Debt, Money, and Stewardship

So You Think You're Saved - Part 1 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Economics and Stewardship

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2021-12-15

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver challenges common assumptions about salvation, emphasizing that many people base their assurance on false grounds such as family heritage, nationality, religious activity, or personal experiences. Using the account of the rich young ruler in Mark 10, he demonstrates that salvation is impossible with man but possible with God. The sermon introduces the first of several requirements for salvation: a surety. Jesus Christ is the divine surety who guarantees the payment of sin's debt, as illustrated by Judah's suretyship for Benjamin and Paul's for Onesimus. Believers are called to examine themselves against Scripture to ensure their salvation is genuine.

[John Weaver] All right, well, let's open our Bible today, if you would please, to Mark chapter 10. We're going to read verses 17 through 27. And actually, this message is going to be in two parts. Mainly, this is going to be an introduction in one point today and the rest next week. The title of the message is, You think you're saved. So look at it in Mark chapter 10, beginning there with verse 17.

[John Weaver] And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running and kneeled to him and asked him, good master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, why callest thou me good? There is none good, but one that is God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness.

[John Weaver] Defraud not, honour thy father and thy mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up thy cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and in a way grieved, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about and said unto his disciples, shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God? And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered them again and said, Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? Jesus looking upon them saith with men, it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible.

[John Weaver] The title of the message is So You Think You're Saved. There are several important questions that must be answered to those who profess to be saved. First of all, what is salvation? Number two, what is it that which you were saved from? Third, how Are you saved? Fourth, who saved you? Fifth, what is the foundation of salvation? And sixth, what is your assurance in salvation? The subject is really a serious subject. However, the answers that I have received over the years as to are you saved or how do you know that you're saved would be absolutely hilarious if it were not so serious. Many think just simply because they belong to a church, or they've been baptized, or they do the best they can, or they have a religious nature, then obviously they think they're saved.

[John Weaver] I've heard all kinds of responses like, my father was a preacher. My grandfather was a preacher. I come from a long line of Christians. And I have to tell them, and I have to emphasize the simple fact that Salvation is not communicated by nature. It is a sovereign and supernatural grace, and certainly not a natural grace. And simply because your parents or grandparents were Christians, it does not mean that you're one.

[John Weaver] You remember that passage in John 1, verses 11 through 13. The Bible says, our Lord was speaking, or John was speaking concerning him, said, he came into his own and his own received him not. But to as many as received him, to them he gave you power to become the sons of God, even those that believe on his name.

[John Weaver] Now listen to verse 13, which were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. So just simply because someone has been related very intimately with a real Christian does not mean that they're a Christian whatsoever. Years ago, I was preaching in a Bible camp in Illinois, and one young teenage girl was listening very attentively. So after the service was over, I asked her if she was a Christian.

[John Weaver] Her response was, I don't know. I'll have to ask my mother. So I said, well, sweetheart, I'll tell you what you do. You go home and ask your mother tonight, and tomorrow when you come back to the camp, it was a day camp, you can give me your mother's answer. She said, I'll do that. So the next morning I saw her before service and I asked her, did she ask her mother whether or not she was a Christian?

[John Weaver] She said, I most certainly did. I said, well, what did your mother say? She said, my mother said, well, of course you're a Christian. You live in America, don't you? You know, Just because America has been designated and called a Christian nation, that certainly doesn't mean that everyone in it is a Christian whatsoever. When you look at this text in Mark chapter 10, this rich young ruler had a lot of things that were going for him.

[John Weaver] First of all, he had a motive, and it was a good motive. He was concerned about his salvation. He was concerned about eternal life. And the Bible says that he came running to the Lord Jesus. So he was very eager to find out about salvation. He's very eager to find out about eternal life. Not only did he have money, but he also had manners because he knelt before the Lord Jesus and he addressed him, good master, what must I do that I may inherit eternal life?

[John Weaver] So evidently the man was raised quite right. But not only did he have manners, he also had money because the Bible calls him a rich young ruler. He not only had a motive, he not only had manners, he not only had money, he evidently had morals. And the money that he possessed, he either inherited or earned it lawfully and scripturally. Because when he asked our Lord what must he do that he may enter eternal life, our Lord answered in verse 19, thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud, not honor thy father and thy mother. And he answered, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. So evidently, this young man was very, very mannerly.

[John Weaver] There's no two ways about that. In fact, I would imagine The morality of this young man, although he was unsaved, would probably put a lot of professing Christians to shame because their lives probably could not match up even to his morality. But, you know, it's interesting that our Lord answered him after he had said all these things I've observed from my youth. Our Lord said in verse 21, And then Jesus beholding him loved him and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up thy cross, and follow me." Now, I've got a good question for you. How many of you, when you were converted, sold everything that you had and gave to the poor? Well, not one. Well, is that a requirement for salvation?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. Well, why did our Lord tell this young man that the one thing that he lacked was he needed to sell everything he had and give to the poor? Well, the answer is really very simple, because in verse 19, our Lord was just simply quoting the law of God. You remember, it is by the law that we understand the knowledge of sin. And he just simply said, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honor thy father and thy mother."

[John Weaver] And he said, all these things have I kept from my youth up. But now what our Lord does in verse 21 is he applies the law. He does not quote what he just quoted. He said, I'll tell you what you do. You go and sell everything that you have, give to the poor, take up your cross and follow me. That's what you lack. And what happened? The young man went away exceedingly sorrowful. Why?

[John Weaver] The Bible said before he had great possessions. So what our Lord was showing him was this. He had not only not kept the law of God, he had not even kept the first commandment, which is, thou shalt have no other gods before me. Because his money, obviously, was indeed his God.

[John Weaver] Now, our Lord makes it clear that anything that we trust in, other than himself, will not save us anyway whatsoever. So look, if you would, in verse 23, the Bible says that Jesus looked at his disciples and said unto his disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.

[John Weaver] Now, he didn't say it was impossible for a rich man to be saved, but he said it's very difficult. It's very hard when you stop and look. And I'm going to show you why he said that when you stop and think about the rich men in the world today, the billionaires, the multimillionaires. Most of them are totally not only unsaved, they're anti-Christ, anti-Christian, anti-everything. There are probably some that are saved, but here's why it's difficult for a rich man to be saved. Look in verse 24. But the disciples were astonished at his words, but Jesus answered and said unto them, Children, How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God? Notice he said, how hard is it for them that want trust in riches?

[John Weaver] So the man who has the billions and the millions usually ends up trusting in those instead of our Lord. And then he says in verse 25, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. So how difficult it is, is it for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Well, it's impossible. So it's impossible for anyone who trusts in their riches to enter into the kingdom of God.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something. Skip down to verse 26. When our Lord said that, His disciples were astonished out of measure. Their mouths dropped open. They couldn't believe what they had heard. And they asked among themselves, they said among themselves, Who then can be saved? So I want you to note that question. Who then can be saved? So look at our Lord's answer in verse 27.

