What Does the Bible Say About Salvation? (Chapter 2)

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This is Chapter 2 of a free six-chapter booklet, What Does the Bible Say? — A Simple Foundation for New Believers. You can start at Chapter 1 or see all six chapters on The Basics page.

📘 CHAPTER TWO — What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?

The most important question we will ever settle

⭐ Introduction

Chapter One settled why we trust the Bible. Now we ask the Bible the biggest question there is: how is a person saved? Notice we are not asking what a church says, what a family tradition says, or what "most people think." We are asking: what does the Bible say?

Everything else in this booklet — prayer, worship, the church, Christian living — sits on top of this chapter. Get this one settled, and the rest have somewhere to stand.

I. Everyone Needs to Be Saved

(The problem)

Romans 3:23 — "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

The verse says ALL have sinned — and "come short" is an archer's picture: the arrow falling short of the target. Sin simply means missing God's mark — and every one of us has missed it.

A Word Worth Knowing — "Sin." The main New Testament word for sin is the Greek word hamartia (hah-mar-TEE-ah). It was an archer's term long before it was a church word — it means to miss the mark. Not necessarily to shoot in the opposite direction. Just to miss.

That matters, because it means sin is not only the crimes that make the news. Sin is every arrow that lands anywhere short of the glory of God — the unkind word, the proud thought, the good thing left undone. Some arrows land closer than others. None of them land on the mark.

Illustration — The Canyon. Suppose the whole county gathered at the rim of the Grand Canyon for a jumping contest — the object being to jump across. Some would barely clear the rail. A young athlete might jump twenty feet out. The difference between the two jumps might impress the crowd — but it would not matter one bit to the outcome. The canyon is a mile wide. Everybody comes short.

That is Romans 3:23. Compared with each other, some of us look pretty good. Compared with the glory of God, every one of us is at the bottom of the canyon.

Romans 6:23 — "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Wages are what we earn. Sin pays a wage, and the wage is death — separation from God. Notice the same verse also names the alternative, and notice what it calls it: not a wage, but a gift. Hold onto that word. It is about to become the hinge of the whole chapter.

Isaiah 53:6 — "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Let the Bible explain the Bible: Isaiah says the same thing Romans says — ALL of us, every one — and then adds where the iniquity went: the LORD laid it on HIM. Keep that in mind for Section III.

• Sin is not just what "bad people" do — it is what ALL people have done.
• Nobody is so good he does not need saving, and nobody is so bad he cannot be saved.

Author's Note — "Notice I did not write 'everyone but the preacher.' When Romans says all, it includes the man writing this booklet. We are all in the same canyon, and we all needed the same rescue." — C.T.

Simple truth: Salvation is not for good people or bad people — it is for lost people, and that is all of us.

II. We Cannot Save Ourselves

(Why our best is not enough)

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."

The verses say salvation is BY grace, THROUGH faith, NOT of yourselves, NOT of works — it is a GIFT.

A Word Worth Knowing — "Grace." The Greek word is charis (KHAR-ece). It means favor that is not earned, not deserved, and not owed. If you worked for it, it is a paycheck. If you deserved it, it is a prize. Grace is neither — grace is what God gives because of who HE is, not because of what we are.

Titus 3:5 — "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…"

And in case we are tempted to think our better deeds might tip the scale, the Bible closes that door plainly:

Isaiah 64:6 — "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…"

Read that carefully. It is not our sins that are called filthy rags — it is our righteousnesses. Our best days. Our finest moments. Measured against the glory of God, even the good we do cannot pay for the wrong we have done.

Illustration — The Gift. A gift you pay for is not a gift — it is a purchase. A gift you earn is not a gift — it is a wage. The only thing anyone can do with a real gift is receive it or refuse it. The Bible calls salvation a gift… which tells you exactly what your part is.

Simple truth: If salvation could be earned, Jesus did not need to die. It cannot — and He did.

