CENTRAL VBS LETS TALK ABOUT SALVATION part 5
What Happens When You Become a Follower and Can A Person Lose His Salvation?
In 1995 I was fortunate enough to convince Miss Gladys Adams to become my wife. She had seen enough sorry preachers, and wanta be preachers, come through the seminary where she was the bookstore manager, that she said she would never marry one. When I asked her, she said she couldn’t be a preacher’s wife because she couldn’t play the piano and she couldn’t teach. I told her that if she’d take care of me that I’d take care of the church and everything would be OK. That silly girl believed me. She now teaches children’s church, youth on Wednesday nights, Mission Possible Camp on ½ of our Friday nights, and takes care of all of the records for the 4H club. She is my partner in ministry.
On November 17th of that year, we married. On the day we married several things took place. First, her name changed. Second, she became the number 1 person in my life, and I in hers, next to the Lord of course. Our relationships with our parents and siblings changed. I became the principle breadwinner in our house, and she became the queen of my doublewide trailer. Many changes took place and we have never been the same.
When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, when a person asks the Lord to forgive him of his sins and makes Jesus the Boss in His life; there are also a number of changes that take place.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME A FOLLOWER?
I. OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN
> 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1. Our sins are removed – Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. – Not north & south because they end.
2. Our sins are hidden – Isaiah 38:17 Indeed, it was for [my own] welfare that I had such great bitterness; but Your love [has delivered] me from the Pit of destruction, for You have thrown all my sins behind Your back.
3. Our sins are buried – Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Old man in nursing home, “Praise God” all the time while reading his Bible. They replaced it with a geology book. “Praise God!” This book says that there are places in the ocean over 7 miles deep …
Paul persecuted Christians, David was an adulterer and a murderer, and Peter denied Him 3 times the night of His crucifixion. Don’t tell me that He can’t and won’t forgive you.
Underline “all” in above verse.
> 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
II. WE GET NEW CITIZENSHIP > James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?
We become citizens of a new kingdom. The kingdom of God.
III. WE ARE ADOPTED IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
> Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “ Abba, Father!”
- We can then address God as Father.
- Matthew 6:9-14 “Father” - This prayer doesn’t apply to everyone. This is to prayed by those living in the kingdom of God and who have been adopted into the family.
> 1 John 3:1 Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him.
> Matthew 23:9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES INTO US
> Revelation 3:20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.
> Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “ Abba, Father!”
> 2 Corinthians 5:5 And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
V. OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
> Luke 10:20 However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
VI. WE ARE PLACED IN THE HAND OF GOD
- John 10:27-30
Think of the safety and security we have there …
VII. WE BECOME PART OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
- Ephesians 5:25-29
My love for my bride.
VIII. WE BECOME PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
- Ephesians 5:30-32
Jesus doesn’t take it lightly when people mess with His Bride or His Body.
> Acts 9:4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
CAN I LOSE MY SALVATION?
The simple answer to that question is NO!
I. WE HAVE THE DOWN PAYMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
> 2 Corinthians 5:5 And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment
Jesus comes in through the person of the Holy Spirit. He isn’t in and out.
II. WE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. WE ARE PART OF THE FAMILY.
> 1 John 3:1 Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him.
When I messed up as a child, it didn’t change the fact that I was a Gregory. I was still part of the family. My mistakes/disobedience only caused things to be cool around the house. They didn’t disown me, they punished me.
III. WE ARE IN GOD’S HAND
- John 10:27-30
Drew and I crossing the street. His safety didn’t depend on him hanging on to me, but to me hanging on to him. My salvation doesn’t depend on me holding on to God, but to Him holding on to me.
> Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span [of his hand]? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in scales?
- Romans 8:35-39
WHAT HAPPENS TO BELIEVERS WHO SIN?
I. WE ARE PUNISHED
- Hebrews 12:7-13
David after Bathsheba. Can mean simply losing God’s favor/protection.
II. WE ARE PHYSICALLY DESTROYED BUT SPIRITUALLY SAVED
- 1 Corinthians 5:3-5
> Galatians 6:9 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.