[John Weaver] Jesus looking upon them, saith with men, it salvation is impossible, but not with God. For with God, all things are possible. So you have to make sure that you connect verse 26 and 27 for they ask who then can be saved. And our Lord said with men, then it is impossible. So note, if you would please, our Lord said, with man it is impossible. So no one can save themselves by any means or by any measure whatsoever. So salvation by man, for man, through man and because of man and declared by man and assured by man is an utter impossibility. It's impossible.

[John Weaver] Years ago, I was preaching a series on the biblical doctrine of repentance. I don't remember how far along I was in that series, but after service, one man came to me and he said, preacher, he said, you make it so hard for a man to be saved. And I looked at him and I said, sir, I want to apologize for that. Evidently, I did not make myself clear. I said, it's true, you might have misunderstood, but I certainly did not mean to make it hard for a man to be saved. I meant to make it impossible.

[John Weaver] And that's what our Lord said. With man, it is impossible. But you see, what has happened today is that salvation, like everything else, has been watered down. So that anyone and anything is considered a day saved even if they live in open rebellion against God and in total and complete violation of the law of God. What a lot of people have forgotten is this. Salvation is not necessarily something to take you to heaven. Salvation not necessarily is something to keep you out of hell. Salvation is from sin.

[John Weaver] Do you not remember what the angel said to Mary in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 21? For she shall have a son and she shall call his name Jesus. Why? For he shall save his people from their sins. So being saved from judgment, being saved from condemnation, being saved from destruction, being saved from hell is a byproduct of being saved from your sins. Very clearly, what a lot of people want today is they want to use the Lord Jesus Christ as a mere fire escape while they enjoy their sins. Basically, what they want is this. They want to be free from the judgment and the punishment of their sins while they enjoy their sins. And while they certainly do not want to go to hell, they certainly do not want to suffer, they certainly do not want to be condemned, but they don't want to repent either. They do not want to give up their sins and turn from their sins. What they want is to be saved from the consequences of their sins while they enjoy their sins and live in their sins.

[John Weaver] There is no such salvation as that. It is impossible.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, whole Mark 10, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I understand that there are indeed some notorious sinners, and some of us may have been notorious sinners in times past as well. And God certainly is very capable of saving notorious sinners. But there is a difference between a man who was a notorious sinner and someone now who still is a notorious sinner. For in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, if you'll look there beginning with verse 9, 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 9, look what the Apostle says. Know you not. In other words, here is something that you should know. Know you not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God." And look at the next statement, be not deceived. So if you think somehow that the unrighteous are going to inherit the kingdom of God, he says, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. So he says, know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

[John Weaver] Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, the sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God." Now watch verse 11, and such were, that's past tense, such were some of you, but you're washed, but you're sanctified, but you're justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God. So there's a big difference between what you once were and what you are now.

[John Weaver] If you'll turn to the book of Galatians chapter 5, beginning with verse 19, you'll see the same truth given in a little different light. Galatians 5 and verse 19, the apostle says this, now the works of the flesh are, and he's going to name them, they are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like, of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." So there's a vast difference between living in open, rebellious sin continually, and having done that in times past, and God changed you and God saved you. So, there is a vast difference in that. In fact, the Apostle Paul asks and answers this same question for us in Romans chapter 6, in verses 1 and 2, when he asks, what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein.

[John Weaver] So let me repeat this. Let me make this exceedingly clear. And that is salvation from judgment, salvation from condemnation, salvation from destruction is a byproduct of being saved from your sins, which bring you to judgment and to condemnation. And so clearly our Lord is not some fire escape and clearly our Lord is not someone to be used and abused, not at all. So, let me make another statement that makes it very clear, and that is this, the only true salvation, the only real salvation, the only genuine salvation, is the salvation that's in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] You remember what he said in John 14 in verse 6, when he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh in the Father but by me. So Jesus Christ is claiming an exclusive salvation. There is no salvation in anything else, or anyone else. There is no salvation in Islam. There is no salvation in Hinduism. There is no salvation in Buddhism. In other words, it is an exclusive route, and that route is only through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. That's why the Bible says in Ephesians 2 and verse 18, for through Him, that is through Jesus Christ, We both have access in one's spirit to the Father. So the only way that anyone can get to the Father is through the Son and in the Spirit.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to another passage, and that's Acts chapter 4, because I want you to see a tremendous statement made by the Apostle Peter. And I want to take a moment to explain it. Look in Acts chapter 4, and we're going to be reading there with verse 8. Acts chapter 4 and verse 8. So Peter is now having his opportunity to preach to the rulers. And he says this, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined the good deed done to the impotent man by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you all.

[John Weaver] This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."

[John Weaver] Now we probably did not realize the significance of verse 12. Because when the Apostle Peter said, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, Peter was declaring war on the Roman Empire and on the Roman Caesar. Why? Because in 14 B.C. there was a bright star that shone in the heavens, and Augustus Caesar, who was then on the throne, had it posted and had it sent throughout his empire, that there is none of the name under heaven given among men, whereby you must be saved other than the name of Augustus Caesar." And Peter said, that's a lie. The only name that you can be saved in and through is the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] And so here's a simple truth. If you're not saved by Jesus Christ, If you're not willing to be saved by Jesus Christ, you will never be saved, because the only salvation that exists, exists only in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the way, the truth, and the life. Now, so the title of the message is, So You Think You're Saved. And the reason I title it like this is so many people base their salvation on a multitude of things other than the Lord Jesus Christ. I've had people tell me that they know that they're saved based upon their experience. And they'll say, well, I know what happened to me. And you know, you fail to understand the fact that anything can produce an experience. I mean, I usually tell people, if you want an experience, all you've got to do is before you go to sleep, eat you.

[John Weaver] peanut butter mayonnaise tomato ketchup mustard and bologna sandwich You'll probably have quite an experience. I mean The flesh can give you an experience The enemy can give you an experience the world can give you an experience and Just because your hair stands on end and goosebumps come up and down your neck and run up and down your arms Does not mean that that is salvation And so many people say, well, I know what happened to me. Well. Salvation, I'm going to show you by the time we get through next week, is an objective reality.

[John Weaver] It is based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. It may have a subjective application, but salvation is an objective reality and an objective fact. A lot of people try to say, well, I've decided to be a Christian. It's just like that song that we normally sing. I have decided to follow Jesus, which basically is man honoring and man glorifying and really a salvation by works. I have decided to follow Jesus.

[John Weaver] You know, the truth of the matter is this. You can make decisions all day long, but if you don't have the power to bring those decisions to fruition, they are worthless. I could decide that I'd like to be a multimillionaire before 6 p.m. today, but I can't be. I could decide that I'd like to have a head full of wavy hair, but it's not going to be. I can decide I'd like to be 20 years younger. That's not going to happen either. I can make, you can't decide your way into heaven. You can't decide your way into salvation.

