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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s message will be a blessing to you and your family.

So why don’t you take your Bible and turn to the book of Romans in chapter 1? The book of Romans and chapter 1. The Apostle Paul makes a tremendous statement that many times we hear it over and over again, but he makes the statement about the gospel and how that he’s not ashamed. If the gospel is eternal security, I should not be ashamed of the teaching of eternal security or once you’re saved, you are always saved because it is the truth.

There is no other salvation. There is no temporary salvation. There is no probationary salvation. You’re either eternally saved or not saved at all. So in Romans chapter 1 and verse 16, I want you to look at this verse, where it makes a statement for, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, the good news, for it is the power of God on the salvation. So if a man is going to be saved, he must hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, this good news.

And he says to everyone that does what? Believe it, that’s all that’s required. The gospel is that only thing that a man needs to do is believe the good news about Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for them. And God will save them and give me turn of life. And so Paul said, I’m not ashamed of that message. So if you’re not ashamed of it, maybe we ought to share it. We ought to take a stand for it.

That’s what I do. When I’m on the radio, I take a stand for that. If I’m on the internet, I take a stand for the clarity of the gospel. When I do a memorial service or a funeral or even a wedding, I give the gospel and tell how the eternal life is a gift of God and that it is eternally secure when you get saved. Because otherwise there is no gospel, there is no good news, there’s no message to tell.

That’s why it’s so very important. Now look there in your Bible to the book of Romans in chapter 2 and look down in verse 16. When he talks about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then he says in verse 16 of chapter 2, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. In other words, the message that Paul preached is the message God gave to him. And God gave him that message.

And I want you to see this in the book of Galatians and chapter one. Galatians chapter one, and you’ll see why he was not ashamed of the gospel. So a lot of people say, well, I believe that, you know, once you’re saved, you’re always saved, but then they never tell anybody. So I wonder, are you ashamed of it? Are you ashamed of that message? There isn’t a better message in all the world that you can tell anybody. So in Galatians in chapter one, I want you to see there in verse 10.

verse 10, for do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. In other words, you got to make up your mind. Who do you really want to please? The message that you preach reveals the one you want to please. You see man thinks you had to do something so they add works to it. If you do that, you’re trying to please people.

But God said… Not of works. So then you’re to preach the gospel that he gave us. Not of works. He said, well, but people get thinking that you’ve got a license to send. I don’t care what they think. I’m not going to change the gospel message to make people feel better. Now, notice what he says here. In verse 11, but I certify you, brethren, that the gospel, which was preached to me, is not to be. not after man. Man did not devise the message that Paul says, my gospel.

He says, I got it from the Lord. See there in verse 12, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, he had a confrontation with Jesus Christ Himself got His message straight from the Lord. And this is the message that the Lord told Paul to preach. It’s the gift. It’s free. And he says, cursed is anyone who preaches another gospel. He says, which is not another, but there would be some who would trouble you and pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How do you pervert the gospel? Add one work to it. And grace is no more grace. Look there in the first statement. The first statement there says, nowhere in Scripture does God separate salvation from eternal security. Neither should you. If a man is not saved forever, he is not saved at all. If you are ashamed of eternal security, you are ashamed of the gospel because it’s the same thing. I remember one time I went into a famous man’s church, Jimmy Swagger.

Anybody ever heard of Jimmy Swagger? I went into his church one day, stood in the lobby, saw the bookstore, and kind of, you know, looked at all the things on the shelf, and I saw something that caught my eye. He had a book on eternal security. And it says eternal security, that damnable doctrine of eternal security. It was a damnable doctrine, he called it. This message that we talk about, he says, that’s a damnable message. And you would be surprised how many people across the country fall in love with his singing.

Oh, and he’s singing and play the piano and out comes the wallet and they support him. And they’re not listening to what he says. just swam. Don’t you send him one dime because he is not preaching the gospel. He is preaching and a curse message. Now, things that are different are not the same and it’s different because it’s not the same. Now, notice there in the second paragraph, eternal security is not a separate doctrine from salvation, it is salvation.

The teaching of eternal security is the dynamite of the gospel itself. That’s what Romans chapter one and verse 16 mean. It is the power of God. That word power there comes from the word dynamo, dynamite. There is dynamite in the gospel. That message is what helps people to see something they could not see before. You take the majority of all the people in the world, They all believe you ought to be good to go to heaven. But what helps a person to see that it’s a gift.