III. Jesus Did the Saving Work

(What God did about our problem)

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 — "…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

That is the gospel in one sentence: He died FOR OUR SINS — in our place — was buried, and rose again.

1 Peter 3:18 — "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God…"

The just One suffered for the unjust ones. That exchange is the heart of salvation. Remember Isaiah 53:6 from Section I — "the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." The arrows we shot short — He took them.

Illustration — The Judge Who Paid the Fine. Picture a courtroom. The defendant is guilty and everyone knows it. The judge — because he is a just judge — pronounces the full fine. The law is satisfied; the debt is real. And then the judge stands up, takes off his robe, walks around the bench, and pays the fine out of his own pocket. That is Calvary. God did not wave our sin away as though it did not matter — the wage of sin really is death, and the sentence really was pronounced. And then the Judge Himself came down — God, in His own Son — and paid it.

A Word Worth Knowing — "It Is Finished." On the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). In the Greek this is one word — tetelestai (teh-TEL-es-tie) — and it was a word used in everyday business for a bill that had been PAID IN FULL. Merchants wrote it across a receipt. Jesus was not saying "I am finished." He was saying the DEBT is finished — paid, complete, nothing owing.

A Word Worth Knowing — "Propitiation."

1 John 2:2 — "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Propitiation is a big word with a plain meaning: the payment that settles the account. Not a payment that reduces the debt. Not a payment plan. A settlement — the account closed, the demand satisfied. Our sin was not excused; it was settled. There is a difference, and the difference is the cross.

Simple truth: Salvation is not spelled D-O. It is spelled D-O-N-E.

IV. Salvation Is Received by Repentance and Faith

(How the gift becomes yours)

Acts 20:21 — "…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Two words — one turning.

A Word Worth Knowing — "Repentance." The Greek word is metanoia (met-AH-noy-ah) — literally a change of mind. Not merely feeling sorry, and not cleaning yourself up first (you cannot). It is the change of mind that turns the whole man around — turning FROM sin and self, TOWARD God.

A man plowing a field looks back and sees his row running crooked. Repentance is not standing there feeling bad about the row. Repentance is turning the plow.

Faith is trust — leaning your whole weight on Jesus. John 3:16 says, "…that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Illustration — The Chair. You can believe a chair is sturdy, say fine things about the chair, even recommend the chair to friends — and still be standing. Faith is sitting down: putting your full weight on Christ alone to hold you. Nothing in your hands — all your weight on Him.

Romans 10:13 — "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Whosoever. The invitation is as wide as the world, and it has your name in it.

⭐ Let the Bible Explain the Bible — "Faith Without Works"

James 2:20 says "faith without works is dead" — and some read that to mean works help save us. But we learned our rule in Chapter One: Scripture never contradicts Scripture. Ephesians 2:8–9 is crystal clear — NOT of works. So what is James saying? Read Ephesians 2:10: we are "created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works." Works are the FRUIT of salvation, never the ROOT of it. A fruit tree is not alive because it bears fruit — it bears fruit because it is alive. James is not telling you how to be saved; he is telling you how to recognize a living faith.

⭐ Let the Bible Explain the Bible — "What About Baptism?"

New believers often ask: do I have to be baptized to be saved? Let a clear passage answer. When Jesus hung on the cross, a dying thief beside Him believed and said, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." And Jesus answered, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42–43).

That man was never baptized. He never joined a church, never took the Lord's Supper, never did one good work — he could not; his hands were nailed down. And Jesus Himself declared him saved that very day. Salvation came by repentance and faith alone.

Then what is baptism for? Hold that question — Chapter Five answers it from Scripture. For now, mark this: baptism is a PICTURE of the salvation you already have, not the power that gives it. First the believing, then the picture — always in that order in the Book.

Simple truth: Turn from sin, trust in Jesus — the gift becomes yours the moment you receive it.

