The Landmark Of Salvation

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-14-2021

Genesis 4:1-7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I have been preaching on the subject “Remove Not The Ancient Landmark, Which Thy Fathers Have Set” over the past couple of weeks. 

 

1.  Spiritual “landmarks” define boundaries and are points of reference from which all our doctrines are measured with the Bible being our Benchmark.

 

2.  We are not as many who corrupt the Word of God by making it conform to our doctrine, but we are those few who continually mold our doctrines to the Word of God.

 

B.  This morning, I want to look at the “Landmark of Salvation.”  To get a proper perspective of what salvation is and is not, I want to look Geneses, chapters 2-4.  First Mention is an invaluable tool in Bible interpretation.  I cannot say this enough!

 

1.  In Genesis 2-3, we find the fall of man and the initiation for God’s eternal plan of salvation for him. 

 

a)  Sin and its Result.

 

Genesis 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

b)  Sacrifice for Sin.

 

Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

Genesis 3:21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

 

2.  In Genesis 4, we find the wrong way and the right way of salvation in the lives of Cain and Abel and God’s judgment of Cain. 

 

a)  The Wrong Response of Cain.

 

Genesis 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

 

b)  The Right Response of Abel.

 

Genesis 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

 

C.  Genesis 4 declares that salvation is through the coming of the “seed of the woman” and requires the shedding of blood.  Genesis 4 shows both the acceptance and rejection of a blood bought salvation.  The account of Cain and Abel is profound:

 

1.  It Refutes Works for Salvation – God rejected Cain’s offering!

 

2.  It Refutes Ways for Salvation – God accepted only His Way!

 

3.  It Refutes Self-Righteousness for Salvation – God required blood!

 

4.  It Refutes Pre-destination for Salvation – God gave Cain a second chance and would have accepted him.  Cain’s problem was not election, it was rejection and, therefore, a sin problem!

 

D.  Though “Cain Worship” is almost as old as time, it has become much more prevalent in our day.  The Bible says, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  Our Lord said that the only way to heaven is through the new birth.  In these last days, the New Birth is looked down upon and its recipients are maligned and mocked.  The “Landmark of Salvation” is still Repentance and Faith! 

 

1.  It Is A Singular Salvation - Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  (Man’s ways may seem to them as the right ways but they are “dead wrong.”)

 

Isaiah 43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (Is salvation simple or not?  Is salvation plain or not?)

 

2.  It Is An Eternal Salvation - John 10:27-28  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

John 3:14-16  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  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.

 

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (I want to say, “Blessed be God!”  It is self-righteousness that keeps people from believing in the eternal security of the believer!  Salvation belongs to the Lord!)

 

3.  It Is A Life Changing Salvation - Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  (It is both repentance and faith, not faith alone!  Our Lord said to repent or perish!)

 

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.

 

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (As one old fashioned preacher said, “If you ain’t changed, you ain’t saved!)

 

4.  It Is A Universal Salvation - Luke 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (I know that I have dealt with this in the beginning, but I want to say again that everyone of us has the same basic testimony of salvation.  Your circumstances and mine may be somewhat different, but the salvation remains the same.  We recognized our sinfulness and destination in hell, turned to Jesus Christ for salvation, and were gloriously saved!  “In my hand no price a bring; simply to they cross I cling; O Lamb of God, I come!”)

 

Romans 10:12-13  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  (Jesus Christ died for the sin of the whole world, not just the elect or the select.  What pride!  To thing that God chose me to salvation and rejected you!)

 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  (If you can interpret “the whole world” as being only the elect, you are totally ignorant of truth!)

 

5.  It Is A Gracious Salvation - Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Ephesians 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

 

Titus 3:5-7  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (We deserve nothing; we deserve Hell, but because of His great love wherein He loved us—Jesus Christ DIED IN OUR PLACE!)

 

Conclusion:  The Landmark of Salvation has been removed from many churches and the result is confusion.  People rely upon almost everything else other than the finished work of Jesus Christ: His death according to the Scripture, burial, and resurrection according to the Scripture.  There is no other way!

 

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

Romans 10:9  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.     

 

Being Now Justified By His Blood

Temple Baptist Church - 1-7-2018

Romans 5:9-11

Introduction:

A.  “Being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”  What a promise!  Just as if we had never sinned!  I know that some do not like to use this definition but it is a biblical one.

Jude 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,  (The word is faultless, not forgiven.)

