FALSE AND FUTILE ATTEMPTS FOR SALVATION


A. THE ATMOSPHERE IS FULL OF RELIGIOUS ATTEMPTS, DECEPTIVE AND FUTILE, TO OFFER A REMEDY FOR MAN'S DIFFICULTIES
  1. Modern means of communication lend themselves to untold advertisements of many futile panaceas to remedy human ills:
    1. Some say that the best way to get rid of sin is to deny its existence.
    2. Others prescribe mental and physical tortures to bring relief to a guilty conscience.
  2. But the fact remains that:
    1. Lawlessness is on the increase.
    2. Immorality is at large and sin bounds.
B. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE FUTILE EFFORTS BY MEN
  1. Salvation through character:
    1. The "character" - homebrew is the sign over the door of self-righteousness.
    2. That was the very heart of the Jewish sect - the Pharisees - Luke 18:11, 12; Rom. 10:3
    3. On the surface that seems very inviting until you realize that by nature no one possesses the character God requires - Rom. 3:9-19
    4. This truth is freely stated in the Bible - Rom. 3:10, 11; Isa. 6:5; 64:6; Job. 42:5, 6; John 15:5
  2. Salvation through education:
    1. One man looks for salvation through character or what he is!
    2. While the other man trusts in education or what he knows!
    3. A third man seeks salvation through service or what he does. He comes to the Lord and says, "What shall I do that I might work the works of God? - John 6:28
    4. But experience shows that education does not and cannot change man's sinful nature!
    5. A heart polluted by sin is unaffected by the knowledge one may possess, valuable as that may be - Dan. 5:18-23
  3. Salvation through works: Let us take a closer look at this third futile attempt to be saved -
    1. Does not the Bible speak of good works?
    2. Yes, indeed, it does speak of good works
    3. But the good works the Bible speaks as being acceptable to God are -
      1. Not the works of the flesh - Gal. 5:18-21
      2. They are the works wrought in God - Gal. 2:8; 2 Cor. 5:5; Acts 15:12; John 3:21
      3. They are, in fact, the fruit of the Holy Spirit - Gal. 5:22-23
C. THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT SALVATION
  1. There is no cure for sin outside of our Saviour:
    1. This fact stands affirmed by heaven and confirmed by the atonement made by the Son of God on the cross of Calvary.
    2. "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" - Acts 4:12
    3. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" - John 6:53
  2. They who seek salvation by and through their own devices and means:
    1. Reject the plan of redemption as conceived by God and carried out by the Son of man - John 5:40
    2. They despise the infinite sacrifice made for man on the shameful cross of Calvary - Heb. 10:26-29
    3. To them Heaven says, "Ye shall die in your sins" - John 8:21
  3. This, dear friend, is a truth which, if accepted in faith, will make the difference between being saved through Jesus Christ, or, if rejected, will doom the unbeliever.


Design © John Bryant 2011