God’s Plan of Salvation Part 7 – The Need to Overcome

God’s Plan of Salvation Over the years there have been many discussions as to whether a Christian can lose his salvation Let us allow God to answer this question as well Read Revelation 21:1-8 “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son” (Revelation 21:7) God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Revelation 21:8 goes on to list those who, in contrast, “will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone” The ultimate test of trust is obedience If a person truly trusts Jesus for his salvation, these abominable qualities will be left behind If the Christian continues to practice these deeds following immersion, his part will be in the lake of fire God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Read Hebrews 6:4-8 Those who have become Christians “and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance” This is a warning for Christians, for those who have actually been made partakers of the Holy Spirit God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Christians can fall away When they reach a certain point, it is impossible for them to repent and return to God They have been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin – Hebrews 3:13 God has created Christians to do good works – Ephesians 2:10 When Christians yield brambles and thorns instead of the peaceful fruit of righteousness, they shall be burned God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Christians are warned of the dangers in this world by Peter Read 2 Peter 2:20-22 “…they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” “a dog returns to its own vomit,” and “a sow, after washing returns to wallowing in the mire” God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation The world has many entangling alliances whose net awaits the unwary Christian pilgrim If a Christian gets overcome by one of these death traps, the Scripture is plain It would have been better not to have known the way of righteousness Dogs who return to their vomit, and pigs who go back to the mud pity the Christian who turns back to his former way of life God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Paul told some in the Galatian congregations, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4) Some contend that once a person is in God’s grace, he cannot fall from it Galatians 5:4 clearly proves that a person can be a part of Christ and then sever that relationship Such severance is plainly called “falling from grace” God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation The obvious conclusion of this section is that a Christian must remain faithful until death He must meet the obstacles in his path and overcome them He must run through the finish line “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10) God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Summary of entire lesson In our study of God’s plan of salvation, we have covered these main points: Our problem is that our own sins condemn us to hell The good news – the gospel – is that Jesus died for our sins God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Summary continued 3. We answered the question “What must I do?” and found that we must: Believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that He was raised from the dead Repent Confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord Be immersed (in water) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins God’s Plan of Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation Summary continued 4. Repentance includes actual change in behavior 5. Baptism is immersion in water, and it is essential to salvation. There is only one acceptable immersion – immersion into Christ through the medium of water as a result of one’s desire to obey the gospel 6. If a person refuses to do God’s will, he will burn forever; if he does God’s will, he will live forever 7. The Christian must remain faithful until death God’s Plan of Salvation

Part 1 – Who is the Holy Spirit?