I. THE BIBLE TELLS US "THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE
WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS". (1 Tim. 1:15)
Since "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God" (Rom. 3:;23), it follows that we have need of a Savior. He came
"to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10). "...when the
fullness of time was come God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4,5). Yes, Jesus was born for the
explicit purpose of saving "his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
II. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD IS "NOT WILLING THAT
ANY SHOULD PERISH" (2 Pet. 3:9)
"God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through Him might be saved" (Jno.
3:16,17). Such a Divine demonstration of love is positive proof that
God wants none to perish. It is evident that God wills that the world
be saved through His Son, Jesus Christ. We are not surprised to learn
that salvation is "in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:10). In His love God
tells us that we are "baptized into Christ" (Gal. 3:27).
III. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE MUST HEAR CHRIST "IN
ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER HE SHALL SAY..." (Acts 3:22).
God said, "hear ye Him" (Matt. 17:5). On one occasion
the mother of Jesus said, "Whatsoever He saith unto you do it" (Jno.
2:5). And Jesus Himself said, "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man..." (Matt. 7:24).
IV. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT "WITHOUT FAITH IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD" (Heb. 11:6)
..."faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God" (Rom. 10:17). So we must take advantage of every opportunity to
know the word of God. Jesus said, "for if ye believe not that I am He,
ye shall die in your sins" (Jno. 8:24).
V. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE MUST ALL REPENT OR WE
WILL ALL PERISH (Lk. 13:3,5)
Godly sorrow leads to a change of mind resulting in a
change in conduct. That is repentance. Let us learn that all must "come
to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9), if we would be saved.
VI. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE MUST CONFESS THE GOOD
CONFESSION (1 Tim. 6:12 ASV)
Biblically stated the confession we make is that we
"believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). No other
confession can be made and still "walk by faith" (2 Cor. 5:7).
VII. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT "BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW
SAVE US" (1 Pet. 3:21)
The Bible does not say baptism alone saves. It does say,
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16). Sprinkling is not baptism,
for the Bible tells us that we are to be "buried with Him in baptism"
(Col. 2:12). The Bible tells us that baptism is "for remission of sins"
(Acts 2:38; 22:16).
VIII. THE BIBLE TELLS US TO BE "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"
(Rev. 2:10)
The way to do this is to "Abstain from all appearance
of evil" (1 Thes. 5:22), and be "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).
IX. SINCE THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THE WICKED...
"shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:46). Let me plead with
you, dear reader, to heed the blessed invitation of the Son of God.
Please turn to Matt. 11:28,29 and read it yourself.
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