1. MAN NEEDS SALVATION
Salvation is the saving of man from the consequences of sin; especially, deliverance from sin and eternal death through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Salvation is the need of every human heart, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
Through
whom is salvation possible?
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts
What is
man’s condition?
- He is born in sin. Read Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Isaiah 48:8.
- His understanding is darkened. Read Ephesians 4:18.
- His heart is full of evil. Read Jeremiah 17:9.
- He is spiritually dead. Read Ephesians 2:1.
Is it possible for man himself to change his condition?
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”
Jeremiah 13:23.
Read Romans
What
does man need in his quest for salvation?
1.
The Holy Scriptures. Read 2 Timothy 3:15.
2.
To look to God. Read Isaiah 45:22.
3.
To believe in the Gospel of Christ. Romans
1:16.
4.
To look for Christ’s return. Hebrews
9:28.
For
whom is Christ the author of salvation?
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”
Hebrews 5:9.
Conclusion
We can have salvation by faith in
Christ. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth
to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. Jude 24 tells us He “is able to keep you from falling.” Salvation is free.
It is a blessing from God. “Salvation belongeth unto
the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.
Selah.” Psalm 3:8. The obedience God
required of Adam and Eve in the
2. WHY CHRIST CAME TO EARTH
Was it really necessary for Christ
to come to earth? Could the human race have been saved some other way? Christ’s
purpose in coming to earth was to save man (Luke
Why did Jesus become a partaker of flesh and blood?
“Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil.”
Hebrews 2:14.
Note: The incarnation was for the purpose of death. Christ’s death was not a mere incident of His human life; it was the supreme purpose of it. He became man that He might die as man for man.
What would result from Christ’s death?
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Mathew 20:28.
Note: The
death of Jesus is mentioned directly in the New Testament a great many times.
The Old Testament contains many prophetic references to it. This was the route
He must take to destroy Satan.
About what did Moses and Elias talk with Christ on the mount of transfiguration?
“And,
behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared
in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at
Luke 9:30, 31.
According to a prophecy of the Messiah why was Jesus to suffer and die?
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5.
Read Isaiah 53:8, 11, 12.
Note:
Peter talks of the just dying for the unjust (1 Peter
What did Christ’s death accomplish for man?
“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 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 1:19, 20.
Why is Christ able to offer pardon to sinners?
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
1 Peter 1:18, 19.
Note: Jesus
became a guilt offering for sin and it is on the ground of His death that
pardon is granted for sinners. Read Hebrews
Conclusion
Christ came to earth and tasted
death for every person (Hebrews 2:9). Because Christ came and
died God can offer man salvation. He died for the unjust (1 Peter
3. REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION
There are some who at times endeavor to excuse sin. This should not be. When Adam and Eve sinned they made a choice. We are free moral agents with the right of choice – we may choose right or we may choose wrong.
To be forgiven of sin what is necessary?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9.
To whom is sin to be confessed?
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”
Psalm 32:5.
Note: Sins of a personal or private nature should be confessed to God in Christ’s name. Christ is the mediator between Christ and man. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1, last part. All sin is against God and should be confessed to Him through Christ. In addition, open sin should be confessed openly, and when a wrong has been done to a person, that wrong should be made right with the person offended.
What must accompany a true confession of sin?
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Proverbs 28:13.
Note: When
the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to be baptized of John he told them to “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Mathew
3:8.
Whom did Jesus come to call to repentance?
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Mathew 9:13, last part.
What leads a person to repentance?
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
Romans 2:4.
What is God’s attitude toward the repentance of people?
“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.”
2 Peter 3:9.
It appears that repentance and the
acknowledging of truth go together (2 Timothy
Read 2 Corinthians 6:2.
What accompanies repentance?
Paul says, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
2 Corinthians 7:9, 10.
Note: The original note of repentance here is the change of mind and produces a change of life. The godly sorrow leads to repentance and separation of sin and a firm determination to resist by God’s grace the temptation which led to sin in the first place.
Did Judas repent of his sin?
“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.”
Mathew 27:3, 4.
Note: The
word of repented here denotes only a change of feeling. Judas had a desire that
what had been done should be undone. He confessed his sins to his partners
rather than to God. His was a sorrow that “worketh
death” (2 Corinthians
Did Esau ever repent of his sin?
“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
Hebrews 12:16, 17.
Note: Esau never repented of his sin. He regretted having sold his birthright. By his own choice his character was bent and he found no way to regain the birthright he had despised.
What will result from true repentance?
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts
Note: A person cannot be pardoned if he continues unrepentant. If the person has committed the unpardonable sin this has come about through continued resistance to God so that the heart is hardened and there is no longer any response to God’s voice. But if one is sorry for his sins and desires to repent and confess them, this fact is evidence that the Holy Spirit is still appealing to his heart.
