Yesterday, Today And Forever

Things will always be as they are today. II Peter 3: 4 – Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. Ecclesiastes 1: 9 – That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done.

When a loved one passes it tends to cause one to consider his own mortality. ?

This morning each of us must ask, “Am I ready to meet God ?” If I were to die this very moment do I know for certain that I would go to be with God eternally ?

II Timothy 1: 12 – For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Philippians 4: 6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Christians are saved and they should know it.

I. The Christian religion is all about salvation from sin.

Matthew 1: 21 – She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Luke 19: 10 – For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The message of the Apostles was about salvation. Acts 11: 14 ( angel speaking ) he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

Acts 16: 31-33      They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.  33  and he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3: 23-24 for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Luke 24: 47 that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Acts 13: 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

II. Salvation from sin is promised only to those IN Christ.

Salvation is IN Christ. II Timothy 2: 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is IN Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Those in Christ have been sanctified. I Corinthians 1: 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified IN Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ....

IN Christ all the guilt of sin has been removed. Romans 8: 1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are  IN Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1: 22-23a yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard,

These benefits are found only IN Christ so one must get INTO Christ. Hebrews 5: 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, Remember : Matt. 7: 21-23

Galatians 3: 26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27  For all of you who were baptized INTO Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Compare : Romans 6: 3

transferred into Christ, his obedience does not save him. III. Though obedience is required for one to be transferred into Christ, his obedience does not save him.

Salvation is by grace apart from works. Ephesians 2: 8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  9  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Philippians 3: 9 that I may gain Christ,  9  and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

I Peter 1: 8-9 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  9  obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Salvation is given as a gift, not earned Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Those who receive the gift are expected to reciprocate by living holy lives. Titus 2: 11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12  instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present ... Continued

Titus 2: 11-14 ... Continued age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Ephesians 2: 1-3 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of  wrath, even as the rest.

Being born again fosters a new lifestyle. I John 3: 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Remember ... James 2: 14f

IV. All who are in Christ, and maintain faith to the end, will be saved.

Faith motivates one to establish a relationship with Christ.

When one learns the story of the love and sacrifice of Jesus, he believes it. Mark 16: 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

When one develops faith in Jesus he will change his life to conform to His will. Acts 2: 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

One who has faith will tell others. Matthew 10: 32-33 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in Heaven. 33  But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in Heaven.

One’s faith will motivate him to be baptized INTO Christ. Galatians 3: 26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27  For all of you who were baptized INTO Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ( Salvation is in Christ .. II Tim. 2: 10 )

The one who is in Christ seeks to eliminate sin from his life. I John 3: 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Christians are promised salvation. Revelation 2: 10 Be faithful until death and I WILL GIVE you the crown of life. Matthew 10: 22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

Colossians 1: 21-23a And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach —  23 IF indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard,

Hebrews 3: 6 Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, IF we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Hebrews 3: 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, IF we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

expresses lack of faith in the one who promised. V. To doubt the promise expresses lack of faith in the one who promised.

Who do you trust to save you ? Yourself or Jesus ?

If you have believed and obeyed His gospel, Jesus has saved you. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you HAVE BEEN SAVED through faith

Titus 3:15 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

II Timothy 4: 6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

I Peter 1: 5 Inheritance ... reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Christian ... God has saved you and He wants you to know it. I John 5: 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Knowing that we are saved gives us great peace. Philippians 4: 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I John 4: 15-18 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16  We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Do you have the confidence to stand before God without fear ?