[John Weaver] What did our Lord say? With men, salvation is absolutely impossible. So here's where we are today. Most people have never realized that the Word of God is indeed an objective standard. Everything in our lives, including our salvation, is to be examined in light of the Word of God. The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter gave us some good admonition and some great counsel. I want you to see it. So first of all, I want you to turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and look at verse 5. Here's what the Apostle Paul said. Look at this, 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 5. Watch what he said.

[John Weaver] Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith. Prove your own selves, know you not how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates." Now, note what he said, examine yourselves whether you be in the faith, prove yourselves. Now, how are you going to examine yourself as to whether or not you're in the faith? How are you going to prove yourself? The only way that you can do that is you can take your life, your attitudes, your actions, your conduct, and compare them side by side with what the Word of God says salvation is. In other words, you're comparing your life to God's objective standard. So when He says, examine yourselves, He's saying examine yourselves in light of Scripture. Prove yourselves. Prove yourselves in light of Scripture. And then He said very clearly, Know you not how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobate." In other words, you should determine, you should discover how Jesus Christ is in you based upon the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Peter 1 and verse 10. 2 Peter 1 and verse 10. Peter says basically the same thing, but just a little differently. 2nd Peter chapter 1 in verse 10 Peter admonishes and commands wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure For if you do these things you shall never fall the these things that he's mentioned are those things previously there beginning with about verse 3 and You work your way all the way down, but he says give diligence to make your calling and election sure Well, how do you know that you've been savingly called into salvation? Well, obviously, by examining your life and what is stated there. How do you know whether or not you're one of God's elect? By seeing if your calling has been biblical. If your calling has been biblical, you are one of God's elect. It's just that simple. So he tells us exactly how we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure. if you will turn right over a few pages to 1 John chapter 2.

[John Weaver] I want to show you how simple this is. If we examine ourselves, if we examine our lives, it is not some type of morbid introspection. It is not staring at your navel like some folks do and say they're meditating. No, no, no. When we're examining ourselves, we're comparing our lives to the objective standard of the Word of God. So, notice if you would, in 1 John chapter 2, beginning there with verse 3, we'll read through verse 6, and then I'll come back and make some statements. Look at it. 1 John 2 verse 3, and hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in him.

[John Weaver] He that saith, he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked. Now go back and look at verse 3. John wrote, hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. First of all, the word keep is the Greek word terao, and it means to observe, to attend to, carefully, to keep, to guard, and to hold fast. So literally he is saying, and hereby we do know that we know Him if we are keeping, holding fast, guarding, giving careful attention to His commandments.

[John Weaver] Okay, now, listen to me. It is also a present active subjunctive. So it reads like this, and hereby we do know that we know Him if we are continually keeping His commandments. This passage does not teach sinless perfection. No passage in the Bible teaches sinless perfection, not in this life, because that is impossible. But notice if you would, he said in verse 4, He that saith, I know him, and is not continually keeping his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso is continually keeping his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby we do know that we are in him. And the realization of that is he that saith, he abided in him, ought himself also to walk even as he. So once again, this is not talking about sinless perfection, but what this passage is talking about is a life that is consistent and constant in obedience.

[John Weaver] We are sinners and we sin. We have our faults. We have our failings. But those should be a bump in the road. They're not what you and I would call the normal thing as Christians. So let me put it like this. 1 John 2, verses 3-6 could be illustrated very clearly by 1 Kings 15, verse 5. How so? Listen to what God said concerning David. God said, Because David did that which is right in mine eyes, Turn not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life save only in the matter of Uriah Hmm. What did he say about David? David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and Turn not aside in anything except in the matter of Uriah. Did David commit adultery of Bathsheba? Yes, did David have Uriah?

[John Weaver] Murdered with the sword of the children of Ammon. Yes Did David have other faults and other sins? And the answer is yes. But his life was not a life of open rebellion. His life was not a life of open sin. Those were where he stumbled. Those were where he fell because his life, generally speaking, was a life of obedience. That's why David was called, even by God, a man after God's own heart.

[John Weaver] So we have to ask, very succinct question. In light of what I'm teaching, and that question is this, what does a sinner need in order to be saved? The short answer to that is a Savior. But then you have to ask another question, and this is a more complex part. What is involved in being the Savior? I could ask that another way. How do we know that Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior? What is involved in being a Savior?

[John Weaver] You remember the Bible says in Matthew 1 and verse 21, that thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. So what is involved in being saved from our sins? And what I want to do is this. I want to break down the constituent parts of being a Saviour, so that we not only may see our need of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also that we may see His perfect and complete work, and that He indeed is the one and only Saviour. So, I'm only going to give you one point today, and the rest of the message will come next week, okay?

[John Weaver] So, salvation requires a surety. Salvation requires a surety. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 7 and look if you would please at verse 22. Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 22. An interesting word is used in this passage concerning Jesus Christ. It says, By so much was Jesus made a surety, of a better testament. Jesus Christ was made a surety of a better testament. Now the Greek word for surety is the word engouas, which literally means a surety or a sponsor. I want to read to you just one short paragraph of what Arthur W. Pink said on this verse. when he's talking about a surety. Listen carefully. The Greek word for surety properly means a bondsman, one who pledges his name, property, or influence that a certain thing shall be done.

[John Weaver] When a contract is made, a debt contracted, or a note given, a friend often becomes the surety in the case and is himself responsible if the terms of the contract are not complied with. A surety is one who agrees to undertake for another who is lacking in ability to discharge his own obligations. Whatever undertaking the surety makes, whether in words or promise, or the depositing of real security in the hands of an arbitrator, or by any other personal engagement of life or body, It implies the defect of the person for whom anyone becomes surety. The surety is sponsored for another, standing in the room of and acting for one who is incompetent in and of himself. He represents that other person and pledges to make good his engagements. Thus Christ was not a surety for God, for he needed none. But Christ was a surety for his own poor, failing, and deficient people who were unable to meet their obligations, incapable of discharging their liabilities. In view of this, Christ agreed to undertake for them, fully pay all their debts, and completely satisfied every demand which God had against them."

[John Weaver] So a surety then is someone who pledges himself for another. Everyone understands this. So if Steve went to the bank and wanted to borrow $10,000 and they said, do you have any collateral? He said, nope. You have any credit? No. Well, what makes you think we're going to have loan you any money? Well, I've got a good friend by the name of Gary. Gary's got plenty of money and he's going to sign this note. And if I don't pay it, Gary will. That's a surety. That's a surety.

