Fallacies about Salvation

Intro: Have you ever thought about how many times in a day you are wrong? Old saying: "I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken." Some of these mistakes are more important than others. E.g. misspelling--word processor takes care of it. On a test/quiz - bigger deal. Driving -- mistake could mean life or death. So some mistakes are more important or consequential than others.

If you're like me, you want to be told when you am mistaken. E.g. when you have a stain on your shirt, when you over-pay a bill.

In Matt 22:29 we have an example of Jesus correcting a mistaken way of thinking. Jesus response: "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God."

The Bible gives many examples of people thinking wrongly about things. Tonight I want to look at how people think wrongly about salvation. Goal: correct the mistake, change.

This is one of those big ones, one you don't want to be wrong about.

2 things people are mistaken about:

1. Salvation is by works. Matt 7:21-3
   1. Most religions come down to this. If you took a poll, people would say one has to go to church, be baptized, 7 sacraments, be good, etc.
   2. Note the good things these people did in vs. 22. Doesn't matter.
   3. Wouldn't it be awful to find out at the end of your life that the thing you counted on was worthless?
   4. Note two problems in vs. 23:
      1. "never knew you" -- no real relationship with Christ.
         1. "to know" speaks of an intimate relationship
            1. Adam knew Eve
            2. God knew Israel
         2. not just "knowing about" someone.
         3. Salv. brings about a change in relationship.
            1. Before salv: enmity, wrath, condemnation
            2. After: favor, family
            3. If God doesn’t know you, you’re not saved.
      2. "you evil doers" -- here's the big problem: good works don't cancel out the bad works.
         1. Unsaved man is still an evil doer no matter how many good works he does.
         2. No scale effect with God.
         3. James – 1 sin = breaking whole law.
      3. Works don't give you a relationship with God and they don't cancel out sin.
      4. Salv. is not by works. Eph 2:8-9
      5. If you think you're saved because of good works, you are mistaken. You'll hear the same words of .23 "depart from me."
2. Profession equals possession. That is, what you say is more important than what you do.
   1. Note the contrast: "Not everyone who says . . ." vs. "he who does the will of my father."
   2. Salvation is not by works (doing good thing), but works are evidence of salvation.
   3. Matt 7:16 "By their fruit you will know them."
   4. Read Titus 1:15-16
   5. What you do is a reflection of what you believe. If you are truly saved, it will be evident in your actions
   6. Phil 2:12 "Work out your salvation."
   7. So people who claim to be saved, but who have little or no evidence of that state in their lives, are simply fooling themselves.

Conc: Lots of other mistakes people make, but these two are big ones, and we need to make sure we are not making them.
Maybe you've been mistaken in one of these areas. Don't get mad at me. I'm trying to help you here.

1. Salv. is not by works. If you think otherwise, you're wrong.

2. Salvation is not just a profession; it’s a possession. It will be seen in your behavior.

Imagine the disappointment of those in this situation. They thought they were OK, only to find out that they were not. Don’t let that happen to you.