March 4, 2007
Volume XXVI - Number 9  

Who Can Be Saved?
RANDY KEA

After Jesus taught how difficult it would be for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven the disciples asked this question: "Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26; Luke 18:26; Matthew 19:25). Let us study different answers given to this question and then give the only right answer, the Bible answer.

The atheist, of course, says that there is no heaven, no hell, no God, no sin and thus, no salvation whatsoever. To the atheist, salvation does not exist any more than God does.

The agnostic would say that no one is really absolutely certain about anything. There are no absolutes. To the agnostic the answer simply cannot be found with any degree of assurance. The only thing an agnostic is absolutely certain about is that there is nothing absolutely certain! (Notice, this position is self-contradictory.)

The universalist says everyone will eventually make it to heaven and be saved because God will not send anyone to hell. The universalist says that since God is love He cannot condemn anyone eternally to perdition.

Then there is the Calvinistic position which says that God has unconditionally elected certain ones to be saved and certain ones to be lost and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

The standard denominational sectarian position is the "faith only" doctrine. This has a person saved the "split second" he/she believes in Jesus without any further acts of obedience. Some even teach that once you are saved you cannot fall from grace.

The Bible denies all of the above positions. Let us truly "Let the Bible Speak":

1. To the atheist the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 53:1).
2. To the agnostic the Bible says, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
3. To the universalist the Bible says, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:46).
4. To the Calvinist the Bible says God, "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth" (I Timothy 2:4).
5. To the denominationalist the Bible says, "not by faith only" (James 2:24J and "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God" (Hebrews 12: 15).

The Bible answer to the question "Who can be saved?" is simple:

We must become a Christian exactly as the Lord instructs (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:1-4) and remain faithful to the Lord all the days of our lives (II Peter 1 :5-11; Revelation 2: 10; I John 1:5-10; Revelation 22:14). ❦


AM SERMON:
"What Would You Say?"
(2 Timothy 4:6-8)
PM SERMON:
"Dwelling Together With Understanding (Pt 2)"
(1Peter 3:7)

March Calendars
The March edition of the Activities Calendar and Those To Serve List is available today in the foyer. They are being published a week late (I was out of town) so be sure to get a copy and be informed of the duty schedules and activities for this month.

Youth Fellowship
The Teen Group is scheduled to meet tonight after the evening services for their monthly fellowship and devo. See Matt Faneuf for more information.

Homecoming/Meeting
Our annual Homecoming and Gospel Meeting will begin NEXT Sunday (11th) and will last through next Wednesday evening (14th). Make plans to attend each and every service. This year’s speaker is a former Florida School of Preaching student and member here at Orange Street, George Franklin. Click Here to see the flyer (PDF file) for a complete schedule of services and activities. Invite your friends, family and neighbors and if you have contact with former members extend them a special invitation.

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner
Members willing to “host” a Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner evening should sign-up on the sheet provided in the foyer. See or call Shirley Bauer if you have any questions about the program.

If put to the pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. Loyalty is the quality in man that holds an institution together for greater growth, and builds individuals and purposes on firmer foundations.
 

Minnie Lee Stout, Trevor West,
Marilee DeBord, Sharon Johnson,
Shirley Bauer, Corbin Hobbs,
Pansy Sims, Patricia Martin,
Darin West, Wanda Greene,
Mona Howard, Zach Mathis,
Woodrow Hall, Brice Oliver,
Frances Black, Lindsay Jo Holt,
Mike Wells, Emily Rowe,
Juanita Hilborn, Frances Kidwell,
Gina Dupree, Johnny & Jewell White

-- Shut Ins --

Cliff Powell, Robert Cox,
Mirell Johnson, Mattie Hughs

– In The Nursing Homes –

Elsie Chambers (Auburndale Oaks #242)
Robert Pearson (Tandem)