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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 air. and 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

Take your Bible and turn there to the book of Acts in chapter 15. The book of Acts in chapter 15. Look in verse one. You see, it comes down to two different things. One, what they had to do to be saved, and what they had to do to stay saved. There’s a lot of those today. You see, these were some people who believed and you had to make the Word of God, the Word God, the Lord of your life.

You had to commit yourself to an act of being circumcised and then you had to commit yourself to obeying the law. In verse 1, and certain men which came down from Judea taught the brother and said, except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. So they were teaching something that was not true. Jesus was against this teaching. Paul was against this teaching. And the reason is because it can’t save. The law never saved anybody.

Why try to put a yoke of iron upon the necks of individuals requiring them to meet a standard nobody ever has except Christ. Christ is the only one who ever kept the law. Now look in verse 5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed that believed. Now see, these were some that believed, they didn’t say that about the other part there, but now look at in verse 5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

And the apostles and the elders came together for to consider of this matter. So later on, John is letting them know there were some that say they was among us and they left us and gave the impression that they were of us but they were not of us. You see, there’s a lot of people who have taken upon themselves the mantle of I am a preacher. I am the man of God. We see, you’ll hear a lot of people say, you know, there’s a multitude of churches.

There can be buildings and there can be people gathered in those buildings. But if you have never trusted Christ as your Savior and Him alone, you’re not saved. You’re not a child of God. You’re not born again. A church is only made up of individuals that are born again believers. There is no other kind. So without believers in Christ in Christ alone by grace alone, it can’t be a church. The Catholic church is not a church. Jehovah’s Witnesses, it’s not a church.

Sam’s dead, it’s not a church. They’re stealing from the Word of God, but they’re not official. They don’t believe the message that Christ gave or the Apostle Paul preached or what’s in the pages of this book. It’s not the gospel. And I don’t recognize them as such because God doesn’t. That’s just my humble opinion. Now, when it made the statement here that they all got together to consider this matter, is there more than just believing on Christ? Is there something else and just trusting the Lord to go to heaven?

Does a man have to do something else? Is there anything else required? And you’d be surprised how many people believe, yes there is. And so the Word of God, that is my proof. This is my evidence. I use the Word of God as the evidence to prove to me. I’m saved. I’m going to heaven when I die. To me, this is all the evidence I need. It was good 53 and a half years ago, and nothing has changed since then.

I can’t change the evidence that’s right here in this book. But there are some times people believe there’s more evidence. The evidence is that there ain’t no evidence. your life. So then if you know that you’re saved because of the evidence of how you’re living within, because of this new evidence, you put confidence in that evidence. And this evidence of how you’re living will override the evidence in this book. Now people will know that I’m really saved, and if I don’t live right, the evidence says I’m not really saved, and it overrides what the word of God says, that’s heresy.

It’s heresy. Now, you notice in verse 7, and when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and he said unto them, Men and Brethren, you know how they did a good while ago, God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and do what? That’s all they had to do. You see, what they were saying is you have to do more. You’ve got to have to live another way. When he talks about putting him under the law, it means you’ve got to make the word or the law, you’ve got to make it the Lord of your life.

There’s something else involved. There isn’t anything else involved. I know that I’m saved because the Word of God says that if I believe on Christ and I trust Him as my Savior, I’m born of God and I have eternal life. that I’m going to heaven. Do I want every one of God’s children to serve the Lord? Yes, I do. But I don’t want anyone to ever get the idea that because you serve God, that’s the proof you’re saved. That is not proof.

That’s evidence that can change tomorrow. And you may live wicked tomorrow. And then that new evidence will change whether or not you believe you’re saved. You ought to believe that you’re saved because the Word of God says I am. If I trust him and the Word of God has not changed and I know that I’m saved and it’ll never be altered.

Now look what he says here in verse 10. Now therefore, why tempt God to put a yoke of iron upon the neck of the disciples, which simply means trying to make them make Christ the Lord and the master of their life to prove that they’re saved. That’s what people are doing today. That’s what they’re teaching. It’s on your radio, that heresy. That’s exactly what it is. It’s not the truth, it’s not the word of God. Their gospel is not my gospel, it’s not our gospel.

It’s not the gospel of this book. That is not good news. That’s bad news. It’s bad news when you have to try to prove your save Because of your life, that evidence that you want to use will be evidence used against you. I know that I’m saved because I’m saved by grace. I don’t deserve to go to heaven. I’ve never deserved to go to heaven. I don’t deserve to go to heaven today. Had it not been for Jesus Christ, God in the flesh who came into the world and made a payment for my sins, I would not be going to heaven.

