Save Yourself

THE PRESENT CONDITION

2Ti.3:1-5

v1 This know also that in the last days, perilous times shall come.

v2-5 For men shall be...(this is the perverse generation)

v5...from such turn away. (avoid; depart; withdraw; shun; no fellowship; leave alone; do not associate)

Acts 2:37-40

v37 Now when they heard this...DO WE REALLY LISTEN?

THE PRESENT TASK

v40...Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Peter says that the need was to 'save yourself'

from the present perverse generation-it was crooked then, and its more crooked, wicked and perverse now.

We opened with 2 Ti.3:1-5, which speaks of several features of this perverse generation...and as the end approaches, these features will be on the increase.

These are perilous times...we are here

Difficult, hard, dangerous, terrible times

THE PRESENT COMPLICATION (obstacles to salvation)

-distraction-having the mind, sight and attention preoccupied with things other than the most important (illust. Crashbox TV show' Distracting News)

-deception (listening to wrong voices)-deception can come from outside or from within

THE PRESENT GRACE

Regardless of how difficult the times are, we have the promise of His grace. Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. (Ro.5:20)

Jesus spoke of and told us how we should live in the midst of these difficult times:

Phi.2:15 That he may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom he shine as lights in the world

THE PRESENT COMMAND (TASK RESTATED)

Save yourselves (be saved) from this wicked and crooked generation. This is actually a command to be saved. It is one of several commands in scripture imploring people to be saved.

Mark 1:15 The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent he, and believe the gospel.

Acts 17:30 And the Times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We know WHY this is necessary; because of where this crooked and perverse generation is headed-

But HOW?

THE PRESENT PRESCRIPTION (directions on how to do something)

The only way out of this mess is through Jesus.

Saving yourself means to willingly surrender yourself to Jesus; putting your faith in Him for your salvation.

In Acts 2:38, he says to repent; however before salvation, several things must take place:

-Hearing the Word (v14) don't let anyone stop you from hearing the Word

-Believing the Word

-Acknowledging you sin

-Confessing your sin

Sometimes it's simplified by saying:

Admit- Believe- Confess

God wants to cancel your sins (remission), set them aside, take them away

Included in the gift is the promise:

Peace (forgiveness)

Power (to live, to serve)

His Presence

THE PRESENT PROMISE

Mat.11:28-30 Come unto me...

To.10:9-10 ...Thou shalt be saved

1 Jn.1:9 ...He is faithful and just to forgive...

Though the power that saves you is His, and His alone-the power to save yourself rests in you saying yes to Him.