V. The Saved Are Safe Forever

(Why we can know, and rest)

John 10:28–29 — "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

Read the promise slowly, and count the securities in it:

• The life He gives is ETERNAL — and eternal life that could be lost was never eternal.
• He says they shall NEVER perish. Never is a long word, and Jesus chose it.
• No man can pluck them out of His hand — and verse 29 closes the Father's hand around His. The believer rests inside two hands, and the Bible says nothing about him wiggling out from the inside either.

John 3:36 — "He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life…"

Hath means possession — right now, not someday, not hopefully, not if we hold on well enough.

1 John 5:13 — "These things have I written unto you… that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life."

Not hope so. Not think so on good days. Know so — because God put it in writing.

Now, someone will ask: then what happens when a believer sins? Does he lose it? Here the Bible makes a distinction worth learning early: the difference between SONSHIP and FELLOWSHIP. When you were saved you became God's child — and a birth cannot be un-happened. But a child who disobeys clouds the warmth of the household without ever changing his birth certificate. Sin in a believer's life breaks the closeness, not the relationship — and confession restores the closeness (1 John 1:9). Chapter Six walks through this fully.

Author's Note — "New believer, settle this early: your salvation rests on what Jesus did, not on how you perform. On your worst day you are just as saved as on your best day, because the paid-in-full receipt was signed at the cross, not at your good behavior. Assurance is not pride — it is taking God at His word." — C.T.

Simple truth: Salvation kept by us would be lost by Tuesday. Salvation kept by Him is safe forever.

⭐ Before You Leave This Chapter

May I ask you the chapter's question personally? Not "do you go to church" — not "were you raised right" — but this: have you ever, as one lost person, turned from your sin and put your whole weight on Jesus Christ alone?

If the answer is no, or if you are not sure — the invitation of Romans 10:13 is open this very minute: "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Tell Him you have missed the mark. Tell Him you are done trusting yourself. Ask Him to save you — and He will, because He said He would.

And if the answer is yes — then read John 10:28 once more, slowly, and rest. You are in the two hands.

⭐ Chapter Summary

• Everyone has sinned and needs saving — every arrow lands short.
• Nobody can save himself — even our righteousnesses are filthy rags. Salvation is a gift.
• Jesus paid the full debt: died, buried, risen. Tetelestai — paid in full. Propitiation — the account settled.
• The gift is received by repentance (the turned plow) and faith (the full weight on the chair).
• Works are the fruit of salvation, never the root. Baptism is the picture, never the power.
• The saved are safe in two hands forever — and God wrote it down so we can know it.

Next — Chapter Three: What does the Bible say about prayer?

What is your address in heaven?

Statement: Matt 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.

Illustrate: The picture here is one of depending upon the activities and the good deeds of religion to please God – instead of depending upon proper worship in a NTC to please God . . .

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

To please God is to satisfy God “completely and entirely” . . . the way to draw near unto God – the way to actually visit God is through proper

Worship . . . and what we are told here is that for God to be completely and totally satisfied with our lives – it is necessary that we have more confidence in obedience than we have in our good

works – the idea is that it requires faith to actually commit our lives to the idea of being rewarded for seeking God – instead of being rewarded because we work for God . . .

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (good works) are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The reference in Matt 7: 21 to entering into “The kingdom of heaven” is not talking about going to

heaven when are saved . . . this verse is talking about entering into the city after we “get” to heaven . . .

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (beyond measure)

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” is reminding us that not everyone in heaven is going to have the same address . . some of God’s children will live

in the city very close to Jesus – and some of God’s children will live outside the city and their address in heaven will not very close to Jesus at all . . .