[John Weaver] You see what I'm saying? Now, in order to understand our need of a surety, We have to also understand that sin is a debt. It's something that must be paid. Everyone in this room could probably quote Romans 6 and verse 23. For the wages of sin is what? Debt. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. But it is recognized as a debt. If I owe Gary a wage, that is a debt. He's worked for me, I owe him money. So sin is a debt.

[John Weaver] I want to show you how great that day it is. I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 18. There's an awful lot of truth in this passage and a lot of applications that could be made, but I'm only interested in one right now. But I want you to note Matthew chapter 18 and let's begin reading with verse 23 and we'll read through verse 35. So pay close attention to this. Matthew 18, verse 23.

[John Weaver] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king. Note if you would now, this is parable, and our Lord is saying the kingdom of heaven is likened unto this. So you'll have to understand this parable. Likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And certainly God does that for us. He takes account. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him 10,000 talents. But forasmuch as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him a hundred pence, And he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou ow'st.

[John Weaver] And the fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into the prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after he had paid called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt which thou desirest me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

[John Weaver] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses." Now obviously in this parable there is the application of forgiveness. There is also the application, if God has forgiven us in the greatest, we should be forgiving those who sin against us in the lesser or in the least. There is that. There are so many applications from this parable.

[John Weaver] But notice if you would, first of all, this one man owed him 10,000 talents. The Greek is which literally means a myriad of talents. And this phrase, a myriad of talents, is the highest number known in the Greek arithmetical notation. You could not exceed it. It's a myriad of talents. You have to stop and think, and I forget exactly how much a talent is, But if you just were to take our English pound, 16 ounces to the pound, 16 ounces of silver or 16 ounces of gold, and it does not tell us how much he owed him in the sense either in silver or gold, but John Gill in his commentary is quoting Dr. Hammond, who figured up what 10,000 talents was, and Dr. Hammond said it was 1,875,000 pounds. Well, you figure that against the price of silver today, say 25 bucks an ounce, how many ounces are in a pound? I figure up gold at 2,000, and it's just an astronomical figure.

[John Weaver] It is something that is impossible for anyone to pay. Now, this is exactly what our Lord is saying. This is why He said He delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all the debt that was due unto him. Will he ever pay it? How could he pay it if he could not even work? See, obviously, clearly, it's talking about sin being a debt that is such an impossibility for any sinner to pay. So for sin, a sinner needs a surety. He needs someone that's going to stand in for him that will guarantee the payment of his debt. A sinner cannot pay the debt and live for the wages of sin is death, not just physical, but eternal as well.

[John Weaver] So what I want to do is this. I want to give you two illustrations of a surety. I will give you one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. So I want you to turn in the Old Testament to Genesis chapter 43. Genesis chapter 43. And let's begin reading there with verse one. I'm sure that you know the story. In the sense that Joseph now has been sold by his brothers. He's in Egypt. He's second in command.

[John Weaver] And of course, there's a famine in the land. The boys have already gone down to Egypt and brought forth food and it's run out. And now it's time to go back again and get more. So watch in Genesis 43, beginning there, verse one, and the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass when they had eaten up the corn, which they had brought out of Egypt. Their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

[John Weaver] And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food. But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down. For the man said unto us, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you." That's Benjamin, who was the real brother of Joseph. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt you so ill with me, as to tell the man whether you had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straightly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? Have you yet another brother?

[John Weaver] And we told him according to the tenor of these words, Could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him. Of my hand shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.

[John Weaver] For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. Now note what Judah said. Send the lad with me, I will be surety for him. And, of course, you know the story. He did send Benjamin down with his brothers. And, of course, they all came in, and they ate with Joseph. And you remember, Joseph had ten times the amount of food put on Benjamin's plate as on the other brother's plate. And, of course, he communed with them. They still did not know who he was. And so he instructed his steward to place his cup in Benjamin's sack after it was filled with food. So the steward did so, and then the boys were sent away. Before they could get out of the city, Joseph said to his steward, you overtake them. You search their sacks, you find my cup. And whoever has that cup, deserves death, and to be a bondman. So look at it.

[John Weaver] Genesis chapter 44, beginning there with verse 4. Watch it. Genesis 44 and verse 4. And when they were gone out of the city and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men. And when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have you rewarded evil for good? Is not this it? in which my Lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth, you have done evil in so doing.

[John Weaver] And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my Lord these words? God forbid that thy servant should do according to this thing. Behold, the money which we found in our sack's mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan. How then should we steal out of thy Lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my Lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found shall be my servant, and you shall be blameless.

[John Weaver] Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest. And the cup was found, Benjamin's sack then they ripped their clothes and laid it every man his ass and returned to the city Now the interesting thing is this They said whoever has this cup let him die and we will be bonded now they came back and Joseph said this leave Benjamin here

[John Weaver] rest of you go home And I want you to look what happens. Look in Genesis 44, beginning there, verse 16. And Judah said, What shall we say to my Lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants. Behold, we are my Lord's servants or slaves, both we and he also with whom this cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so. But the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant and my slave, and as for the rest of you, get you up in peace unto your father. Then Judah came near unto him and said, O my Lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my Lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant, for thou art even as Pharaoh. My Lord asked his servant, saying, Have you a father or a brother? And we said unto my Lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one, and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

[John Weaver] And thou sayest unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my Lord, The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidest unto thy servants, Except your younger brother come down to thee, you shall see my face no more. And it came to pass, when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my Lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down, if our youngest brother be with us, unless he be with us.

[John Weaver] Then will we go down. For we may not see the man's face, except our younger brother be with us. And thy servant my father said unto me, You know that my wife bear me two sons. And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn to pieces, that's Joseph, And I saw him not since. And if you take this also from me, and mischief befall him, you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore, when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us, seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life, it shall come to pass, when he see that the lad is not with us, that he will die. Thy servant shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety. Thy servant Judah became surety for the land unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.

[John Weaver] Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant, that is, let me, Judah, abide instead of the land as a bondman to my Lord. and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father and the lad be not with me? Thus perventure I see evil that shall come upon my father."

[John Weaver] Now I want you to note what is happening. Benjamin has been taken. Judah said, I was a surety for him. I will be a substitute. I will take his place. I will pay his debt. Let him go." Now, I want you to turn to the book of Philemon, the book of Philemon. Note, if you would, a surety is one that guarantees payment. When you get to the book of Philemon, right before the book of Hebrews, one T90 little book. In this book, and it's a wonderful book, Philemon has a servant by the name of Onesimus. I could spend an hour just talking about Onesimus. But evidently, Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away to Rome. I don't know what he did in Rome, but he got in trouble and he got thrown into a dungeon and guess who else was in that dungeon? The apostle Paul. And so the apostle Paul probably knew Onesimus and the apostle Paul preached to him and talked to him and witnessed to him and Onesimus was converted. And so Paul now is going to send this slave back to his owner.