It’s totally free. And that means that has to come from God because the natural man would never make it free. If you and I was gonna devise salvation, we would make it free. We would say somehow good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. We may differ on the label, you know, whatever you require. but it’ll still be boiled down to, you’ve got to deserve it. Look at the next statement. These things have a written unto you that believe of the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Does the Bible teach that you can know you have eternal life? Yes. And if it teaches that you can know you have eternal life, when do you think you should know it? Next year. Well, you got to wait and see how you, you know, book is thing out. Are you still walking that straight narrow path? What are you going to determine whether you know it or not? He says you can know. These things have I written unto you. How do I know?

Because of what he wrote. Not because of the way I live, but because of what he said. But anyway, when you believe it, you have it. Could it be possible that the Lord intended every child of God to know he has eternal life? The very moment he has saved, isn’t this the purpose of getting saved? If this is true, and I believe it is, then the presentation of the gospel to the lost Must include the teaching of eternal security so that he can know he has eternal life.

That’s why you witness to him That’s why you try to get a man saying why so he’ll know where he’s going when he dies What do we usually do when we asked to talk to a permit? Do you know where you’re going when you die? No So after you talk to him, are you working toward him to know where he’s going when he dies? If you get through and he still doesn’t know Well, I’ll let him do the Lord.

He just don’t know where he’s going when he dies. Okay? Look at the next paragraph. If you don’t know what, now this is very important. I enjoyed it when I wrote this down. I was on cloud nine when I thought of this. And you watch, you probably won’t even appreciate it. If you don’t know what you are getting by your trusting Christ, then you don’t know why you are trusting Christ. If you’re going to trust Christ, don’t you expect to get whatever you’re trusting Him for?

So what are you trusting Christ for? I’m going to help me live a good life. Okay, then go ahead. Have fun. But if I’m trusting Him to save me, well, when is He doing it? Right away on the spot. the spot? He that believeth of me hath present tense right now when you believe it. Pass from death unto life shall not come into condemnation. That sounds like, you know, if you believe it now, you got it now. That statement one more time.

If you don’t know what you are getting by your trusting Christ, then you don’t know why you are trusting Christ. And of course, the results of that is you don’t know if If you got anything, you don’t know what you trusted him for. If I trusted him to save me, then I should be able to say he did it. And if I am saved, then I’m not seeking to be saved because I am saved. Look at the next statement.

To be saved means something. It is more than a word. Eternal security is the only true test of the gospel of grace. And somebody says, I believe you’re saved by grace, but if they don’t believe in eternity of security, they don’t believe salvation is by grace. Because you see, salvation by grace means without works. I am going to be saved. Means I get from here to there without works. Because when I believe on them, I will not perish, go to hell, but have everlasting life.

So I get from here to there without works. So it doesn’t matter if I live for 50 years, all that happens in between. Nothing changes this truth. Look there in that little square box. I’ve given to you this before, but it’s good to remember. The gospel must be free for it to be eternally secure. Because if it based upon your works, then you’ll have to wait till you die to find out if you made it, and God already says not of works.

The next statement, the gospel must be eternally secure for it to be free. It has to be eternally secure, or it’s not free, or you don’t know what you have. What did you trust Christ to do to save you from what? Hell, well, then how can I go there? How can I go to hell in the future? He has saved me from it. I can’t go there. I can’t go today, can’t go tomorrow. All my centripetes. Now look at the next statement.

The natural question to ask a person who claims to be saved is how long? I’m saved for how long? Till he’ll send again. He that believeth on me had to everlasting life till he sends again. See, whatever reason they put out there, just add it to the verse. And it’s, well, that’s not in there. That’s right. Means you added it. It means it was added to what God says, and it’s not there. It is not good news to be saved for a day, a month, or a year, but it is good news to be saved forever.

And the gospel is good news. This statement is very important, the next statement. Any person who does not believe in eternal security does not understand the gospel. . Period. You see, if you want to be a good testimony for the Lord, a good witness for the Lord, to know what to say and what not to say when you understand this, you don’t even have to pre-plan what you’re going to say because anything that you hear, you’ll be able to take what they’re trusting in.