Do I serve a Lord with all my heart? So I love him, yes, I do. But that’s not what’s getting me to heaven, and that’s not the proof that I’m saved. I was just to say before I loved him. And before I ever started serving the Lord, I was just to save. So once you trust Christ to save your, you’re his child, you’re his child forever. But I want you to see this. In verse 10, now, therefore why Timchi got to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear, But we believe, verse 11, we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved even as day.

The Jews and the Gentiles are saved exactly the same way by faith alone in what Christ did. And yet there’ll be false teachers that come along that wanna add to that and get people’s assurance. Not on what the word says, but on how they live. And that’s the evidence that’s wrong. Take your Bible and turn with me over there to the book of Matthew chapter 7. And you’ll find that there’s, there were some people that actually made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives.

They made Jesus the Lord of their life and went to hell. So, they evidently knew him, knew about him, had to. and they did many wonderful works. He was the Lord of their life. So what did Jesus think about those who believed in Lordship Salvation? He doesn’t want you to make him the Lord of your life to be saved. He wants you to accept him as your Savior. You need a Savior. You can’t live good enough to save yourself.

You need a Savior. So he says here in Matthew in chapter 7, looking verse 15, as we follow this little train of thought, he says, beware of false prophets. Now, what’s so bad about a false prophet? Well, he has a false message. Well, what’s wrong with a false message? Well, people might believe it. But what if people do believe it? Might determine their eternal destination. It might mean hell. Now is it important? Is it important what preachers tell people about how to go to heaven?

Did you know I’m going to have to account to God for what I tell people? When I say God said, God said it better be God said it because if God didn’t say it, whoa on the mean. But look what He says. Verse 15, Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing. They look so harmless, they look just like a sheep. But they’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Why did they put on sheep’s clothing? Did they receive?

You think they’re genuine. They’re genuine. Listen, there’s a multitude of preachers in this whole world that can preach circles around me. Use the word of God and maybe even know it better But I don’t believe there’s a preacher out there anywhere. There’s got a better gospel message in what I’ve got I believe that what I’m telling you on how to go to heaven is the truth. It is the gospel But he makes a statement here in verse 16. You shall know them by their fruit This is where this verse belongs.

You shall know them by their fruit So they must have some fruit and the fruit is though that believe them the false teachers the false teacher got a false message But he got a false message from the spirits when he says in John chapter 4 first John 4 try the spirits Listen to what people are saying Now does that agree with what the word of God says and? You can’t discern the air if you don’t know the truth When God said it is by grace that means grace And I should base my eternal destination upon that I received a free gift, period, based upon what Christ did for me and what He said to me.

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I have everlasting life. How do I know? God said so. What proof do I need better than that? Isn’t what God says good enough? This is what the Word of God says good enough that I have to set all of that aside and say, well, the way I live my life overrides this. And now I know I’m saved. That’s heresy. That is a shame and a disgrace. And look what he says here.

You shall know them by their fruits. in verse 21, this is what their fruit said. Their fruit says, not everyone, it’s Christ is talking here, he says, not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord. Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. You have to accept, they say, you’ve got to accept Christ as the Lord of your life. Well, they did, they did. And notice that whenever they talk, it’s about how they lived for the Lord. What they did for the Lord, and it says, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.

What was his will? What did he say that I must do to go to heaven? Well, that’s a different issue. So when you read over there in the Gospel of John, he makes a statement, this is the will of God that you believe on him, whom he hath sent. What did God want me to do to go to have the believe on him whom he have sent? Well, this is the one that came in the flesh. This was the Christ, the one that was going to be the propitiation for my son, the payment for my sins.

So when I say, would you accept the payment Christ made for you? The payment is Christ. Christ was my payment. Notice what he says here. In verse 22, many will say to me in that day, many. Now he uses an illustration in verse 13 and 14 about many and few broad and narrow. But many, it looks like there’s going to be a lawful lot of people who have determined that they’re going to save themselves, approve that they’re going to say about how they live, they put their confidence in their works and what they have done.

And by doing so, they’re placing themselves in this category. He will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name. They did it for him. And in thy name they did it for him. Cast out devils. And in thy name for his honor and glory for him, done many wonderful words. So there is your evidence of salvation. So if they have this evidence, this is how they ought to know they’re safe. He’s the Lord of their life and they had the evidence to prove it.

But they forgot something. It’s not in their eyes that determines it. It’s in God’s eyes. My works, good works. Going to church and doing the, you know, good deeds and giving money and praying, all these good deeds. If it couldn’t get me saved, why would I want to use that as evidence to prove that I am saved? Aren’t all those things that we can do, the same thing that a lost man can do? a lost man go to church, can a lost man clean up his life, can a lost man read the Bible, can a lost man pray, can a lost man do everything we can do.

