Things That Must be Believed (Part 3)

SUNDAY EVENING EVANGELISTIC MESSAGE

WITH DANIEL WHYTE III

Faith

II Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Click the play button below to listen to this broadcast.

For more Sunday Evening
Evangelistic Messages, click here.

Last week, we did part 2 of our series titled "Things That Must Be Believed." In this series, we are discussing the essentials of the Christian faith -- these are things that you cannot deny and still have Christianity. So far, we have looked at four essentials which are: The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, The Deity of Jesus Christ, The Substitutionary Death of Jesus Christ and The Physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead.

Today, we are going to discuss the next two essentials in this series, which are: THE VERBAL INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE and the fact that SALVATION FOR LOST MANKIND IS ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR SINS.

1. THE VERBAL INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE

Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. "

Matthew 4:4 says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

If the Bible is not the Word of God, then the foundations are destroyed. It was from the Bible that I learned that Jesus Christ was virgin-born. It was from the Bible that I learned that Jesus Christ died on a cross for sinners. It was from the Bible that I learned that Jesus Christ was literally and physically raised from the dead. It was from the Bible that I learned that Jesus Christ is coming again.

Destroy the Bible, and you destroy all other doctrines. The Bible is the Word of God. It is an essential. Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

Allow me to share with you what the Gideon's said about the Bible

      "The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

      "It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

      "Christ is the grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgement, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

The modernists say, "The Bible contains the Word of God." But the true believers say "The Bible IS the Word of God."

One day, after hearing a sermon which talked about the Bible being the Word of God, a man came up to the preacher and said, "Well, all the Bible is not the Word of God."

The preacher asked, "What part is not God's Word?"

The man turned to Genesis and read where the serpent said to Eve, "Ye shall not surely die." "Now," he said, "that's not God's Word. That's the devil's word."

The preacher replied, "That is God's Word. That's God saying that the devil said to Eve, 'Ye shall not surely die.' It is God telling on the devil. We wouldn't know the devil said it if God hadn't told us. You listen, the Bible is the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation; and I believe every word of it."

Let me share with you this little poem about the Word of God:

      The Holy Bible must have been
       Inspired of God and not of men.
      I could not if I would, believe
       That good men wrote it to deceive,

      And bad men would not if they could,
       Proceed to write a Book so good.
      And certainly no crazy man
       Could ever conceive its wondrous plan,

      And pray, what other kinds of men
       Than do these three groups comprehend?
      Hence it must be that God inspired
       The Word which souls of prophets fired.

2. SALVATION FOR LOST MANKIND IS ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR SINS

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

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.

John 11:25-26 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

1 John 5:1 - Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The Word of God clearly teaches that lost sinners are saved by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection.

According to John MacArthur, "In chapters 3 and 4 of Romans, Paul establishes unequivocally that salvation comes only on the basis of God's grace working through man's faith. Man's only part in becoming saved is to receive forgiveness and reconciliation freely in faith from God's gracious hand. The person who trusts in anything else, including obedience to God's own law, cannot be saved."

"Paul established the fact that faith has always been the only way to salvation. Abraham, the physical progenitor of all Jews and their supreme example of a man who was right with God, did not accomplish that relationship through his good works but only through his faith. Quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul declares that 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.'"

For many years, the Catholic Church taught that salvation and entrance into Heaven could be gained by good works. The Church sold "indulgences" which would allow people to "absolve" or pay off their sins. However, a young German man by the name of Martin Luther began studying the Word of God for himself in the early 1500s. In the course of his studies, he came across the following verses in Romans 1:16 and 17: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

The Catholic Church had been teaching that people are made just by works, but the Bible clearly states that people are made just in God's eyes by faith. Luther later publicized his discovery which shook the religious structure of his day, and brought about the Protestant reformation. Thank God for Martin Luther who took the time to study God's Word for himself, and helped deliver many people from going down the wrong path and ending up in a devil's Hell.

Remember, Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is an essential truth that must be believed.

In conclusion to this message so far we have covered six essentials to the Christian faith. We understand that 1. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ, 2. the deity of Jesus Christ, 3. His vicarious suffering, 4. His victorious resurrection, 5. salvation by faith through Jesus Christ, and 6. the verbal inspiration of the Bible are essentials that must be believed.

There are some things I would die for, some things I would fight for that I would not die for, and some things I would fuss about that I wouldn't fight for. But when it comes to the spiritual realm, I would die for the essentials of the Faith.

-------

Now, today if you have not yet accepted God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ as the only way for you to be saved from sin, death, and hell, allow me to share with you from God's Word how you can accept the free gift that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to give to you.

1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God's law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: "For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not." Romans 3:23 reads: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death..."

3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

If you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me the following simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of seventeen books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, and the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master's degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com.