Because they’ll give it away. There’s always little things that they say that let you know that ain’t clear. He don’t understand it. That’s not right. See, you don’t have to be an expert. expert on the cults of the world. What everybody else believes? You may like to know a little bit of that, no. You and I should be an expert on the gospel. This is what we need to know and know it well. You stop and think, these simple things like this that I’m telling you.

You know I’ve been teaching this same stuff for almost 50 years. I have got it in here. It’s ingrained. I’ve been delivering it for a long time, because I want other people to see and understand what this book is talking about. Preachers that are muddy, because they don’t understand. Look what else I have down here. A man cannot truly know he is saved if he doesn’t know for sure he has eternal. I thought if he don’t know where he’s going when he dies, how’s he know he saved?

I got some questions here. These are some good questions. You might learn some of these questions because if you ever get a chance to talk to somebody, their destination might depend upon whether or not can you make it simple, can you make it clear? Do you really understand? Because many people can utilize the same language you use, use the same phrases, quote the same verses, but just because they do does not mean they understand the same thing you understand.

The first question, if you don’t know you are saved from hell, how do you know you are saved? Isn’t that a good question? Simple question. But if you don’t know you’re saved from hell, how do you know you are saved? Next question, if you don’t know you are going to heaven, how do you know you’re saved? You see, you have to be able to answer those first two questions right there because that’s That’s what being saved means. Where I’m not going and where I am going.

Remember Sunday morning I made a statement, whenever you die you go into the smoking section or the non-smoking. I don’t know if everybody got that little jewel or not, but it was worth putting out there anyway. The third question, look at this. Would you believe a man is saved that does not know where he is going when he dies? people say, oh, I know I’m going to heaven when I die. What they mean is if I died today, if I die right now, because they consider themselves saved right now and doing enough good deeds right now.

So if you ask me, do I know where I’m going when I die? Yes, but in their mind, they’re talking about now. That’s why when I asked them this question, Is there anything you can do in the future that could keep you from going to heaven? Oh yeah, many things. If you’re saved and understand it, there isn’t anything that can keep you from going to heaven. So when they say, oh yeah, many things and we know if you go out here and commit murder rob a bank and you know, those things like that, well you’re not going to go to heaven if you do those things, then they don’t understand it.

don’t understand the Gospel. Look at question number four. If he does not know for sure, he is going to heaven, why should I believe he is? If that person has doubts about him going to heaven, why should I believe he’s going to heaven? So if he doubts his own salvation, why shouldn’t I doubt his salvation? Don’t that make sense? Because if he don’t know, why should I try to convince a man who doesn’t know for sure if he’s going to heaven?

Why I should try to convince him, he is. Wouldn’t that be a shame? Trying to convince a man, he’s going to heaven when he’s not, and he don’t believe he is. That’s what happens when you just don’t pay any attention to what a person is saying, and you condone by your silence. Look at the next statement. If any preacher believes you can lose salvation, do they really believe it is totally by grace? That word totally you’d have to take it out, wouldn’t you?

Because a man is saved totally by grace. Well I talked to this person and he’s almost saved. He’s almost saved. No, he’s 100% lost. Until you’re saved, you are 100% lost. You can’t get 95% saved. Well, I got my arm and leg in. No. When you get saved, you’re 100% saved. No percentages. Look at the next statement. To be saved means you believe. You’re a sinner, Christ died for your sins, that if you trust Christ as your only hope for salvation, you’re saved from hell and will be taken to heaven.

Is that what you believe? You see, being saved means something. I’m saved. Well, what do you mean by that? Do you think there ought to be a meaning to the word? Because a lot of times you can talk to people, oh, I’ve been saved. I was saved years ago. Well, aren’t you saved now? Well, no. Well, how do you know you were saved years ago? Well, I used to drink, smoke, and dip, and chew, and go with the girls who’d do.

Then I gave all that up! Now, how aren’t you saved now? Well, because I went back to doing it. So were they trusting Christ alone? Is there only hope of going to heaven? Or were they trusting all those sins they gave up? And believe that they’ll make it because now they deserve it because they quit all these bad things. No, that is not salvation. So important to get it right. Look at the next statement. To be saved means you know that you will not, cannot ever in the future go to hell, that you are definitely and positively going to heaven.