Is that evidence he must be saved and he doesn’t know it? Could you walk into this church today in the three-piece suit and sit here and sing the same songs we sing? It must be a sign you’re saved. See, I’m going So it doesn’t prove anything. If you love the Lord, yeah, I believe you ought to live like 11, but you can’t use that as the evidence that you’re saved. I know that I’m saved because of what the Word says.

But now notice what He said to those who had made Him the Lord or the Master of their life. And they said, we have done many wonderful works. And this was the evidence to these people who listened to false teachers. This is how we know. You know how I know I’m saved? Has nothing to do with anything that I’ve done for 53 years. Or I should say for 71 years. It was all because one night in a low living room, I trusted Christ as my Savior.

I trusted Him. Trusted Him. will save then and that’s why I’m still saved. And a hundred years from now that’s why I will still be saved. And nothing before after nothing else could ever change that. What happens if you go out here and you live like a devil? Well if I still got the heaven it’d be grace, wouldn’t it?

Wouldn’t it? It’d still be grace. You said, well you don’t deserve that. I didn’t deserve to be He saved either. When do I deserve it? I never have and never will. That’s why He gets all the honor and all the glory. Am I against people living right? No. Am I against you having Christ as the master of your life? No. Only if you use that to prove you’re saved. Because whenever He’s not the learner master of your life, you have every reason to doubt you’re saved.

You better rest upon what Christ did. about what you do. And then in verse 23, and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me ye that work iniquity. Iniquity. It’s to those people who have made Christ the Lord and the Master of the Life, but never trust them as their Savior. You see, when I want to find out if somebody’s really saved or not, I don’t ask them how you live There could be a drunk laying in the gutter, like I’ve said before, drunk laying in the gutter.

And a man comes to church in a three-piece suit. Okay, I got this man standing here and he’s cleaned, got his Bible on his arm and he got a three-piece suit on, looks sharp, good clean haircut, and there’s a man drunk laying in the gutter. Which one should I believe is really saved? and I’m I’m I’m I’m I’m I’m I’m I’m I don’t know either one of them. I have to find out what are you trusting in to get you to heaven?

If I asked that old drunk Lenna, I got a what? Are you dependent upon to go to heaven? He says, I trust he Christ is my Savior and Him alone. I believe he died for my sins. And I asked this man when three-piece suit. He says, I go to church every day and I live a good clean life and I pay my bill and I love my wife and my kids. I’m sorry. I’ll trust that man is saved and not that man in three-piece suit.

There is no reason I should believe this man is saved unless I hear him say I’m trusting Christ as my Savior. Christ died for my sins. And how he lives, and that man in the gutter, or this man he goes to church, he is as lost as a houndball going in the pursuit bone. I could say there’s a saved man, but a rebarious man, a disobedient chalice of God. And God you’ll have to chase him and it looks like a pretty good job.

And this man may be living as clean as he possibly can. And when he dies, Christ says, depart from me, I never knew you. See, you’re saved only because you trusted him as your Savior. That’s the best news in the world. That’s what makes it good news. And that’s why, just like the apostles, they didn’t want to put a yoke of iron upon the next of the people that believe the gospel and that we’re saved and now putting this yoke upon their necks.

To weigh them down, now you got to do this. But there’s people doing exactly the same thing today. They’re just putting the yoke of ironed up. You’ve got to go to church and you’ve got to give money and you’ve got to pray and you’ve got to do this and clean up your life and stop these sins. And this law is no different from the law that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. And it’s just as bad, just as wicked.

And yet there’s people who have no clue. They see nothing wrong. The thing that will hurt me deeply is that there’s a bunch of youth people that come here week after week and you don’t get it. And you don’t see what I’m talking about. I hope that you do. I hope you really understand what I’m saying. It’s a heaven and hell issue. It affects the gospel, the good news that you tell other people. I want anybody that watches by internet or hears it on the radio.

I know how to go to heaven because I finally heard a clear gospel presentation. Let me show you what it is. In case you’ve never seen this before. You’ll notice I had to get a bigger wallet. I’ve got where I know y’all real good now and I had to get some more sin. Just joking, just joking. This hand represents you and me. And the wallet represents sin. We all have sin on this. God loves us, but He hates our sin.

