not everyone sitting on the pews of churches loves the Word of God.
G. Look again at the description of the saved in these opening verses. “When I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation.”
1. True Biblical salvation is indeed “common” to all of God’s children.
a) By “common,” the Bible is not referring to something cheap or inexpensive. Salvation is free, not cheap. It cost God His Son! Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
b) By “common,” the Bible is not referring to something plenteous. Supply and demand. Too much supply is cheap while too much demand brings a rise in worth. There is still a remnant according to the election of grace!
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
c) By “common,” the Bible means that salvation is the same for all of God’s children!
2. If you listen to the voices of “Christendom,” you will be completely confused! There are so many “voices” out there that are clamoring for people’s attention. Radio, Television, the internet, etc., are full of false doctrine and have very little truth.
3. Hidden Gospel. In religion, the Gospel is there in most cases but hidden among the ritual. Jesus Christ is hidden among the idols. Satan has blinded the minds of the religious to hide the “Glorious Gospel of Christ!”
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4. The result is churches full of lost members? The answer is straightforward: people changed Biblical salvation to fit their own religion or personal experience instead of following God’s way, a plain path of salvation found in the Bible. I have often said that we MUST conform our doctrine to the Bible, not make the Bible conform to our doctrine. Now, we have many different ways to heaven instead of one way: God’s way that is found in the King James Bible.
5. The hiding of the Gospel produces a false salvation of works or personal merit; some say that salvation is a mixture of works or personal merit and faith; some say that salvation requires water baptism; some say that salvation requires you to be a member of their church; some say that salvation can be through Christ or Mary; some say that you must endure to the end to be saved; the few, who are correct, say that salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ alone.
H. They have the same characteristics because they are born into the same family. They have the same genetics or spiritual DNA!
1. All are called from Sin to Christ!
2. All are called from Vanity to Purpose!
3. All are called from Ungodliness to Holiness!
4. All are called from Dishonor to Honor!
J. How are we saved? By a new, spiritual birth, which is by grace (UNDERSERVED) through faith alone!
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (Salvation is a birth! And, there are no exceptions to the rule!)
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (The birth is a faith in the finished work of Christ.)
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (The birth and faith are Bible based!)
Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Repentance from dead works and faith are necessary for salvation. “Dead works” is man’s effort to obtain salvation through personal merit. Works that cannot save are dead works. Faith that does not work is dead faith! We do not work to be saved, but our salvation creates within us a desire to serve and live for Christ.)
K. All is changed from the old man and conformed to the new man. We are all being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Not to be changed and conformed is not to be saved. I understand that there are varying degrees of obedience among God’s children, but all have the Holy Spirit and all have desire.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
L. Our Common Salvation is a finished work! Since it is God who begins a good work in us, it is He who carries it out. This is what makes us similar despite our differences. It is also what sets us apart from “Christendom.”
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (The mercy and grace of God are both the spring and fountain of everything that we have or ever hope for.)
M. We all share the same salvation, the same Spirit, the same witness, and the same testimony. Notice with me the reversal of order in verses 1 and 2.
1. In Our Common Salvation We Find Sanctification – The means of sanctification is Multiplied Mercy (to separate from and to consecrate to) – vs. 1 (Sympathy)
a. We Are Sanctified Through His Will - John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
b. We Are Sanctified Through His Word - John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2. In Our Common Salvation We Find Security – The fruit of our security is Multiplied Peace (to attend to and to take care of) – vs. 1 (Serenity)
a. We Are Powerfully Kept - 1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
b. We Are Permanently Kept - John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
c. We Are Perfectly Kept - Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
d. We Are Peacefully Kept - 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
3. In Our Common Salvation We Find Seeking – The basis of our calling is Multiplied Love – vs. 1 (Sovereignty)
a. There Was A Sovereign Call (Do not let the word “sovereignty alarm you. God is completely sovereign, but in His sovereignty, He extended His call to salvation through grace alone. By sovereign call, the Bible says that God chose to save us through His marvelous grace, not by our works.)
1) The Call Came Through Grace Alone - 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2) The Call Came Through the Gospel Alone - Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
b. There Was A Sovereign Choice – Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. (My Bible says that, though the many are called, few are saved! The difference is the choice! God’s sovereign choice was to save those who came to Him by faith!)
Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (Man has the choice to come to God or to reject Him!)
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (God’s choosing came through our “belief of the truth.”)
c. There Was A Sovereign Conversion - Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (It is God’s way or the “highway” to hell! Our salvation is a “common” salvation because it is inclusive to only those who come to God His way.)
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