B.  The Acknowledgment of Justification – “being now justified”

1.  Justification is a Present Possession.  We are justified, not going to be justified.  “When He sees me, He sees the blood of the Lamb; He sees me as worthy and not as I am.”

2.  Justification is a Powerful Force.  The blood of Christ cleanses all sin!  There is no sinner that God cannot save because there is no sin that Christ did not die for.

C.  The Agent of Justification – “by his blood”

1.  It Cleanses us White.  “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

2.  It Cleanses us Wholly.  “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.”

D.  The Availability of Justification – “we”

1.  An Abundant Opportunity.  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  You come, He gives rest!

2.  An All-inclusive Offer.  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

E.  The Accomplishment of Justification – “shall be saved”

1.  Justification Produces a Living Hope.  “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

2.  Justification Produces a Longing for Home.  “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

F.  The Author of Justification – “through him”

1.  His Blood Purchased It!  “the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

2.  His Bible Proclaims It!  “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.”

3.  His Blessings Prove It!  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Now, Let Us Look At The Impact Of The Blood:

1.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Redemption.  Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Redeemed – To be bought back.  The freedom of a former slave purchased off the slave block.  The believer has been bought off the slave block of Satan.  Purchased and “made free” by the blood of Christ.  Loosed and set at liberty: free praise the Lord, free at last!

2.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Righteousness.  Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

The believer is judiciously declared righteous solely upon the merit of the blood of Christ.  He is justified—just as if I had never sinned!  Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!  (Jude 24)  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Made Him what He was not that we might be made what we are not!

3.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Remission.  Hebrews 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The complete, eternal purging of all sin!  Once for ever is our purchase in Christ Jesus.  “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”  (Hebrews 1:3)  Our slate has been wiped clear, never to be remembered again.

4.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Reconciliation.  1 Corinthians 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Man’s relationship with God was severed by sin in the Garden of Eden.  The Lord made an immediate effort to reconcile Adam and Eve.  The Lord went to them when they would not come to Him.  They chose to hide while He chose to reconcile.  “ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”  (Colossians 1:20)  By faith, regeneration , and adoption—man is back in fellowship with God.

5.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Reception.  Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The believer is not only forgiven, he or she belongs!  Welcomed into the greatest family on the face of the earth.  The Body of Christ.  “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  ( Romans 5:2)

6.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Rejoicing.  Romans 5:10-11  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  (11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Oh what joy the cross of Christ brings to the believer!  Though nothing, we have been made nigh by the blood of Christ.  Our life is saved, our soul is saved, eternity is secured, and joy floods our souls!

7.  The Blood Of Christ Brought Responsibility.  Matthew 27:25 - Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  (It is both foolish and fatal to reject the precious blood of Christ.  That blood that brings about eternal life also brings about eternal damnation.)

The Results of Justification

Temple Baptist Church - 11-5-2017

Romans 5:1-5

Introduction: 

A.  Justification is the change in the sinner’s state, from guilt and separation from God to salvation and peace with God!  No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, salvation is available through Christ’s sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection.

B.  Justification should also bring the peace of God.  Get your salvation settled!  You must place your trust in the finished work of the gospel.

1.  Man is condemned by his sin.   Chapters 1-3  “for all have sinned”Romans 3:10-12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  (11)  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  (12)  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

2.  Man is saved by grace through faith alone.  Romans 4:3-5  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  (4)  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  (5)  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

3.  Man is justified by imputation.   Chapter 4:22-25  “imputed” Romans 4:22-25  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  (23)  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  (24)  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  (25)  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

4.  Salvation and Imputation bring about Justification!

C.  Why keep repeating these things?  Because we often tend to believe that we are saved if we feel that we are being good and fail to realize that we are saved by what God did and not what we are doing.

D.  Justification Defined – to declare righteous (just as if I had never sinned)

Jude 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,

E.  The Results of Justification – 5:1-5

1.  Justification Brings Peace – vs 1  There was a time when we were enemies; but now in Christ we have peace with God. Peace with God means that our problem with sin has been settled by the blood of Christ.

2.  Justification Brings Access – vs 2  Before our salvation, we stood "in Adam" and were condemned; but now in Christ, we have a perfect standing before God and can enter into His presence.

3.  Justification Brings Rejoicing – vs 2  The unsaved person is "without hope." We cannot boast in good works that could never bring salvation, but we can boast in the wonderful salvation God has given us freely in Christ.

