"The sign of the Cross, the life of Saints" Mark 8:34

Discussing what it means to be a disciple of Christ, the point and purpose of the Cross in the Saints life.
Sunday message by Pastor Mat - June 23, 2024

Apologetics, Debate, Bible Discussions, Evangelism, and much more

A Bible study on personal works and fruit bearing -
"The mystic fruit bowl" Mark 7:5-23 - https://youtu.be/kw7QiLQMQ_M?si=eSOYcF1Ffco6-inI

(Discussing discipleship) Bible study on Luke 9:60-62 "Let the dead bury the dead" -
https://www.youtube.com/live/BkWtkOrEs-Q?si=y-zyqNGfWi3kzVu2

To know more on how to be saved, what are the requirements and such, please see our playlist on the Gospel and Eternal Security (assurance of salvation) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3pJdCnnwrEeCQOCTTmDW1GjUYxpd44DG&si=_rT-lThl0klHt5Cd

Our Ministries Website - https://christiancoffeetime.ca/
1John 5:20) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

Salvation is a Covenant by God, not a contract with man.
Jesus says that the new Testament is in His blood, it is a covenant vow made by the blood of God (Acts 20:28). (Testament literally means “Covenant” in the original Greek - The Old and New Covenant/Testament)

Luke 22:20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
1Corinthians 11:25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Hebrews 12:24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

John 1:12-13) "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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - not by our blood, but the blood of God. Not by our will or power, but only of God. As Jesus said "no man can pluck you out of my hand" that means you cannot pluck yourself out either - not by your will. You cannot walk away/give up the faith (become unsaved again).

2 Timothy 2:13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Salvation is not about what we do or keep or abstain from, it is solely based on what you have believed. 1John 5:13) "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
As it says "THAT YE MAY KNOW" absolute assurance of your salvation, and this is because you have believed.

John 1:13) "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
It has nothing to do with our abilities of anything, salvation is only by the power of God which comes upon us when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-10) 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 10:43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Ephesians 1:13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

John 3:16-17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 John 5:20) And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

John 1:13) “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Eph 1:7 / Acts 10:43 / Eph 1:13 & 4:30 /

Salvation is a free gift, no maintenance, no earning of favor, and once given it cannot be taken away. Ephesians 4:30) "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."- if we do grieve Him we just confess and we are cleansed. The Father doesn't disown the wayward child, but like the prodigal son the goodness of God leads us to repentance and cleansing - When did the prodigal son cease to be a son of the Father?

Salvation is NOT by works, NOT by righteous works, NOT by deeds of the law, and NOT by sight. But by Faith alone, through Grace alone, by Jesus Christ who is God alone -
Titus 3:5 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / Galatians 2:16 / 2 Corinthians 5:7 / Romans 1:17 / Romans 6:14 / Hebrews 10:38.

Romans 10:9-10) “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

After believing and repenting you are sealed/saved, then because of your love for Christ you want to follow Him. Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30 - It's not because you have to but because you want to.

Any idea of self merit affecting salvation in earning to gain, maintaining to keep, or self atonement for sins is heresy and the person is not saved. The same goes for believing that Baptism saves, forgives, or seals with the Spirit - it's still a belief in a form of righteous works that affects salvation - this is heresy too. It's all through Christ's merit on the Cross and His Resurrection, or else through attempting in your own merit you earn Hell.

And this Salvation can never be lost or taken away - Romans 8:1 no condemnation unto those in Christ. Any sin after that brings chastisement, not disowning or a casting away. John 15:1-6 is paired with 1Cor 5:1-5 / Psalm 66:18 / Prov 28:9 / James 1:6-7 nowhere does it relate to losing salvation or having it being taken away.

James 2 is not talking about works to keep your salvation, but rather it's talking to Christians already saved, and it's talking about charity and Christian behavior for promotion of the faith, not maintenance of salvation. If James is talking about maintaining salvation then Apostle Paul is a liar.

Matthew 24 is speaking about the end of days and the trials and tribulations that will occur. "endure to the end" is in reference to the Great Tribulation, as it is a limited time and will soon be over and those under persecution will be saved from the oppression. It is not a salvationary passage, Christ is not talking about salvation but rather persecution. It's the same context as the other passage that says how a woman will be saved in child bearing - talking about the pains and troubles.

Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26 is speaking about the unsaved falling away (rejecting) enlightenment, the knowledge of , the taste of salvation - they had not yet taken hold. This does not relate to the saved giving up or losing salvation as many think. Losing Salvation, or it being taken away, given up - denotes a working to keep it. But it's not by works or righteous works, deeds of the law, or by sight. It's by Grace alone through Faith alone.

Matthew 7:21-23) "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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Nowhere do they say "have we not believed on thy name?". They were trusting in their works, righteous works, and law keeping. They were depending on religiosity and Christian behavior to earn their salvation like all the cults do.

Salvation is purely by grace through faith by belief alone - Eph 2:8-9 / Titus 3:5 / Gal 2:16 / Romans 10:9-10 / Acts 16:30-31 / Eph 1:7&13 / 1 John 5:13 / John 3:16 / John 3:3 / Mark 1:15

Furthermore, what is “the will of my Father”? As we see in John 6 -

John 6:28-29) "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

John 6:39-40) “And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Doing the will of the Father is not doing works, keeping commandments, or law keeping, but is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation.

We are not called to the will of works, but are called to believing faith. Now true believing faith will produce fruit of works but it’s not the works that inherit salvation. The reason that Christ says “I never knew you” is because the people were focusing on the religion and not the faith. They thought the religion was the faith, but true believing faith will produce “pure religion undefiled”.

Misconstruing religiosity with faith by grace leads to damnation, and this is the ultimate work of Satan to cause a misfocus within the Churches - preaching from the pulpit to create multitudes of religious damned who think themselves to be the very children of God.