For example: If we were to measure the distance that each one of us lives from the church – we would find that some live much closer to the church than

others . . . this is something that is completely in our control – every single one of us could sell our houses and move to Dardanelle within a few

blocks of the church . . . but some of us enjoy living in the country too much to move to town . . . some of us enjoy being close to our children and

grandchildren – so this is why we choose to live closer to them than the church . . . I suppose that I live further away from the church than anyone . . . and I often think about how convenient it would

be to live right next door to the church instead of 30 miles away . . . I know that the physical distance that we live from the church has nothing to do

with how much we actually love the church . . . but the point is – that our address in heaven is determined by the attitude we have toward the

church here in this life . . . the closer we live to the church (in our heart)  – then the closer we will live to Jesus in the eternity of heaven . . .

Applicate:  Re 22:14 Blessed (happy or well off) are they that do his commandments, that they may have right (privilege) to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The lesson for us here is that just like we are able to choose our address here . . . we are also able to choose our address in heaven . . . If we love sin more than we love God – then in heaven we will

not have the privilege of living within the city – but if we love God so that we regret our sins and repent of them – then we will live within the city

Statement: Rev 22: Re 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

1)    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still – To be unjust is to do wrong or to be an offender who walks contrary to the truth . . . when Jesus returns – His children that are doing wrong will not have time to “change” the direction of their lives

a)    The man that has an injured life outside of the truth will continue to be injured after Jesus returns . . . and what he carries with him into heaven will be something of little value (wood – hay – stubble)

b)    I Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

2)    and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still – To be filthy refers to a life that is soiled or dirty  . . . when Jesus returns – His children who are caught with dirty lives will not have time to take a bath and clean their up their lives before they enter into the pearly gates

a)    The man who has a dirty life when Jesus returns will continue to be dirty afterward . . . and he will not be able to hide the dirt that he carries with him into heaven . . . (wood – hay – stubble)

b)    1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day (of judgement) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test) every man's work of what sort it is.

3)    and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still – To be righteous does not refer to the absence of sin in our life . . . but rather it refers to being innocent – it refers to being set free by another or to being justified

by the judge which is GOD . . .

a)    For a child of God to be righteous – refers to how it is possible for us to either walk in the direction of God’s will – or to walk against the direction of His will . . .

i)     The idea here is that at the return of Jesus – the man that is caught walking in the direction of God’s will for his life – will carry this “righteousness” with him into heaven (gold – silver – precious stones)

ii)   And as long as he is in heaven – the direction of his life on this earth will not be forgotten . . .

iii) 1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

4)    and he that is holy, let him be holy still – To be holy is to be pure – to be morally blameless – or to be consecrated to fulfill God’s will as opposed to living to fulfilling our own will . . .

a)    The man who has dedicated his life to the true worship of Jesus Christ . . . when Jesus returns and catches this man living that type of commitment . . .

i)     Then after he walks through the pearly gates to enter into heaven . . . throughout eternity – this man’s dedication is something that will never be forgotten . . . (gold – silver – precious stones)

ii)   1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

5)   And, behold, I come quickly – The word “and” connects this verse with what we have just read . . .

a)   The sudden return of Jesus is connected with the condition of the lives that we are living today. . .

b)   At the return of Jesus - If we are caught with our hand in the cookie jar . . . we will not have time to remove our hand and drop the cookie . . .

c)   “Notice” . . . “See” . . . when I return – when I appear . . . it will be sudden . . . like a flash of lightening – what the sudden flash of lightening reveals – is what you will take with you into eternity.

6)   and my reward is with me – God’s reward does not refer to salvation . . . because salvation is not a reward – it is a gift . . .

a)    Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

b)   God’s reward literally refers to pay for service . . .

c)   the idea being that when “the flash” of His return reveals an unjust life . . . then we will get paid for an unjust life . . .

d)   When “the flash” of His return reveals a filthy life – then we will get paid for a filthy life . . .

e)   When “the flash” of His return reveals a righteous life – then we will get paid for a righteous life

f)    When “the flash” of His sudden return reveals a holy life – then we will get paid for a holy life . . .

g)   My reward is with me means that God has already written the check – He has signed it – and when He returns – He will hand deliver it – to every single one His children

7)   to give every man according as his work shall be – To give means to deliver . . . or to put in ones hands

a)   according means right now with all speed . . .

b)   as his work shall be – refers to how our effort – and how our occupation in life is literally going to follow us into the next life . . .

