THE CLEAR GOSPEL EXPLAINS DIFFICULT PASSAGES
Dr. Ralph “Yankee” Arnold
Introduction: There are many verses in
the Bible that seems to say or suggest that a man’s works have a part in his
getting salvation or maintaining salvation. If this is true, then salvation
cannot be totally by grace alone. The clarity (TRUTH) of the gospel is the lens
by which we discern the rest of scripture. We must always seek to understand
difficult scriptures by never compromising salvation by grace.
TEXT: 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
COMPARE ALL DIFFICULT PASSAGES WITH THESE TWO VERSES, IF THEY CONTRADICT IN ANYWAY, THIS MEANS YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS WRONG. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
1.
Verses that seem to say that if you do these certain sins you cannot go
to Heaven
a. I Cor. 6:8-11 “…shall
not inherit the kingdom of God?”
b. Gal. 5:19-21, “….they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
c.
Rom. 9:8 and John
3:3-5 states that the lost man or the old man of the flesh is the child of God.
2. Verses that
seem to say that you can fall away and lose your salvation
a.
Heb 6:6 “If they shall fall
away, to renew them again unto repentance;…”
These
verses teach that a believer cannot lose his salvation and then get saved
again. There is no story anywhere in the
Bible where a believer lost his salvation, nor is there a story in the Bible
where a saved person lost his salvation and then got saved again.
b.
Gal. 5:4 “…ye are fallen from grace.” You cannot fall from where you have never been. If a
believer falls for a perverted gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), he can teach or promote a
false message. If you teach that a man can do good works to be saved then you
must set aside the only salvation offered by grace. (Gal. 2:21)
3.
Verses that seem to say that you MUST do good works after you are saved
a.
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
b.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them. Yes, it is the will of God that all believers SHOULD walk in good works but our eternal salvation does not require that we MUST.
4.
Verse that seem to say that you MUST endure until the
end; which implies that your works do determine your salvation.
Mat 24:13
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Does enduring on our part contradict "...not of works or not of yourselves?" YES, then it cannot refer to spiritual or eternal salvation by grace. The word END is mentioned three times in this 24th chapter of Matthew.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? If enduring until the end refers to the end of the world (age) then only those people that live that long will be saved. (NOT)
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. The word END must refer to a period of time that would be the exact time for everyone, if our eternal salvation depended upon how we live. You could only die at this one point in time. SORRY, there are no options.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. This clearly shows that it is a reference to a period of time during the 7 year tribulation which is yet future. It can only refer to those of Israel who are physically alive at the end of the tribulation.
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Dr. Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold,
Pastor
Calvary Community Church of
Tampa
4811 George Rd.
Tampa, FL 33634
813-884-4328
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