Conclusion
As a result of genuine repentance
there is joy in heaven. (Luke 15:7, 10). When the dying thief
confessed his sins and repented Jesus gave him the assurance of salvation (Luke
4. SAVED BY GRACE
What is meant by the term grace? To whom has grace been extended? How can a person be a recipient of grace? Some have thought that anciently, before Christ, people were saved by keeping the law but after Christ came they are saved by grace. This is contrary to Scripture for the Bible plainly states “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11.
Did
David understand that men were not saved by works?
“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
Romans 4:6.
Did
Moses understand God’s grace?
When God proclaimed His name to Moses he said, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”
Exodus 34:6.
Note: God’s grace was as available then as it is today. In fact several times in Exodus Moses talks about finding grace.
How was
Abraham saved?
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Romans 4:1-5.
Note:
Noah was also saved by faith as indicated by Hebrews 11:7. Likewise Moses was saved by faith. Read Hebrews
11:24-26.
Is
anyone justified by the works of the law?
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Galatians 2:16.
How can
a person be just before God?
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:24.
Upon
whose action does justification by faith depend?
“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; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Romans 3:25, 26.
Note: Notice that justification depends on God the divine judge. He has set forth Christ to demonstrate His justice (righteousness) and also that He might justify anyone who puts his faith in Christ.
What
has God done to save man?
He has done two things.
1. He removed the death sentence.
2. He provided a perfect righteousness that man might be in a right relationship with Him.
He removed the death sentence by the death of Christ and He provided a perfect righteousness by Christ’s perfect life on earth.
Hebrews 4:15.
What is
the righteousness which saves a man?
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
Romans 3:21-24.
Note: Only the righteousness of God revealed through Christ can save. Christ is the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29, last part. We are “saved by his life.” Romans 5:10, last part. Saving righteousness is granted by God through Christ
(2 Corinthians 5:21).
Who is
the source of saving righteousness?
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
1 Corinthians 1:30.
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Philippians 3:8, 9.
Note: Righteousness comes from Christ. Jeremiah refers to Him as “The LORD our righteousness.” Jeremiah 33:16, last part.
Look at Paul’s reasoning in Romans 5:17-19. Christ is the only person who ever lived a perfect life. He died for the sins of all. He was resurrected and today He is alive. He is our righteousness. This can never be changed. Read John 5:11, 12.
Does
keeping the law confer righteousness?
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Romans 3:20.
Note:
Salvation does not come by right doing. If it did then it would be salvation by
the law. Jesus makes it clear in Mathew
Conclusion
Christ does not offer His righteousness to a person on the premise that he can go on sinning. He gives His righteousness so that man can have the power to obey God. Paul says, “Do we then make void the law by faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31. God’s law is the standard of righteousness, but man cannot obey the law to gain merit in God’s sight. Read Galatians 2:16. Allow Christ to cover you with the robe of His righteousness. Obedience of God’s law is a fruit of ones salvation. It comes as a loving response to a gracious Savior. “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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are saved by grace for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
5. THE NEW BIRTH
When God created man in the beginning He gave him life. Just as long as man did not break his union with God his life continued. However, when Adam and Eve sinned they began to die. Man does not have life in himself. To live eternally he must be born again.
Why did
Christ come to earth?
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10, last part.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6, first part.
Note: Man’s eternal destiny depends on God who is the source of life.
How
important is the new birth?
“Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the
John 3:3-6.
Note: It
is the new birth experience which brings about the change from death to life.
Read John
5:24. So the penitent sinner must start at the point when Christ gives
him eternal life. “And that ye put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians
4:24.
Is it possible
to analyze everything which takes place when a person is born again?
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8.
Note: Being
born again is a miracle by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The Ethiopian eunuch
listened to Philip give and explanation of Isaiah 53 when he was converted (Acts
What
are the changes that will be seen in the life of a person that is born again?
1.
A new heart. “And I will give them one
heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart
out of their flesh, and will give them an heart
of flesh:” Ezekiel
2.
A new mind. “And be not conformed
to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans
12:2, first part.
3.
Different interests. “For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that
are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans
8:5.
4.
Law written in the heart. “For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of
Hebrews 8:10, last part.
5. Love for fellowmen. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we
love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14, first part.
How is
the spiritual life of the believer maintained?
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
John 15:4-6.
Note: The person who is born again enters into a union with Christ. The power of Christ becomes his and he bears the fruit of love to God’s glory.
How is
a person born again?
There must be a recognition on put part that we can do nothing without Christ’s help. Jesus is our example in this. He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing...because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me…The Son can do nothing of himself.” John 5:30, 19. The way in which Christ lived in submission to His Father’s will shows how the believer is to live into submission to Christ. Read Philippians 2:5-8. Living in Christ is the end of self-will and we live according to his will.
