Faith in Jesus Christ is the evidence of eternal life to come
Introduction:
This morning I preached on hell and eternal judgment, which is the certain future of all men (Romans 3:23; Hebrews 9:27).
The wicked in the congregation either slept, dozed, daydreamed, or don’t care. Of course, they must be greatly deceived.
To think that everyone in this assembly is saved and going to heaven is unscriptural and shows willing ignorance.
The righteous want to know what to do. A sermon about hell causes them to tremble and seek the Lord aggressively.
If you know you deserve hell and fear God accordingly, then listen.
The Philippian Jailor (Acts 16:16-34).
Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed for gospel preaching and casting out devils (16:16-24).
The two of them prayed and sang at midnight loud enough to be heard by the prisoners (16:25).
God sent an earthquake that shook the prison, opened the doors, and loosed all bands (16:26).
Knowing the penalty for allowing prisoners to escape, the jailor prepared for suicide (16:27).
Paul cried out for him to do himself no harm, as all the prisoners politely stayed put (16:28).
This jailor rushed to them and acknowledged their persons and brought them out (16:29).
Then the jailor, who had put them in stocks, asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (16:30).
They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (16:31).
Then they preached to him and to all that were in his house from the word of the Lord (16:32).
He took them and washed their stripes, and he and all his house were baptized at once (16:33).
He took Paul and Silas into his house, prepared a meal for them, and believed with joy (16:34).
The Rest of the New Testament
He that believeth [the gospel] and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:15-16).
He that believeth on him is not condemned (John 3:18).
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life (John 3:36).
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 20:31).
Confess with thy mouth and believe in thine heart; thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9-10).
I have written to you that believe, that ye may know that ye have eternal life (I John 5:13).
Believing the gospel record of Jesus Christ is a primary message of the Bible.
The Doctrinal Application
We should be more interested in DOING our text rather than EXCUSING or EXPLAINING it.
We want to rightly divide the Bible (II Tim 2:15). But we want to believe on Jesus Christ more.
God has not called us to find unconverted elect everywhere or to always be worried about the five phases of salvation; He has called us to repent, believe on His Son Jesus, and live godly.
God’s operation in predestinating, justifying, calling, and glorifying is sure (Romans 8:28-29).
Which phases of salvation precede our belief on Jesus Christ?
Election – God’s predestination of us to salvation before the world began (Acts 13:48).
Justification – Christ’s payment to put away sins and secure righteousness (Ro 4:23-25).
Regeneration – Spirit’s operation to quicken our dead souls to spiritual life (John 5:24).
Which phases of salvation follow our belief on Jesus Christ?
Conversion – educational process of learning truth and modifying conduct accordingly.
Find confidence (assurance) of eternal life (I John 5:13; II Pet 1:5-11; Jas 2:24).
Ignorance about the true means of righteousness (Romans 10:1-4; Gal 3:7-19).
Delivered from hopelessness as the unbelieving world (I The 4:13; I Cor 15:19).
The Holy Ghost and His peace and joy (Acts 2:38; Rom 14:17; Gal 5:22-23).
Faith is the means of entrance into the kingdom of God (Luke 16:16 cp 7:29).
And we are not talking about inviting Jesus into your heart or things like that.
You believe in the present in order to be converted in the present and future.
Glorification – the resurrection of the body and the granting of immortality in heaven.
Deliverance from the second death is by the resurrection to life (John 5:28-29).
Redemption of our bodies from the grave and death (Rom 8:23; I Cor 15:35-49).
If you believe in the present, you shall be glorified in the future (I Thess 5:23).
There is salvation that is nearer, our glorification; it follows faith (Rom 13:11).
How can you know that you have eternal life?
Is it trusting in good deeds done in Christ’s name (Matthew 7:21-23 vs 25:37-39)?
Is it trusting in the truth that this church believes? Or anything even close to this?
Salvation is by grace, and any wandering thought of your works is deceitful and destructive.
Humble yourself, confess your wretchedness, repent, and seek the Redeemer (Luke 18:9-14; 7:36-50; 23:42-43; Acts 17:30-31; 26:20).
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (I John 5:13; 5:1; John 5:24; Acts 4:12; 13:48; I Corinthians 1:18,24; I Timothy 1:16; Romans 1:15-16).
Begin obeying with baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 3:21).
Continue obeying with good works (James 2:14-26; II Peter 1:5-11; Hebrews 6:9-12; Mark 10:28-31; I Timothy 6:11-12,17-19).
We as individuals and as a church should crave to be as the Thessalonians (I Thess 1:1-10).