4.  Justification Brings Hope – vs 2  Not a false or baseless “I hope so.” But a blessed hope.

5.  Justification Brings Growth – vs 3-4  Growth through studying the Bible and victory over the tribulation.

6.  Justification Brings Love – vs 5  One of the outward signs of salvation is love.  The fruit of the Spirit begins with love, joy, then peace.

            a.  A Love For The Saviour

            b.  A Love For The Sinner

            c.  A Love For The Saint

            d.  A Love For The Scripture

            e.  A Love For The Sanctuary

Justification By Works or Faith

Temple Baptist Church - 10-29-2017

Romans 4:1-16

Introduction:

A.  Last week, we saw that our father, Abraham, (Verse 11) was justified by faith without the works of the Law.  If Abraham was justified by works, according to verse 2, “he hath whereof to glory.”  This would be contradictory to other verses of scripture. 

1 Corinthians 1:29-31  That no flesh should glory in his presence.  (30)  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  (31)  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  (As it is written refers us back to the Old Testament.)

Jeremiah 9:23-24  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  (24)  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Romans 3:24-28  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  (25)  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  (26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  (27)  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.  (28)  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

B.  Abraham’s faith was unique in that God’s salvation is the only “religion” in the world that excludes personal sacrifice or merit.  I want to give a general breakdown of Abraham’s righteousness imputed.

1.  What Abraham received – vs. 1-5  A canceled sin debt.  God Himself canceled it and declared an unrighteous man righteous through imputation.  Through the finished work of Christ to come, his sin was atoned for in the Old Testament and done away at Calvary.

2.  How Abraham received – vs 1-5  Through faith apart from works.  Abraham simply believed God!  I am not sure why this is so difficult to some.  God said it and, to Abraham, that settled it!

3.  When Abraham received – vs. 9-16  The moment he believed God, instantaneous and complete.

a)  Before he was circumcised – vs. 9-12

b)  Before the Law was given – vs. 13-16

C.  I want to give a short but biblical over view of saving faith.  Verse 3 declares that it was Abraham’s faith that saved him, not his works. This chapter explains how God justifies (declares righteous) ungodly people through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1.  Justification Is by Faith, Not Works (4:1-8).

a.  We have seen that the Old Testament saint was saved by faith in the coming of Messiah and the propitiation that would take place. 

b.  Acts 15:5-11  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, (Saved but misguided) saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.  (6)  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.  (7)  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  (8)  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  (9)  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  (10)  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples,which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  (11)  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

c.  These verses declare that Jew, Gentile, and Old Testament believers were saved by faith without the keeping of the Law.  No man has ever been able to keep the Law as it is a perfect standard.  Those who have believed on Christ but taught that they must keep the Law must try to figure out what is a “big” sin and what is a “little” sin because they are still imperfect in the flesh.

2.  Justification Is by Grace, Not Law (4:9-17)

a.  Before the Law - Romans 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

b.  Under the Law - Romans 4:5-6  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  (6)  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,(“Even as David” ties King David’s faith to the faith of Abraham.

c.  After the Law - Romans 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised:that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Romans 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham;who is the father of us all,

d.  Works and Law cannot co-exist in saving faith.  They are like oil and water: shake them up if you wish but the oil will separate and come to the top.

Romans 11:5-6  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  (6)  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

1)  If salvation is all of grace, it is mixed with no works.  If it is a mixture of grace and works, it is not grace.

2)  If salvation is of works, it has nothing to do with grace because works demands a payday or reward.  Grace, which means that we do not deserve it, would do away with works, which means that we do deserve it.

3)  Works for salvation frustrates the grace of God and Christ died in vain.  Galatians 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 5:1-4  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  (2)  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  (3)  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  (4)  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

3.  Justification Is by Resurrection Power, Not Human Effort (4:18-25) Salvation is not “do.”  Salvation is “done.”  It is a finished work: death, burial, and resurrection.

a.  Verse 17 says that it is God who quickens the dead.

1)  Jesus was declared to be God with power by the resurrection from the dead.  Romans 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

2)  We were declared righteous with power by our resurrection from the dead.  Ephesians 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

b.  Verse 19 says that God quickened the loins of Abraham and the womb of Sarah.

1)  When the flesh is dead, only God can bring forth life through resurrection power.

2)  Romans 4:18-22  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.  (19)  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:  (20)  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  (21)  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  (22)  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

3)  When the spirit is dead, only God can bring forth life through resurrection power.

4)  Romans 6:3-5  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  (4)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

5)  The likeness of our Lord’s resurrection is that of absolute holiness which requires imputation. 

6)  Romans 4:22-25  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  (23)  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  (24)  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  (25)  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.