[John Weaver] But I want you to notice what he says in the book of Philemon, chapter 1, only one chapter there, beginning with verse 17. As Paul sends Onesimus back, he says to Philemon, if thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, Or, Oeth thee ought, put that on mine account. I, Paul, have written it with mine own hand. I will repay it. Albeit, I do not say of thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self. Besides, Paul's just reminding Philemon that Philemon was converted under his ministry as well. And so Paul said, look, whatever he owes you, I'll pay it. I'll be a surety.

[John Weaver] You will get every cent. But here's something else. He said in verse 17, if thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. You receive Onesimus back just like you'd receive me. So Paul is a surety. The surety is the man who pays the debt. The surety is the man who guarantees that everything is going to be taken care of. Our Lord was made a surety by a divine oath. Once again, Arthur W.

[John Weaver] Pink said concerning Jesus Christ, listen to this. It is the surety by the divine oath which gives stability unto the covenant. God entered into a covenant with the first Adam, but he had no surety. And therefore, though our first parent had all the tremendous advantages of a sinless nature filled with holy inclinations, and free from all evil imaginations, desires, and habits, yet he broke the covenant and forfeited all the benefits thereof. God made a covenant with Israel at Sinai, and appointed a high priest to act as the typical surety of it. Yet, as we have seen, that covenant and the surety made nothing perfect. The purpose of that covenant was to demonstrate the need of another and better one. In contradistinction from these, God has made with his elect in Christ a covenant ordered in all things and sure, for he has laid help upon one who is mighty." So the very first thing a sinner needs in salvation is a surety. So here's the question.

[John Weaver] that I want to ask. What makes you think that you're saved? Do you base your salvation upon an experience? Do you base your salvation upon a decision? Do you base your salvation upon works, deeds, motives, intent, doing the best you can? The truth of the matter is, if you base your salvation on those things, you do not have salvation. What you must have first and foremost in a Savior is a surety ship. If you do not have someone who will stand in your place and guarantee payment to the fullest, you're not saved. There must be a surety in salvation. We'll see next week the other four things that are involved. But only Jesus Christ is our divine surety. Only he can produce and provide a real, true and genuine salvation because only he can guarantee the full and final and complete payment to God the Father. So you must have a surety. Think about that this week and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ is our surety. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day.

[John Weaver] We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you above all for the Lord Jesus Christ and his so great salvation. We're thankful, Lord, that He is indeed our Savior. We give Thee praise. We give Thee honor. We give Thee worship. We bow before Thee through the Lord Jesus Christ and glorify Thy great and holy name. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. ♪ ♪ ♪ you

So You Think You're Saved - Part 1 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	v-Lie0KiJTQ
Subject	Economics and Stewardship
Course	Debt, Money, and Stewardship
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-12-15
Dictation Name
Book	Book 071: So You Think You're Saved — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	74

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Question of Salvation

Weaver introduces the topic by reading Mark 10:17-27 and posing critical questions about salvation, noting that many people have misguided bases for their assurance.

All right, well, let's open our Bible today, if you would please, to Mark chapter 10. We're going to read verses 17 through 27. And actually, this message is going to be in two parts. Mainly, this is going to be an introduction in one point today and the rest next week. The title of the message is, "So You Think You're Saved." So look at it in Mark chapter 10, beginning there with verse 17.

Scripture Reading — Mark 10:17-27

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness."

"Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

The title of the message is "So You Think You're Saved." There are several important questions that must be answered to those who profess to be saved. First of all, what is salvation? Number two, what is it that which you were saved from? Third, how are you saved? Fourth, who saved you? Fifth, what is the foundation of salvation? And sixth, what is your assurance in salvation? The subject is really a serious subject. However, the answers that I have received over the years as to "are you saved" or "how do you know that you're saved" would be absolutely hilarious if it were not so serious. Many think just simply because they belong to a church, or they've been baptized, or they do the best they can, or they have a religious nature, then obviously they think they're saved.

False Grounds of Assurance

He refutes common false assurances such as family lineage, nationality, religious upbringing, and personal experiences, emphasizing that salvation is not communicated by nature.

I've heard all kinds of responses like, "My father was a preacher. My grandfather was a preacher. I come from a long line of Christians." And I have to tell them, and I have to emphasize the simple fact that salvation is not communicated by nature. It is a sovereign and supernatural grace, and certainly not a natural grace. And simply because your parents or grandparents were Christians, it does not mean that you're one. You remember that passage in John 1, verses 11 through 13. The Bible says, our Lord was speaking, or John was speaking concerning him, said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

Now listen to verse 13, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." So just simply because someone has been related very intimately with a real Christian does not mean that they're a Christian whatsoever. Years ago, I was preaching in a Bible camp in Illinois, and one young teenage girl was listening very attentively. So after the service was over, I asked her if she was a Christian. Her response was, "I don't know. I'll have to ask my mother." So I said, "Well, sweetheart, I'll tell you what you do. You go home and ask your mother tonight, and tomorrow when you come back to the camp"—it was a day camp—"you can give me your mother's answer." She said, "I'll do that." So the next morning I saw her before service and I asked her, did she ask her mother whether or not she was a Christian?

She said, "I most certainly did." I said, "Well, what did your mother say?" She said, "My mother said, 'Well, of course you're a Christian. You live in America, don't you?'" You know, just because America has been designated and called a Christian nation, that certainly doesn't mean that everyone in it is a Christian whatsoever. When you look at this text in Mark chapter 10, this rich young ruler had a lot of things that were going for him.

The Rich Young Ruler: A Case Study

Weaver examines the rich young ruler's good qualities—motive, manners, money, and morals—and shows how Jesus exposed his idolatry of wealth, revealing that trust in anything other than Christ prevents salvation.

First of all, he had a motive, and it was a good motive. He was concerned about his salvation. He was concerned about eternal life. And the Bible says that he came running to the Lord Jesus. So he was very eager to find out about salvation. He's very eager to find out about eternal life. Not only did he have money, but he also had manners because he knelt before the Lord Jesus and he addressed him, "Good Master, what must I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

So evidently the man was raised quite right. But not only did he have manners, he also had money because the Bible calls him a rich young ruler. He not only had a motive, he not only had manners, he not only had money, he evidently had morals. And the money that he possessed, he either inherited or earned it lawfully and scripturally. Because when he asked our Lord what must he do that he may enter eternal life, our Lord answered in verse 19, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother." And he answered, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth." So evidently, this young man was very, very mannerly. There's no two ways about that. In fact, I would imagine the morality of this young man, although he was unsaved, would probably put a lot of professing Christians to shame because their lives probably could not match up even to his morality. But, you know, it's interesting that our Lord answered him after he had said, "All these things I've observed from my youth." Our Lord said in verse 21, "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me." Now, I've got a good question for you. How many of you, when you were converted, sold everything that you had and gave to the poor? Well, not one. Well, is that a requirement for salvation?

