The Surety of Truth

Introduction The sermon focuses on the certainty of God’s promises versus the uncertainty of human life and plans. Highlights the importance of acknowledging God’s will in all future plans and recognizing the surety of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Uncertainty of Life and the Flippant Use of “Will” and “Shall” English lesson on modal verbs “will” and “shall” indicate certainty of future action. Jesus said, “I will go with you always,” establishing future certainty. People use “will” and “shall” flippantly, like saying, “I will meet you tomorrow,” without certainty. Life’s uncertainty makes such statements unreliable. “What James said was is that your life itself proves the uncertainty of being able to use such words in such context.” It is evil to make predictions that cannot be kept without acknowledging God’s will. Need to get in the habit of giving God credit for tomorrow. Acknowledge God in every statement: “I’ll see you tonight if it’s the Lord’s will.” Living in a day of uncertainty, people seek things that are sure and unchanging, which is found in God. Life is like a vapor, here one minute and gone the next. Only God can make statements of surety because He is sovereign and unchanging. Jesus said, “I will go with you always. I’ll never leave you or forsake you. I will help you. And He also said, I’ll come again.” Admonishment to give God credit and acknowledge His will in all plans. The Surety of Truth: Death and Salvation Focus on two subjects concerning the surety of truth that comes from God: death and salvation. Death is common to all, with everyone destined to die, barring the rapture. “There ain’t anybody, save the coming of the Lord or the rapture, that’s going to escape death.” It is appointed unto man to die, and after this, the judgment. Death is on everyone’s trail and will find everyone. Without Christ, individuals will die in their sins. Jesus said in John 8:24, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” If you don’t receive Christ, you will die in your sins. The world obscures the truth, but Jesus’ words remain relevant and sure. Mark 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Whosoever calls on the name of Jesus Christ shall be saved. Whosoever repents, believes, and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned, facing condemnation. Hell was created for the devil and his angels, not for people. If you do not believe, you will go to hell. In hell, there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth in unquenched fire. God sent His Son to save people from hell, but damnation awaits those who reject Christ. Luke 13:3: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Fear God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell. If one rejects Jesus, they will go to hell. Example of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke: Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s bosom (Paradise). The rich man died and was in hell, lifting up his eyes in torment. Hell is an eternity of torment where the fire is not quenched. People perish daily without God because the truth is hidden. There is no middle ground; one is either saved or lost. The Surety of Salvation The one thing needed to overcome that we couldn’t overcome was death. Romans 10:9: “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.” When condemned to die, the purity of God’s word showed up and one believed in Jesus Christ and got saved that day. The promise of salvation is based on God’s sure word. Matthew 10:32: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” If you confess Christ before men, He will confess you before the Father. In heaven, all that matters is what we did for Him. John 10:28: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” If you’re saved, you have the promise of eternal life and shall never perish. To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. God has made statements of surety with the words “will” and “shall.” John 4:14: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” If you drink of the water, you shall never thirst again. The water that He gives will be a well of water springing up into everlasting life. If you ever get a drink of it, you don’t have to drink it again. 2 Peter 1:10: “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” Be diligent in making sure that your election and calling are real. God knows them that are His. Make your election and calling sure; if you’ve really got it, you shall never fall. Nobody can pluck you out of His hand. Invitation to drink from the fountain and become a new creature.