Illustrate: The picture we have here is – for a sudden unexpected flash of light catching us unaware – and revealing the direction of our life at that particular instant of time . . .

For example – If I suddenly turned the lights off during my lesson today . . . and if a picture of your thoughts the instant that the lights went out

could be displayed on a screen . . . would the screen reveal that you were saying a prayer . . . Would the screen reveal that you were day dreaming

about what you would do after service . . . would the screen reveal that you were thinking bad thoughts . . . Suppose that you got a job and a new house for the rest of your life based on what the screen

revealed at that one instant in time . . . would you get a good job in a nice neighborhood – or would you get a bad job in a bad neighborhood  . . .

Now we might say . . . that is not really fair – I kept my mind on the sermon the entire time . . . I only day dreamed at the very last when the lights went out – most of the time my thoughts were good . . .

Well fair or not . . . this is exactly what “he that is unjust/filthy will be unjust/filthy still means” . . .

the reward of the child of God who is unjust/filthy – will not be good . . . (wood – hay – stubble)

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The heavenly address of the child of God who lived an unjust/filthy life – will not be in a very good neighborhood . . . and neither will it be in the city close to Jesus . . .

Re 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Applicate: So the lesson for us here is – that we are told to take an inventory of our lives . . . and if our life is directed in same direction as God’s will – then we should continue . . . but if our lives are pointed

in a direction that is against God’s will . . . then we have an opportunity to turn around . . .

The dogs – the sorcerers – the whoremongers – the murders – the idolaters – those that loveth and maketh a lie . . . are not sinners that are in hell

But these are those whose rewards were burnt up in I Cor 3 . . . as they suffered loss – but were saved yet-so-as by fire . . .

Now it may not seem fair . . . but I want you to listen very closely to these next scriptures . . . they tell us that God does not care about our past

God does not care if our past is filled with good . . . God does not care if our past is filled with evil . . . but in the scriptures we just read . . . God clearly tells us that TODAY is the only thing that He is concerned about . . .

2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)

If God sees humility and repentance in my heart today – then the evil that He saw in me yesterday is forgotten 

If God sees pride and rebellion in my heart today – then the righteousness that He saw in me yesterday is also forgotten . . .

Eze 33:17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.

18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.

Re 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

The school master

     Galatians 3: 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

    25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

    A schoolmaster is simply a TEACHER . . . The responsibility of a schoolmaster is to educate his student . . . to teach that student . . .

    and the lesson that The Law “taught” to the people of God in the OT can also be taught to you and I today . . . The Lesson that God  teaches us through “The Law” is beyond price . . .

    As we talk of things of value – I am reminded of Lu 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness (GREED) for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of “the things” which he possesseth.

    The quality of our life – or the gain that we get from life is not determined by how many rules we are able to keep NOR is it determined by the overabundance of our possessions . . . 

    I Tim 6: 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

    The idea of “godliness” is not referring to learning how to live so that we don’t sin as much as we used to . . . The Bible tells us that EVEN the thought of foolishness is sin – and since we cannot even control our own 

    thoughts – we cannot ever reach the point in life where we are able to avoid the practice of sin (physical/mentally) . . . so to live “a godly life” is not telling us to somehow approach (get closer) to sinless perfection . . .