He loves us. But to pay for sin is eternal separation from God in hell. And God says that everybody sins. So everybody’s condemned. And so God says that to go to heaven, you have to be perfect. It’s righteous as God. Because there’s no sin in heaven. And none of us qualify. And because of this sin, we can’t get in. And God says, your good works doesn’t pay for sin. You can do all kinds of good works, but he won’t pay for the sin.

So this hand represents Jesus Christ. He’s the Lord God in the flesh. So he lived a perfect righteous life. I didn’t. Oh, you’re over here in case you didn’t know where you are. You’re over here with me. You understand? You’re over here with me. You’re not over here with him. You’re over here with me. Christ was perfect. He came into this world. He did not have to die. But to show how much he loved his father, he was willing to do something that his father wanted.

He sent his son to be the sacrifice for all of our sins. And instead of us going to hell, he sent his son to take all of our sins and nail him to his cross, and he paid for them, and came back from the dead, and said that if you and I, if we would believe that he did it for us, He would put this payment to our account and we get to go to heaven on what He did.

I’m not going to heaven upon what I’ve done. And it’s a shame and a disgrace for somebody to want to add to what He’s done for us. I know that I’m saved. I don’t want there and there cannot be any other evidence that I need, except this evidence right here. This is the proof. It’s all the proof that anybody needs. needs. It’s what He did. It’s what He said. Therefore I know I have eternal life. And I know that I’m going to heaven when I die.

It’s all because of what Christ did for me. No, I don’t have to love him to go to heaven, but I sure do. How many would say right now, not only have you trusted Christ as your Savior, but could you say, I love the Lord? Let me see you here. All right, put it down. Now, nobody can make you love him, but if you say I love him, you can’t show that you love him without serving him. one another.

That’s why it’s so important. If you’re watching by internet or hearing the auditorium, understand this. God loves you. Christ paid for your sins. All you have to do to go to heaven. All is where you believe He did that for you. I was talking to a lady this morning at a restaurant. Betty got the conversation going and she turns it over to to me. And actually, you know, I talked to her and explained it to her and she’s standing there with tears in her eyes.

And she understands, she says, yes, I know, I believe it. And so it didn’t take long, but just to explain it to her. So easy, so simple. Because we have a message that we can share with anybody, anytime the gospel is so such good news. Let’s pray shall we? With headbound eyes closed and no one looking around. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior. If you’ve never done it, maybe you have made Christ the Lord and the Master of your life and you want to serve Him while all you are, well, I commend you for that, but don’t trust that to get you to heaven.

I’m not against people going to church and living right and loving your family and all that. Those are good things to do, but don’t trust that to get you to heaven. You can only go to heaven by accepting Christ as your Savior, believing He died and paid for your sins, And the Lord says, if you’ll believe, He did it for you. He said, He’ll never cast you out and never lose you. And you can know that you’re going to heaven when you die.

So in the quietness of this moment with heads about nice clothes and no one looking around, will you trust Christ as a savior? And if you will, I’d like to have prayer for you. And I’m going to ask you in just a moment to raise your hand. Raise your hand. Your hand does not save you. It just lets me know that what I said made sense to you. And said, preacher, that made sense to me. And I want to know I’m going to heaven.

And right now I trust Christ as my savior. and I’d like for you to pray for me. Yes, God bless you, man. You can put your hand down, anyone else. Just very quickly, just slip it up. Yes, God bless you, sir. Anyone else? If you trust Christ right now, He saves you right now and gives you everlasting life. If you trust Him right now, He gives you eternal life. You never have to do it again. Why? Because He can’t give you eternal life twice.

He’ll never catch you, I never lose you. That’s how you can know that you’re going to heaven. Anyone else before we close? Anyone else? Yes, that made sense to me. I want to be certain of going to heaven when I die. Our Father, we thank you so much for the free gift of everlasting life. And help us, Lord, as Paul said, I am set for the defense of the gospel. Bless each one, especially these that in understood and put their confidence or trust in you, that they become your child, born of God.

You’ll never cast them out, never lose them. Thank you for this church and what it stands for. For those that watch by internet, help us to be a blessing in Christ and in we pray, amen. I, as Pastor Yankee here, and I’m so grateful that you’re listening today to Bibleline. You are the reason we’re broadcasting on this radio station to preach and teach the word of God with clarity and effectiveness and believe me. God has used this very powerful ministry to reach many people over the years, but I don’t often have the chance to say thank you and so I want to do that today.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for your financial support. We could not be on the air on this station without your financial gifts. As a matter of fact, the overall response, especially our financial support, has been down this month. And so if you’re able, would you please consider helping us today? We could use your support now more than ever. Contact information is coming up in just a minute, but please consider supporting Bible Eye Today and again, thank you.

You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. 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. 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.