Episode 10

Episode 10:  You Gotta Have Faith

Special Guest – Mark Mittelberg
 

Trinity Broadcasting Network

 

Is faith in Jesus Christ the only way to be saved? That sounds so intolerant.

 

Five Guaranteed Ways That You Won’t Be Saved

  1. You won’t be saved by being good (Isaiah 64:6).
  2. You won’t be saved by being religious (Titus 3:5)
  3. You won’t be saved by living in a “Christian country” (Colossians 3:11)
  4. You won’t be saved just because your parents are Christians (John 1:12-13)
  5. You won’t be saved because you intellectually believe that Jesus is God (James 2:19).


You can’t be saved by anything you do, and you can’t be saved by anything you don’t do.  You can’t earn your salvation on your own effort.

 

There is only one way to salvation—and that is Jesus Christ

  1. Jesus claimed to be the only way to God.
     
  2. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
     
  3. Salvation through Jesus Christ is free.
     
  4. God saved you by his special favor when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
     
  5. Salvation is available to anyone who wants it.
     
  6. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish so he is giving more time for everyone to repent (2 Peter 3:9).

 

A review of salvation terminology

Conviction

This awareness of our sin and our need for a Savior is initiated by the Holy Spirit.

Confession

This means telling God we know we have sinned (1 John 1:9).

Repentance

This is truly being sorry for our sin and willing to turn away from it.

Atonement

Christ has paid the penalty for our sin because He died in our place.

Redemption

We are “bought back” from the slave market of sin. God created us in the first place, and Christ redeemed us, or bought us back.

Justification

Our sins are forgiven and forgotten

Regeneration

Our old nature dies, and we have a new spirit living in us (2 Corinthians 5:17).


 

Salvation means new life

New life means:


 

Suggested reading:

 

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Bruce and Stan with Mark Mittelberg on the set of Christianity 101

Mark Mittelberg is executive vice president of the Willow Creek Association, a worldwide network of more than 10,000 churches. He is in charge of evangelism, his primary passion.  Mark is the co-author of the best selling book, Becoming a Contagious Christian and a key contributing editor of The Journey, a Bible for spiritual seekers. Mark has also developed a popular conference designed to train pastors and lay leaders in evangelism.

 

Next episode:  The Holy Spirit—More Than Just a Friendly Ghost

 

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