    The schoolmaster is teaching us that To live “a godly life” – is to live a separated life.  The “godly life” which brings contentment - is a life

    that is separated from the world by a boundary - by a twisted cord - by the Landmarks of True WORSHIP - and one of the lessons which “The

    Law” is trying to teach us – is that peace with God is not found by living our lives within a set of rules which is able to turn us into Christians by making us LESS SINFUL.  After we are saved - the secret to finding peace with God is to find proper worship IN THE TRUTH

    The whole point to The Law is not to make us a better people through the practice of good deeds by keeping/practicing The Law . . . but rather the whole point to The Law is to make us a better people through HUMILITY 

    as we look at our lives – while we also look at God’s definition of righteousness in The Law . . . This lesson of humility is supposed to be learned as we compare our lives/thoughts with God’s definition of righteousness as revealed to us in The Law -- 

    Ro 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.  – it is in this manner that we are taught the meaning of Ro 3:23 For I all have sinned, and I have come short of the glory of God . . . 

    To “come short” is to miss the mark . . . “The mark” that we miss . . . is the perfection that would be required of us -- if we were ABLE to “keep” The Law . . .

    Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  The gain (or the profit) in/of our

    life is not determined by the value of our possessions . . . neither is there profit to be found in our life as a result possessing an abundance of good works as we spend our life trying to “keep The Law” and to do more good than evil in our lives.

    I Tim 6: 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

    This verse tells us to adopt the attitude -That it is ENOUGH for us - that we have found “The Truth” in the lesson that has been taught to us by the Schoolmaster . . . that lesson being - that the abundant life is not found in 

    either the value of our possessions NOR in the abundance of our good works . . . but the godliness spoken of which brings contentment into our lives –(is in fact) - the blessing of being able to offer “a worship” which God will accept – (along with the understanding) that in a saved man’s life “the blessing of proper worship” is a thing of greater value than any other blessing that we could ever hope to possess.  

    I Cor 2: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

    I Tim 6: 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

    “To be content” gives us the idea of raising a barrier “to ward” something off (or to keep it away from us) . . . like stacking “sand bags” during the time of rising water in a flood.

    When we see the “waters of temptation” rising around us . . . when we see that we are not as prosperous as others and as we begin to get jealous of “the world” . . . we should at that point start laying down the sand bags of contentment in order to ward off the attitude of envy and discontentment which can only lead to “impatience with God” and to discouragement as a Christian.

    Ps 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

    17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; THEN understood I their end.

    He only found understanding – in the place of proper worship . . . To view our lot in life through eyes that have not been properly trained by the 

    “schoolmaster” is something that will distort our vision of what our purpose in life actually is . . . and as we begin to compare our circumstance in life with the prosperity of the world around us . . . we will begin to question

    God and also our faith . . . BUT when we enter into the boundary of The Landmarks of Truth – when we go to the sanctuary of God  – when

    we find strength in that twisted cord of church fellowship . . . we will then understand that the worth of man’s life is not measured in the value

    of his possessions NOR is the worth of a man’s religion measured in success as defined by “the world” . . .

    Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

    What greater blessing can any people have – than the promise that Jesus will “literally” be in their mist . . . The point is - “that it is not possible” for us to receive a more valuable blessing – than the ability and the 

    opportunity to offer PROPER worship unto God in what we KNOW is a “Landmark church” . . . God does not measure our lives by the value of our

    possessions – nor does He value our worth by the accomplishment of good works that are found within The Law . . . God measures our worth

    “as Christians” by the lack of pride in our heart which is humility – and by our willingness to be obedient (submissive to Him) which is an  expression of our love.  

    John 14:15 If ye love me, keep (guard) my commandments.

    John 15:10 If ye DO keep (value) my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

    Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

    The most valued possession of any man in any age -- is NOT what is able to comfort our flesh - impress our neighbors or build up our religion – but rather THAT which is able to comfort our heart. 

    Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth (is above) all understanding, (this peace is what) shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

    The peace of God refers to “the rest” that we have within our heart when we learn to have the attitude that The Truth is ENOUGH – and that nothing else in our life really matters.

What will you choose?

Matt 25: 14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

The master returned to “the kingdom” not to see who remained as his servants (not to see who was saved and who had lost their salvation) . . .

but he returned to have his servants “give an account” of what they had done during the time he had been gone.