Now that’s where your confidence comes in. And two, there is nothing that you or God could ever do in the future that could and would alter your destination. See, if in the future God could alter my salvation, if he could alter it, you know, like unsaved me for any reason, would he? And if he did, how would you know? Your confidence and your boldness, your security comes in that you know God can’t alter it. He can’t change it. because if he could, he probably would, but he can’t because he’s given his word, and I rest everything upon what he said.

Now what I deserve. I deserve to go to hell, but I’m so glad I’m going to heaven. Page two. Take your Bible and turn to the book of James in chapter one, the book of James in chapter one. There’s a lot of God’s children that have a lot of questions and doubts. So he says there in James chapter 1 verse 1, James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ through the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad greetings.

My brethren counted all joy when you fall into diverse temptation. So he’s talking to the believers and telling them why they should be all excited, filled with joy because he says, when you have all these various trials and temptations, it reveals to you what you don’t know as a child of God and therefore it reveals your lack of knowledge, your lack of wisdom, that you don’t know everything, you can’t solve everything. Tribulation works patience and you need some patience so I’m letting you have some of these things, but count it all joy, because when you come up short and you don’t have all the answers, he says, you come to me and I will not chide you.

I won’t mock you or make fun of you. He says, I will be liberal with you. I will tell you and teach you and lead you and guide you and provide for you. I’ll do all of those for you. In other words, if any man lack wisdom and you do, he says, let him come and ask. He says, but now there are some of God’s children that are double-minded. And this is not talking to the lost man, he’s talking to the believer.

So is it possible for a believer to get messed up and false doctrine? Yes. Can you believe the wrong things? Yes. But look what he says. In verse six, but let him ask in faith. This is the child of God. Ask in faith, asking the Lord, believing that God allows you have the problem so that you’ll come to him for the wisdom. Nothing wavering because you see that’s a lack of faith. That means questions and doubts. It means to believe what God says.

And it makes this statement in verse 6, for he that waver, if like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed, that’s the way you are mentally. That’s the way you are emotionally. That’s the way you are as the Bible says, you’ll become a double minded man. You’ll mine the spirit and then you mine the flesh in your back and forth, back and forth. and God says this, let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

Now we’re talking in here about the receiving of rewards and things like that, but he says a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. Does God want you to be unstable? No, he wants us to be a sound doctrine. So that we know what we believe and why we believe it. So there’s times in your life when you don’t always know everything you’re supposed to know. But God wants us to learn it. Now, I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of 1 Timothy chapter 1.

1 Timothy and chapter 1. This is important for you to see this. 1 Timothy chapter 1. And in your notes there at the top of the page, I must doubt the salvation of any man who doubts his own salvation. You should always deal with a person who doubts his salvation as you would a person who has no salvation because you cannot give a person assurance of salvation without persuading them of eternal security. That’s where confidence comes from, assurance of salvation.

Assurance of salvation is trying to help a person who has supposedly trusted Christ as their Savior and may be lacking in some things, and I’m not sure and questioned doubt because we’re human and help them to see. And I have shared with them that, you know, if you really did trust Christ as your Savior five years ago or 10 years ago, did you understand that you had eternal life? Well, yeah, at the time. But now I’m not sure now.

Well, let me show you what God says. See, God hasn’t changed his mind. According to the Bible, God doesn’t take it away and they become assured based upon what the Word of God says. So you can do that. But here in 1 Timothy and chapter 1, look in verse 18. So I’m very important to see you. In verse 18, this charge I commit unto the Son Timothy according to the prophecies which went before on these. Now 2 Timothy talks about how that thou hath known the holy scriptures.

Well at that time all they ever had was the Old Testament. So of the prophecies that you heard and understood before, and he says, which went before on thee that thou by them by the Word of God. Get this, might as war a good warfare. Your ability to fight a good fight, to fight a good warfare is going to depend upon your knowledge of the Word of God. God. If you know the Word of God and know how to use the sword of the Spirit, if you know how to do it, you can fight a good war.

You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach Bibleline and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll-free. 1-800-576-3771. That’s 1-800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again or to obtain a free download of any of our Bibleline programs, just go to our homepage at BibleLineMinistries.org and click on the Radio Broadcast link.

If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Our Sunday morning services begin at 10-30 and at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcast of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline, and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed.

Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up.