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I AM CONCERNED ... ABOUT THE WAY WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS(2)

May 28, 2000 AM

Sermon Outline

Heb 11:25-27

INTRO: Last Lords day morning we began this sermon of my expressions of concern for the way we make our life decisions. Our decisions are reflecting, more and more, the influence of the word and are made, too often, in favor of the worlds standards. In our text is Moses. He is confronted with a decision which cannot be avoided...which must be made. The world probably would have considered Moses to be very foolish in his decision. He gave up great power and wealth to cast his lot with the people of God. But he did something very wise. He looked beyond the momentary pleasure to ultimate consequences! So must we.

I. SOME WAYS WE SEEM TO MAKE DECISIONS ...

A. On the basis of personal taste/desire

B. On the basis of convenience

C. On the basis of emotion, feeling

D. On the basis of popularity

E. On the basis that every one does it

1. the majority cant be wrong

2. oh, but how wrong, the everyone can be! (crucify Him - Mt 27:20-23

3. right and wrong, where spiritual and moral values are concerned, are decided by God - note by majorities, legislation, monarchs, dictators

4. and we are so group conscious that the idea of going it alone is repugnant to us

5. Ex 23:2a has become a great admonition to me

F. On the basis of ignorance

1. I didnt know that

2. 1 Tim 1:13 I expect a great many choices are made in ignorance ... but can we be indifferent about knowing since so many life decisions are not matters of indifference?

3. Acts 17:30 with Ps 25:4,5

G. On the basis of thoughtlessness

1. I just wasnt thinking (Deut 32:29 & Hag 1:5)

2. lifes decisions are too critical to our present and future not to think through them

3. Ps 90:12 this is the answer to thoughtlessness

II. IN OUR DECISIONS, CHOICES ...

A. Are we educated, informed by the word?

1. or do we immediately plead ignorance and choose?

2. Ps 73:22-24 let God do the guiding!

B. Do we consider that we are Gods children?

1. or does that even occur to us?

2. Rom 8:14,16,29 His children are supposed to be acting like Jesus!

C. Do we even think of the spiritual side of our choices?

1. is it possible we are just worldly people?

2. consider Rom 6:10-12,16

D. Do we consider the power of our influence?

1. if we make an unwise spiritual, moral decision, how many others will be affected?

2. Rom 14:7!!

CLOSE: I implore that all of us think carefully in the decisions and choices of each day. Do our decisions and choices bring us closer to God?

Cecil A. Hutson

28 May 2000

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "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." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)