Conclusion
A person cannot work to receive the
new birth. However surrender of self and commitment to Christ involves a
struggle. Two men, one a Jew, the rich young ruler, and the other a Gentile,
the keepers of the jail at
To the Gentile Paul gave a very simple answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” Acts 16:31. To the Jew Christ’s answer seemed a bit more complicated when Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. Did Paul make salvation easy while Christ made it rather difficult? Not at all. Both were required to surrender completely to Christ. Let us choose to make God’s will ours.
6. SANCTIFICATION
What is involved with sanctification? Is it something apart from justification? Remember that God wants to share His righteousness with man. To what extent is God willing to share his righteousness with a person who accepts Him as Lord? Is the righteousness only available at the beginning of the Christian life or all the way through? We should remember that salvation is an experience which never ends. Salvation from the guilt of sin and its condemnation takes place when a person takes Christ as his Saviour. He is justified. Salvation also involves being delivered from the power of sin. This is sanctification and it is a lifelong process.
Must
the believer be saved from the power of sin?
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.”
Romans 6:1-4.
To what
point is the Christian’s love to be focused?
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4.
Is
Sanctification a continuing experience?
“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:”
Philippians 1:6.
Note:
Sanctification is a total experience. It begins at conversion but it must
continue through life. It is a lifetime of belonging to Christ. And within that
relationship to Christ the believer will grow. Read John 17:17.
What
relationship will self have to Christ in a Christian life?
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Philippians 3:7-9.
Read Galatians 6:14.
How
close is the Christian relationship to Christ?
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20.
Read Romans 6:3, 4.
Note: We have the possibility of serving two masters. The choice is ours. In the Christian life we are dead to sin but alive into God.
Read Romans 6:11-14 and 17-19.
What is
the Christians aim in life?
“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.”
Galatians 2:10.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1, 2.
Do we
need to fear or can we have the assurance of security in Christ?
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18.
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.”
1 John 5:11-13.
“Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”
2 Timothy 1:12.
“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. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
John 10:27-29.
Conclusion
Sanctification is conversion
carried to completion. “Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1
John 3:2. A person in Christ has as his goal “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death” Philippians 3:10, first part. So
experiencing sanctification we say with Paul “I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20, first
part.
7. PREDESTINATION
A boy is born in a wicked neighborhood. He grows up undisciplined. He learns to do evil things. The parents have trouble with him.At school he gets into difficulty. It seems he can’t be good. He fights and he steals. Finally he is sent to a reform school. Despite the infliction of all kinds of punishment he has no desire to be good. Years later he becomes a leader of criminals.
How do you account for this boy’s life of complete wickedness? Some say he was a victim of circumstances but others will say he was predestined by God to be bad.
Is God
responsible for sin?
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
Romans 5:19.
Note: The fact that “many were made sinners” refers to everyone born into this world. Read Romans 5:12. God has not predestined anyone to a life of sin. He could not do this and at the same time be man’s propitiation (1 John 2:1, 2).
Was
Judas predestined to deliver Christ to be crucified?
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
Mathew 18:7.
“And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!”
Luke 22:22.
Note: Christ appealed to Judas to not betray Him. He did not have to be the one.
Does
the Bible speak of predestination?
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:28, 29.
Note:
Some inquire, If God knows whether I will be saved or lost, why bother
trying to be a Christian? The answer is simply this: While God knows, because
He is omniscient, we do not know the future. Hence we each must exercise our
right of choice and choose either to accept or reject God’s grace. God’s
foreknowledge never interferes with man’s free choice. Those whom God foreknew
He predestined. Inasmuch as God foreknows all and since He predestined
(planned) that all would become like His Son, this is evidence that God
predestined none to be lost. God could look ahead and know how the elect would
be. Read 1 Peter 1:2, first part. The elect were predestined to
salvation only upon the condition of obedience. When
How
many does God want to save?
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1, 3, 4.
“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.”
2 Peter 3:9.
What is
the key to predestination?
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
1 Corinthians 15:22.
Note: It is the family that is predestined rather than the individuals. Adam’s family is predestined to die. Christ’s family is predestined to live. Two ways are marked out in Romans 5:18. Adam’s offence brought death. Whereas the free gift of Christ’s righteousness justifies and gives life.
How
does a person become a member of the family of God?
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
John 1:12
What
are Christians predestined to be?
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will...Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
Ephesians 1:11, 5.
Note:
Christ adopts those into His family who accept Him and therefore they are
predestined to receive and inheritance if they remain faithful in God’s family.
This is made possible by Christ’s death. Read Ephesians 2:1, 2, 12, 13 and 3:6.
Who can
be saved?
“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 3:16.
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:10, 11.
Conclusion
Eternal life is dependant on your
decision. What will you do with Christ? In one of the parable Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Mathew
22:14. All who received the invitation to the wedding were predestined
to eat of the feast but they chose not to come. So the king sent invitations
everywhere asking all to come. When they decided to come they were given a
wedding garment. One man at the feast refused the wedding garment and was cast
out. The wedding garment which fits us for an entrance into the wedding feast
in Christ’s kingdom is Christ’s righteousness. When you choose Christ you are
choosing life.