TURN TO GOD FIRST

Sunday Morning: October 10, 1999

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:9 "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"

IDOLS - NOT LIVING NOR TRUE

Hab 2:18-19 "What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19. Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it."

HOW TO BE SAVED?

Rom 10:10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

REPENT, BE BAPTIZED SALVATION

Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN MESSAGE

BIRTH FROM ABOVE

John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

CHRIST MADE SALVATION SIMPLE

Acts 16:30-31 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31. And they said, Believe (NOT FAITH!) on the Lord Jesus Christ (no repentance, no lordship, no baptism), and thou shalt be saved, &ldots;"

SALVATION OF THE SAVED

2 Tim 2:10 "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."

THE SAVED REPENT

Luke 15:6-7 "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep (saved) which was lost. 7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one (saved) sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine (saved) just persons, which need no repentance."

NO LORDSHIP SALVATION

Rom 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth [present active participle]."

NOT SIMPLE OR COMMON SALVATION

Rom 10:6-7 "But the righteousness which is of faith (not believe) speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)"

NOT AGAIN

THE WORD OF FAITH, verse 8

Rom 10:8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;"

DEPART FROM THE FAITH

BELIEVETH AND CONFESSION

Rom 10:9-11 "That if thou shalt confess [aorist, to start confessing, verse 10] with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe [aorist, to start believing, verse 10] in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth [present] unto (eis, leading to) righteousness; and with the mouth confession [present] is made unto (eis, leading to) salvation (in Christ for the elect). 11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth [present active participle] on him shall not be ashamed."

BELIEVING MAY STOP

SALVATION OF THE SOUL

SAVED TO SERVE

1 Th 1:9 "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"

SALVATION IN CHRIST