Precious Memories

I was recently relating an occasion my wife and I had witnessing to another couple some 40 plus years ago:

 

We were discussing the Bible truth that salvation can NOT be earned.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

We talked about how all men are sinners.

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

 

We discussed the penalty for that sin was death. And not just physical death, but the second death, the lake of fire, separated from God eternally.

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

Revelation 20:13-14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

And being that men are spiritually dead [Eph. 2] there is no way a dead man can do anything to save himself. That must be done by Someone else. All of it must be done by Someone else. Not one smidgeon can be done by the dead person. Jesus Christ, God Himself had to become man so He could die for the sins of man.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

Christ was virgin born so He would not have a sin nature. Lived a spotless sinless life. Died in our place on the cross. 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.

 

Christ paid for ALL sin while He was on the cross. All sin from Adam's transgression to the last sin that will be committed by some unknown individual in the future.

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.

Rev. 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

​Jesus finished the payment for sin while on the cross. He even said so.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

That's what you do when you finish a job- you sit down.

 

3 days later He rose from the dead to prove two things: He was who He said He was [God, the same God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, in the flesh]

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

and that He accomplished what He came to do [pay for all sin]

Heb. 10:4-14 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said , Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool . For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 

So He proved it by rising from the dead.

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

As we talked we discussed that church attendance, church membership, baptism, good works, etc. can  NOT save. Do NOT save. These things are for after salvation. Not for salvation. These things are for the Christian, not for the lost sinner. The lost sinner only needs to receive Christ. Accept the payment Christ already made. By faith trust the risen Saviour.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Rom. 10:8-13 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; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

Now I would love to tell you that couple trusted Christ right then and there... but they did not. My wife and I drove back to St. Augustine, where we were living at the time, because we had classes the next day. The couple went to a Bible preaching church we had invited them to that night and were both under deep conviction by the Holy Spirit. The husband responded to the invitation and trusted Christ that night and the wife did as well shortly thereafter. The Lord worked in both their lives after salvation and many of the fruits of salvation followed. This is a major difference between true Bible Christianity and all others [even those that claim to be Christian]. True Bible Christianity teaches that Christ did everything to save you and you accept Christ as Saviour and thus that payment by faith is imputed to your account.  Romans 4:22-24 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

The others teach that you must do your part. Christ did not do enough [this teaching is actually blasphemous]. The Bible says if you add any [even the minutest amount of works to grace it is no longer grace. It's either grace or works. And works won't cut it. Dead, remember?

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.