And the answer is no. Well, why did our Lord tell this young man that the one thing that he lacked was he needed to sell everything he had and give to the poor? Well, the answer is really very simple, because in verse 19, our Lord was just simply quoting the law of God. You remember, it is by the law that we understand the knowledge of sin. And he just simply said, "Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother." And he said, "All these things have I kept from my youth up." But now what our Lord does in verse 21 is he applies the law. He does not quote what he just quoted. He said, "I'll tell you what you do. You go and sell everything that you have, give to the poor, take up your cross and follow me. That's what you lack." And what happened? The young man went away exceedingly sorrowful. Why?

The Bible said before he had great possessions. So what our Lord was showing him was this. He had not only not kept the law of God, he had not even kept the first commandment, which is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Because his money, obviously, was indeed his God. Now, our Lord makes it clear that anything that we trust in, other than himself, will not save us anyway whatsoever. So look, if you would, in verse 23, the Bible says that Jesus looked at his disciples and said unto his disciples, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God."

Salvation Is Impossible with Man

Jesus' statement that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle leads to the disciples' astonishment and the declaration that with man salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Now, he didn't say it was impossible for a rich man to be saved, but he said it's very difficult. It's very hard when you stop and look. And I'm going to show you why he said that when you stop and think about the rich men in the world today, the billionaires, the multimillionaires. Most of them are totally not only unsaved, they're anti-Christ, anti-Christian, anti-everything. There are probably some that are saved, but here's why it's difficult for a rich man to be saved. Look in verse 24. "But the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" Notice he said, "how hard is it for them that trust in riches?"

So the man who has the billions and the millions usually ends up trusting in those instead of our Lord. And then he says in verse 25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." So how difficult is it for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? Well, it's impossible. So it's impossible for anyone who trusts in their riches to enter into the kingdom of God.

Now, I want you to note something. Skip down to verse 26. When our Lord said that, His disciples were astonished out of measure. Their mouths dropped open. They couldn't believe what they had heard. And they asked among themselves, they said among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" So I want you to note that question. "Who then can be saved?" So look at our Lord's answer in verse 27.

"Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." So you have to make sure that you connect verse 26 and 27 for they ask, "Who then can be saved?" And our Lord said, "With men it is impossible." So note, if you would please, our Lord said, "With man it is impossible." So no one can save themselves by any means or by any measure whatsoever. So salvation by man, for man, through man and because of man and declared by man and assured by man is an utter impossibility. It's impossible.

Salvation Is from Sin, Not Just Its Consequences

Weaver clarifies that salvation is primarily from sin itself, not merely a fire escape from hell; many want deliverance from punishment without repentance.

Years ago, I was preaching a series on the biblical doctrine of repentance. I don't remember how far along I was in that series, but after service, one man came to me and he said, "Preacher, you make it so hard for a man to be saved." And I looked at him and I said, "Sir, I want to apologize for that. Evidently, I did not make myself clear. I said, it's true, you might have misunderstood, but I certainly did not mean to make it hard for a man to be saved. I meant to make it impossible." And that's what our Lord said. "With man it is impossible." But you see, what has happened today is that salvation, like everything else, has been watered down. So that anyone and anything is considered saved even if they live in open rebellion against God and in total and complete violation of the law of God. What a lot of people have forgotten is this. Salvation is not necessarily something to take you to heaven. Salvation not necessarily is something to keep you out of hell. Salvation is from sin.

Do you not remember what the angel said to Mary in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 21?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:21

"For she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

So being saved from judgment, being saved from condemnation, being saved from destruction, being saved from hell is a byproduct of being saved from your sins. Very clearly, what a lot of people want today is they want to use the Lord Jesus Christ as a mere fire escape while they enjoy their sins. Basically, what they want is this. They want to be free from the judgment and the punishment of their sins while they enjoy their sins. And while they certainly do not want to go to hell, they certainly do not want to suffer, they certainly do not want to be condemned, but they don't want to repent either. They do not want to give up their sins and turn from their sins. What they want is to be saved from the consequences of their sins while they enjoy their sins and live in their sins.

There is no such salvation as that. It is impossible.

The Distinction Between Past and Present Sin

Using 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-21, he distinguishes between those who once lived in sin but are now washed and those who continue in unrepentant sin, who will not inherit the kingdom.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, hold Mark 10, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I understand that there are indeed some notorious sinners, and some of us may have been notorious sinners in times past as well. And God certainly is very capable of saving notorious sinners. But there is a difference between a man who was a notorious sinner and someone now who still is a notorious sinner. For in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, if you'll look there beginning with verse 9, 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 9, look what the Apostle says. "Know ye not." In other words, here is something that you should know. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" And look at the next statement, "Be not deceived." So if you think somehow that the unrighteous are going to inherit the kingdom of God, he says, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. So he says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," the sodomites,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:19-21

"nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Now watch verse 11, "And such were"—that's past tense—"such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." So there's a big difference between what you once were and what you are now. If you'll turn to the book of Galatians chapter 5, beginning with verse 19, you'll see the same truth given in a little different light. Galatians 5 and verse 19, the apostle says this,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:19-21

"Now the works of the flesh are,"

and he's going to name them,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:19-21

"they are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

So there's a vast difference between living in open, rebellious sin continually, and having done that in times past, and God changed you and God saved you. So, there is a vast difference in that. In fact, the Apostle Paul asks and answers this same question for us in Romans chapter 6, in verses 1 and 2, when he asks, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

Examine Yourselves by Scripture

Believers are commanded to examine themselves against the objective standard of God's Word (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 2:3-6) to confirm their calling and election, looking for a consistent pattern of obedience.

So let me repeat this. Let me make this exceedingly clear. And that is salvation from judgment, salvation from condemnation, salvation from destruction is a byproduct of being saved from your sins, which bring you to judgment and to condemnation. And so clearly our Lord is not some fire escape and clearly our Lord is not someone to be used and abused, not at all. So, let me make another statement that makes it very clear, and that is this, the only true salvation, the only real salvation, the only genuine salvation, is the salvation that's in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. You remember what he said in John 14 in verse 6, when he said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:6

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

So Jesus Christ is claiming an exclusive salvation. There is no salvation in anything else, or anyone else. There is no salvation in Islam. There is no salvation in Hinduism. There is no salvation in Buddhism. In other words, it is an exclusive route, and that route is only through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. That's why the Bible says in Ephesians 2 and verse 18, "For through him"—that is through Jesus Christ—"we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." So the only way that anyone can get to the Father is through the Son and in the Spirit.

Now, I want you to turn to another passage, and that's Acts chapter 4, because I want you to see a tremendous statement made by the Apostle Peter. And I want to take a moment to explain it. Look in Acts chapter 4, and we're going to be reading there with verse 8. Acts chapter 4 and verse 8. So Peter is now having his opportunity to preach to the rulers. And he says this, "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."

