Isaiah 44:6-28 Israel practicing idolatry God reminds Israel: “I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.” (44:6) “Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” (44:8) God asks: “…who can proclaim as I do?” (44:7) No idol has ever declared a message (44:7) No idol has ever prophesied of things that will come to pass (44:7)

Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? (NKJV) Isaiah 44:6-28 Israel should know better than to worship idols: (Isaiah 44:9) Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. (NKJV) (Isaiah 44:10) Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? (NKJV)

Isaiah 44:6-28 Israel should know better than to worship idols: Fashioned by a blacksmith or… Fashioned from wood from a tree by man… Part he burns to warm himself He bakes bread on its coals Isa. 44:15 “And out of the same wood he carves an idol and worships it!”

Isaiah 44:6-28 Isaiah points out the absolute absurdity of idolatry: And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" (NKJV)

Isaiah 44:6-28 The Pain Their Idolatry Has Caused the Lord: "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." (NKJV)

Idolatry Will Cost One Their Salvation (Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (NKJV)

Experimental Salvation

1. God is Sovereign Psalm 103:19 (NKJV) 19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

2. It is possible to be sincere and yet be sincerely wrong. Acts 26:9–19 (NKJV) 9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue…

2. It is possible to be sincere and yet be sincerely wrong. …and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me…

2. It is possible to be sincere and yet be sincerely wrong. …14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a…

2. It is possible to be sincere and yet be sincerely wrong. …witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

3. It is possible to be religious and still not please God. Leviticus 10:1–2 (NKJV) 1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

3. It is possible to be religious and still not please God. Luke 6:46 (NKJV) 46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Two Principles to Understand #1) Faith can only come from God’s word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 14:23 (NKJV) …for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Two Principles to Understand #2) Anything religiously true must come from God’s word. John 17:17 (NKJV) 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 4:23–24 (NKJV) 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Those Who Practice “Experimental Salvation” Atheists Practice Experimental Salvation Psalm 14:1 (NKJV) 1 The fool has said in his heart,“There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

Those Who Practice “Experimental Salvation” Atheists Practice Experimental Salvation 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NKJV) 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Those Who Practice “Experimental Salvation” Those who believe they will be saved simply because they believe in Jesus are practicing Experimental Salvation. A Sinner’s Prayer Dear God I’m a sinner. I believe your son Jesus Christ died for my sin! Forgive me! Come into my life. I give my life to you!! Now guide me with your Word and Spirit. Verse?

What Jesus Said One Must Do To Be Saved “…he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life…” (John 5:24) “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.“ (John 8:24) “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) “…whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Mat. 10:32-33) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16) “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you…” (John 15:14 – live a faithful life) “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)