And in the day of judgment . . . We will not stand before God to find out whether or not we lived a good enough life to earn salvation

But we will stand before God as a lost man to be sentenced to hell . . . or we will stand before God as one of His servants – to be rewarded

for our faithfulness – or punished for our unfaithfulness if we hid our talent . . .

 John 5: 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

You see the Bible indicates here – that the question of heaven and hell will have been settled BEFORE we ever come forth from the

grave.  The master that returns to “reckon” with his servants . . . is an illustration of Jesus when He returns to reckon with (to judge) His children.

In the day of judgment a man will COME FORTH from the grave unto the resurrection of life as child of God to be rewarded or to suffer loss

OR in the day of judgment a man will COME FORTH from the grave to face hell as they hear Jesus say in the judgment of the lost . . .

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: DEPART FROM ME, ye that work iniquity.

When you stand before God – to give an account of your life . . . you will stand in one of two judgments . . . the judgment of the saved OR the judgment of the lost.

And in your day of judgment – you will hear one of three things . . . if you stand in the judgment of the saved you will hear

Well done thou good and faithful servant . . . as you receive a reward . . . or if you are saved but NOT faithful to God (having hidden your

talent) then . . . you will be told that you are a wicked and a slothful servant . . . at which

time you will lose any reward that you might have had to enter heaven empty handed . . . but worst of all . . . if you come forth from the grave as a lost man to stand before God in the judgment of the lost . . .

The last words that you will ever hear spoken will be from Jesus as He says . . . depart form me ye that work iniquity – I never knew you (you were NEVER one of my children).

And after this you will be cast into hell – to be tormented day and night for-ever and for-ever . . .

So in which judgment will you stand . . . and what words will you hear in that judgment?

To die lost you need do nothing in life but continue to forget about that burden that God has placed upon your heart . . . To die saved . . . all you need to do is to read John 3:16-18

    16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (to die on the cross as payment for our sins - so) that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 
    The who-so-ever refers to anyone . . . as sinners when we "believe" in the sacrifice that Jesus made to be able to "pardon" our sin we gain everlasting life (we shall not perish)
    
    17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


    This verse tells us that Jesus did not bring condemnation when He came to the earth . . . but He brought the hope of salvation . . . a doctor does not bring sickness to his patience . . . a doctor brings hope to those patience who are ALREADY sick.  Jesus came to us because we were already sick in sin.



18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
 

The Open Door

The world defines religion for us as basically doing good things – helping the community – trying to do what is right . . . but religion never takes “THE HEART” of man into account . . .

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

What this verse means – is that when God looks at our lives – He skips over “our behavior” or what WE DO in life – and the FIRST thing that God 

looks at concerning our lives “BEFORE” He looks at our conduct – is the attitude (or the condition) of OUR HEART . . . “For with THE HEART” man believeth unto righteousness” means {that how we THINK} is actually a better indication of what kind of person we are – than what WE DO or how we behave. 

In other words if our heart is not right – then we can do “the right thing” for the wrong reason.  And what we learn from the scriptures – is that God

judges our lives – not necessarily based upon our actions . . . but God also takes into account how we think in OUR HEART.

Matthew 23: 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

This describes a dirty pot or pan . . . the lid is put on the pot – the outside is scrubbed and polished so that it shines like a new penny . . . but when you

take the lid off to use the pot you find out that the inside (the part of the pot that you use) has never been cleaned – it is full of mold and baked on food that has spoiled and began to smell bad . . .

This is what religion does to our lives and to our churches . . . religion makes us clean on the outside – but we don’t use the outside of a cup or platter . . . the important part is the INSIDE.

Likewise God tells us that it is not the outward appearance of our lives (things that we do) which are important . . . but rather it is our HEART that God seeks to “make clean” – and He does this through “faith and repentance”. 

What God tells us in this next verse deals with which part of the pot (our life) that we should clean first.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is “within the cup and platter” that the outside of them may be clean also.