"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Now we probably did not realize the significance of verse 12. Because when the Apostle Peter said, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Peter was declaring war on the Roman Empire and on the Roman Caesar. Why? Because in 14 B.C. there was a bright star that shone in the heavens, and Augustus Caesar, who was then on the throne, had it posted and had it sent throughout his empire, that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby you must be saved other than the name of Augustus Caesar." And Peter said, "That's a lie. The only name that you can be saved in and through is the Lord Jesus Christ."

And so here's a simple truth. If you're not saved by Jesus Christ, if you're not willing to be saved by Jesus Christ, you will never be saved, because the only salvation that exists, exists only in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the way, the truth, and the life. Now, so the title of the message is, "So You Think You're Saved." And the reason I title it like this is so many people base their salvation on a multitude of things other than the Lord Jesus Christ. I've had people tell me that they know that they're saved based upon their experience. And they'll say, "Well, I know what happened to me." And you know, you fail to understand the fact that anything can produce an experience. I mean, I usually tell people, if you want an experience, all you've got to do is before you go to sleep, eat you a

peanut butter, mayonnaise, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and bologna sandwich. You'll probably have quite an experience. I mean, the flesh can give you an experience. The enemy can give you an experience. The world can give you an experience. And just because your hair stands on end and goosebumps come up and down your neck and run up and down your arms does not mean that that is salvation. And so many people say, "Well, I know what happened to me." Well, salvation, I'm going to show you by the time we get through next week, is an objective reality.

It is based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. It may have a subjective application, but salvation is an objective reality and an objective fact. A lot of people try to say, "Well, I've decided to be a Christian." It's just like that song that we normally sing, "I have decided to follow Jesus," which basically is man honoring and man glorifying and really a salvation by works. "I have decided to follow Jesus." You know, the truth of the matter is this. You can make decisions all day long, but if you don't have the power to bring those decisions to fruition, they are worthless. I could decide that I'd like to be a multimillionaire before 6 p.m. today, but I can't be. I could decide that I'd like to have a head full of wavy hair, but it's not going to be. I can decide I'd like to be 20 years younger. That's not going to happen either. I can make—you can't decide your way into heaven. You can't decide your way into salvation.

What did our Lord say? "With men, salvation is absolutely impossible." So here's where we are today. Most people have never realized that the Word of God is indeed an objective standard. Everything in our lives, including our salvation, is to be examined in light of the Word of God. The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter gave us some good admonition and some great counsel. I want you to see it. So first of all, I want you to turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and look at verse 5. Here's what the Apostle Paul said. Look at this, 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 5. Watch what he said.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Now, note what he said, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove yourselves." Now, how are you going to examine yourself as to whether or not you're in the faith? How are you going to prove yourself? The only way that you can do that is you can take your life, your attitudes, your actions, your conduct, and compare them side by side with what the Word of God says salvation is. In other words, you're comparing your life to God's objective standard. So when He says, "examine yourselves," He's saying examine yourselves in light of Scripture. "Prove yourselves." Prove yourselves in light of Scripture. And then He said very clearly, "Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" In other words, you should determine, you should discover how Jesus Christ is in you based upon the Word of God.

Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Peter 1 and verse 10. 2 Peter 1 and verse 10. Peter says basically the same thing, but just a little differently. 2 Peter chapter 1 in verse 10, Peter admonishes and commands,

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 1:10

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."

The "these things" that he's mentioned are those things previously there beginning with about verse 3 and you work your way all the way down, but he says, "give diligence to make your calling and election sure.

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 1:10

" Well, how do you know that you've been savingly called into salvation? Well, obviously, by examining your life and what is stated there. How do you know whether or not you're one of God's elect? By seeing if your calling has been biblical. If your calling has been biblical, you are one of God's elect. It's just that simple. So he tells us exactly how we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure. If you will turn right over a few pages to 1 John chapter 2.

I want to show you how simple this is. If we examine ourselves, if we examine our lives, it is not some type of morbid introspection. It is not staring at your navel like some folks do and say they're meditating. No, no, no. When we're examining ourselves, we're comparing our lives to the objective standard of the Word of God. So, notice if you would, in 1 John chapter 2, beginning there with verse 3, we'll read through verse 6, and then I'll come back and make some statements. Look at it. 1 John 2 verse 3,

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:3-6

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." Now go back and look at verse 3. John wrote, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." First of all, the word "keep" is the Greek word "tereo," and it means to observe, to attend to carefully, to keep, to guard, and to hold fast. So literally he is saying, "and hereby we do know that we know him if we are keeping, holding fast, guarding, giving careful attention to his commandments." Okay, now, listen to me. It is also a present active subjunctive. So it reads like this, "and hereby we do know that we know him if we are continually keeping his commandments." This passage does not teach sinless perfection. No passage in the Bible teaches sinless perfection, not in this life, because that is impossible. But notice if you would, he said in verse 4, "He that saith, I know him, and is not continually keeping his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso is continually keeping his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." And the realization of that is "he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." So once again, this is not talking about sinless perfection, but what this passage is talking about is a life that is consistent and constant in obedience.

We are sinners and we sin. We have our faults. We have our failings. But those should be a bump in the road. They're not what you and I would call the normal thing as Christians. So let me put it like this. 1 John 2, verses 3-6 could be illustrated very clearly by 1 Kings 15, verse 5. How so? Listen to what God said concerning David. God said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 15:5

"Because David did that which was right in mine eyes, and turned not aside from anything that I commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah."

Hmm. What did he say about David? David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside in anything except in the matter of Uriah. Did David commit adultery with Bathsheba? Yes. Did David have Uriah

murdered with the sword of the children of Ammon? Yes. Did David have other faults and other sins? And the answer is yes. But his life was not a life of open rebellion. His life was not a life of open sin. Those were where he stumbled. Those were where he fell because his life, generally speaking, was a life of obedience. That's why David was called, even by God, a man after God's own heart.

Salvation Requires a Surety

The first constituent part of salvation is a surety—one who guarantees payment of a debt. Jesus is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), illustrated by Judah's pledge for Benjamin and Paul's for Onesimus.

So we have to ask a very succinct question in light of what I'm teaching, and that question is this: what does a sinner need in order to be saved? The short answer to that is a Savior. But then you have to ask another question, and this is a more complex part. What is involved in being the Savior? I could ask that another way. How do we know that Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior? What is involved in being a Savior?

You remember the Bible says in Matthew 1 and verse 21, "and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." So what is involved in being saved from our sins? And what I want to do is this. I want to break down the constituent parts of being a Saviour, so that we not only may see our need of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also that we may see His perfect and complete work, and that He indeed is the one and only Saviour. So, I'm only going to give you one point today, and the rest of the message will come next week, okay?

