Christ’s Ability (Part 1)
Eph. 3:20
Introduction
It’s a strange thing that people including some Christians will only call upon God as their last recourse. There is nothing that our Lord Jesus Christ cannot do yet we forget the right and privilege to call Him first in any situation. We will do everything we can do first as if we are the masters of our own destiny, and we can do things better without God. What a folly! Some claim to be “self-made man” and completely eliminate God who created them and gave them the knowledge and skills to do things and accumulate wealth and success. Today we will be talking about Christ’s ability and why we can put our trust in Him and call Him first.
I. He can save us to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25)
A. Salvation is the most important thing in this life, and there were only two destination, heaven or hell. Only Christ can save us from eternal damnation.
B. There were many false teaching about salvation.
1. We are all God’s children so we can say that we are all Christians. This is the erroneous universal fatherhood of God teaching!!!
a. This is false because not all people are sons of God. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. Unbelievers here have their father as the devil.
b. Not all will be saved. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
c. More will go to hell than those that will go to heaven. Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
d. Many think that they are saved but in reality they are not. Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2. People are saved by means of Baptism. Another wrong teaching.
a. Simon was baptized but he is never a Christian and he is never saved. Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
b. Leader of the cults like David Koresh (Branch Davidian), Jim Jones (Guyana Massacre), Joseph Smith of (LDS) were all baptized by immersion but they are not saved.
c. Charles Darwin, Fidel Castro, Mussolini, Stalin, and Adolf Hitler were baptized when they were young but are they saved? Of course no!!!
d. Judas Iscariot also was a baptized disciple but was not saved (Acts 1:22). high
e. The thief on the cross was never baptized yet he is saved. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Baptism has nothing to do with salvation.
The group called Church of Christ are preaching and teaching untiringly that baptism is part of salvation but their proof text proved to be very weak if you look at the context. If baptism can save then there are two saviour, Christ and baptism. What a blatant mistake.
3. Being a member of religious organization saves. (Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, JW, Church of Christ, etc.)
a. Judas was one of the disciples and their treasurer yet he is not saved (Jn. 12:6). Church membership can never save you
b. The popes during the middle ages that committed murder, adultery, and other heinous crime. They hold a very high position in the Catholic Church but they are not save.
4. Being prayerful and religious can save.
a. Cornelius was prayerful and very religious yet Peter has to teach him about salvation.
5. Being good, moral, and peaceful man who goes to church, loves his family, makes no enemies is good enough for a man to be saved and go to heaven
a. The Bible plainly says that we are not and we cannot be saved by good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. See also Isaiah 64:6
C. The right way to be saved.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. Rom. 3:10, 3:23, Jer. 17:9
2. Confess and repent of your sin. 1 Jn. 1:9, Luke 13:3.
3. Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for you, was buried and rose from the dead. Rom. 10:9-10
4. Through prayer invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour: Jn. 1:12, Rom. 10:13.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. There is no other way a man can go to heaven and be saved except through Christ. In the book of Acts, it 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Someday in the future, those who deny and refuse to accept Jesus as their personal saviour will be cast into the lake of fire to be punished forever. By then they will realize that they have committed a big mistake, by then it’s too late.
II. Conclusion:
Only Christ can save us. He can save us to the uttermost. If you haven’t put your trust in Jesus, now is the time. Do not procrastinate. Receive Him now as your personal Saviour. It’s a decision you will never regret.