As men we do not improve our lives by becoming “active” in religion . . . we do not improve our lives by avoiding the “thou shalt nots” of the TEN commandments . . . As men the only way to improve our lives is to “admit” our guilt – to become broken hearted regarding how (through

our sins) we have caused Jesus to suffer.  Faith is what gives us access to God’s promised forgiveness . . . faith is what opens the door.

But an open door serves no purpose – if we refuse to step through it . . . we can believe in God – we can even believe in God’s judgment . . . but if we

never ACT on that faith – if we never walk through the door . . . then we will “go to hell” taking this type of belief in God with us.

Now the parallel that this type of faith has with religion is this . . . When God reminds us that we are sinners in need of savior . . . When God

teaches us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins . . . when God’s Holy Spirit convicts our heart and (through this conviction) we become aware 

of the “BURDEN of guilt” which our sins have brought into our heart – this knowledge is NOT intended to motivate us to try to start living better lives as we become more active in religion . . .

The purpose of the burden which God places upon our heart in this manner – is to remind us of just who we are . . . the burden of guilt that is present

in OUR HEART is to offer proof that we are guilty – it is to offer proof that the blood of Jesus Christ is literally dripping from our hands . . . and the 

fact that we start trying to “do better” will not wash the blood of Jesus off of our hands and take the guilt away from our heart . . . This is what Jesus 

was referring too in Matt 23: 26 when He said cleanse FIRST that which is “within” so that the outside may be clean also.  If we are among those present today – who are trying to live a good life . . . we are trying to do 

this because we have knowledge of God . . . we have faith in The Bible – and we believe in God’s judgment . . . the fact that we have chosen to 

worship God today – is proof that we believe these things . . . BUT – an open door serves no purpose until we step through it . . . the faith that we 

have described which motivates us to “try to do better” in religion falls short in one key point . . . and that is commitment.  Notice the lack of genuine (heart felt) commitment in the lives of these scribes and Pharisees

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres (well-kept graves) which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

 A well-kept grave with an expensive head-stone is impressive to look at . . . but inside that grave is a dead body that is being eaten by worms . . .

28 Even so ye also (your lives, they) outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within (your heart where God is able to see) ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Religion is not proper worship . . . religion is not a substitute for salvation – and religion is certainly not a substitute for Christianity. 

To have a “change of heart” is to repent . . . this is what it means to step through that door which faith has opened for us . . . Faith opens the eyes 

of the lost man to the promise of God’s salvation . . . but sorrow – guilt – regret – a desire to please God are things which will cause “the lost man” 

to step through that doorway.  The same thing is basically true regarding “the journey” which only a few of God’s children make – as they step out of religion and enter into the place of “true worship”.

“Worship of God” is not what saves us – salvation is not found in this church (or any other type of church) salvation is found when a sinner 

makes the choice in HIS HEART to stop seeking God through religion – and to simply “stop trying” and to come to God as you are right now . . . 

and that is - as a sinner with the blood of Jesus still fresh on your hands (not trusting in your religion but) “TRUSTING in Jesus” to save you in spite 

of all of your faults . . . This is a picture of salvation – and to those of us who have already been saved – My point - is that it is “not possible” for 

us to worship properly – it is not possible for us to become a “True Worshiper” without this vision of seeing ourselves as a sinner whose 

hands are still stained with the blood of our savior (instead of looking at ourselves) as a good deed doer that is active in religion.

If we are proud of the lives that we live and what our efforts we mean to our church . . . then we are religious and we are unable to worship until we clean up what is within.

Back in the 70's the promotion of non-stick cookware was a big thing . . . Since the Garden of Eden the "non-stick" heart has been promoted by Satan.  

A heart that is coated with PRIDE - is a heart where God's Word will not be able to stick and bring about a change in that man's life.  Clean that which is WITHIN first - chip off the coating of pride so that God's Word will stick to your heart and change your life.