 Defending the Faith  Jude 1:3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people...  Defending the Faith  Jude 1:3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people...

Salvation Faith and Works Defending the Faith

I. A Bible Contradiction?  Romans 3:21-28 ●Faith – when people believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood ●We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law (good works)  Romans 3:21-28 ●Faith – when people believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood ●We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law (good works)

 James 2:14-26 ●Faith by itself isn’t good enough ●Unless it produces good works it is dead and useless ●Actions make faith complete ●We are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone  James 2:14-26 ●Faith by itself isn’t good enough ●Unless it produces good works it is dead and useless ●Actions make faith complete ●We are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone

Biblical Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Biblical Truth Biblical Truth Biblical Truth Biblical Truth Error Balance

 Ephesians 2:8-10 ●Saved by grace – a gift from God ●Not a reward for good things done ●Created to do good things planned for us  Ephesians 2:8-10 ●Saved by grace – a gift from God ●Not a reward for good things done ●Created to do good things planned for us

II. Saved or Not?  Matthew 7:17-23 ●Good tree produces good fruit ●Bad tree produces bad fruit ●You can identify people by their actions ●Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven ●He who does the will of God will enter  Matthew 7:17-23 ●Good tree produces good fruit ●Bad tree produces bad fruit ●You can identify people by their actions ●Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven ●He who does the will of God will enter

III. Faith Tested  Abraham with Isaac  Peter and betrayal  Youth and independence  Abraham with Isaac  Peter and betrayal  Youth and independence

IV. Faith Lost  Once saved always saved – or is it possible to lose your salvation?  Matthew 7 ●Did we not prophesy, cast out demons, perform miracles – in your name ●Get away, you who break God’s laws  Once saved always saved – or is it possible to lose your salvation?  Matthew 7 ●Did we not prophesy, cast out demons, perform miracles – in your name ●Get away, you who break God’s laws

 John 10: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

 Hebrews 6:4-6 ●Once enlightened then turn away from God ●Impossible to bring back to repentance  1 Corinthians 5:5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature (NASB – “flesh”) will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.  Hebrews 6:4-6 ●Once enlightened then turn away from God ●Impossible to bring back to repentance  1 Corinthians 5:5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature (NASB – “flesh”) will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.

IV. You May Know  1 John 5:13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.  2 Peter 1: So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.  2 Peter 1: So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Interactive Time  Are you certain of your salvation? What makes you certain of your salvation? If not, humbly ask someone to help to bring you to that certainty.  The works of the law cannot save us, but are to be like a teacher to bring us to Christ. How does the law do that? How do you come to a point where you know you need a Savior?  Are you certain of your salvation? What makes you certain of your salvation? If not, humbly ask someone to help to bring you to that certainty.  The works of the law cannot save us, but are to be like a teacher to bring us to Christ. How does the law do that? How do you come to a point where you know you need a Savior?

 How can you train up your children to prepare them for the test of their faith? How do you develop a standard of Christian living for your household without it becoming rules rather than relationship.