So, salvation requires a surety. Salvation requires a surety. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 7 and look if you would please at verse 22. Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 22. An interesting word is used in this passage concerning Jesus Christ. It says,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 7:22

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."

Jesus Christ was made a surety of a better testament. Now the Greek word for surety is the word "enguos," which literally means a surety or a sponsor. I want to read to you just one short paragraph of what Arthur W. Pink said on this verse when he's talking about a surety. Listen carefully. "The Greek word for surety properly means a bondsman, one who pledges his name, property, or influence that a certain thing shall be done.

When a contract is made, a debt contracted, or a note given, a friend often becomes the surety in the case and is himself responsible if the terms of the contract are not complied with. A surety is one who agrees to undertake for another who is lacking in ability to discharge his own obligations. Whatever undertaking the surety makes, whether in words or promise, or the depositing of real security in the hands of an arbitrator, or by any other personal engagement of life or body, it implies the defect of the person for whom anyone becomes surety. The surety is sponsor for another, standing in the room of and acting for one who is incompetent in and of himself. He represents that other person and pledges to make good his engagements. Thus Christ was not a surety for God, for he needed none. But Christ was a surety for his own poor, failing, and deficient people who were unable to meet their obligations, incapable of discharging their liabilities. In view of this, Christ agreed to undertake for them, fully pay all their debts, and completely satisfy every demand which God had against them."

So a surety then is someone who pledges himself for another. Everyone understands this. So if Steve went to the bank and wanted to borrow $10,000 and they said, "Do you have any collateral?" He said, "Nope." "You have any credit?" "No." "Well, what makes you think we're going to loan you any money?" "Well, I've got a good friend by the name of Gary. Gary's got plenty of money and he's going to sign this note. And if I don't pay it, Gary will." That's a surety. That's a surety. You see what I'm saying? Now, in order to understand our need of a surety, we have to also understand that sin is a debt. It's something that must be paid. Everyone in this room could probably quote Romans 6 and verse 23. "For the wages of sin is"—what?—"death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." But it is recognized as a debt. If I owe Gary a wage, that is a debt. He's worked for me, I owe him money. So sin is a debt.

I want to show you how great that debt is. I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 18. There's an awful lot of truth in this passage and a lot of applications that could be made, but I'm only interested in one right now. But I want you to note Matthew chapter 18 and let's begin reading with verse 23 and we'll read through verse 35. So pay close attention to this. Matthew 18, verse 23.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king."

Note if you would now, this is a parable, and our Lord is saying the kingdom of heaven is likened unto this. So you'll have to understand this parable.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"Likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants."

And certainly God does that for us. He takes account.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest."

"And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him." "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Now obviously in this parable there is the application of forgiveness. There is also the application, if God has forgiven us in the greatest, we should be forgiving those who sin against us in the lesser or in the least. There is that. There are so many applications from this parable.

But notice if you would, first of all, this one man owed him 10,000 talents. The Greek is "myriad" which literally means a myriad of talents. And this phrase, a myriad of talents, is the highest number known in the Greek arithmetical notation. You could not exceed it. It's a myriad of talents. You have to stop and think, and I forget exactly how much a talent is, but if you just were to take our English pound, 16 ounces to the pound, 16 ounces of silver or 16 ounces of gold, and it does not tell us how much he owed him in the sense either in silver or gold, but John Gill in his commentary is quoting Dr. Hammond, who figured up what 10,000 talents was, and Dr. Hammond said it was 1,875,000 pounds. Well, you figure that against the price of silver today, say 25 bucks an ounce, how many ounces are in a pound? I figure up gold at 2,000, and it's just an astronomical figure.

It is something that is impossible for anyone to pay. Now, this is exactly what our Lord is saying. This is why He said He delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all the debt that was due unto him. Will he ever pay it? How could he pay it if he could not even work? See, obviously, clearly, it's talking about sin being a debt that is such an impossibility for any sinner to pay. So for sin, a sinner needs a surety. He needs someone that's going to stand in for him that will guarantee the payment of his debt. A sinner cannot pay the debt and live for the wages of sin is death, not just physical, but eternal as well.

So what I want to do is this. I want to give you two illustrations of a surety. I will give you one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. So I want you to turn in the Old Testament to Genesis chapter 43. Genesis chapter 43. And let's begin reading there with verse one. I'm sure that you know the story. In the sense that Joseph now has been sold by his brothers. He's in Egypt. He's second in command.

And of course, there's a famine in the land. The boys have already gone down to Egypt and brought forth food and it's run out. And now it's time to go back again and get more. So watch in Genesis 43, beginning there, verse one, "And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food." "And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you." That's Benjamin, who was the real brother of Joseph. "And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother?"

"And we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever." "For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time." Now note what Judah said. "Send the lad with me, I will be surety for him." And, of course, you know the story. He did send Benjamin down with his brothers. And, of course, they all came in, and they ate with Joseph. And you remember, Joseph had ten times the amount of food put on Benjamin's plate as on the other brother's plate. And, of course, he communed with them. They still did not know who he was. And so he instructed his steward to place his cup in Benjamin's sack after it was filled with food. So the steward did so, and then the boys were sent away. Before they could get out of the city, Joseph said to his steward, "You overtake them. You search their sacks, you find my cup. And whoever has that cup, deserves death, and to be a bondman." So look at it.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 43-44

Genesis chapter 44, beginning there with verse 4. Watch it. Genesis 44 and verse 4. "And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing." "And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless." "Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city." Now the interesting thing is this. They said, "Whoever has this cup, let him die, and we will be bondmen." Now they came back and Joseph said this, "Leave Benjamin here, rest of you go home." And I want you to look what happens. Look in Genesis 44, beginning there, verse 16. "And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants," or slaves, "both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him."

"And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us." "And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces;" that's Joseph, "and I saw him not since: and if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever."

"Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant"—that is, let me, Judah—"abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father." Now I want you to note what is happening. Benjamin has been taken. Judah said, "I was a surety for him. I will be a substitute. I will take his place. I will pay his debt. Let him go." Now, I want you to turn to the book of Philemon, the book of Philemon. Note, if you would, a surety is one that guarantees payment. When you get to the book of Philemon, right before the book of Hebrews, one chapter, little book. In this book, and it's a wonderful book, Philemon has a servant by the name of Onesimus. I could spend an hour just talking about Onesimus. But evidently, Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away to Rome. I don't know what he did in Rome, but he got in trouble and he got thrown into a dungeon and guess who else was in that dungeon? The apostle Paul. And so the apostle Paul probably knew Onesimus and the apostle Paul preached to him and talked to him and witnessed to him and Onesimus was converted. And so Paul now is going to send this slave back to his owner.

But I want you to notice what he says in the book of Philemon, chapter 1, only one chapter there, beginning with verse 17. As Paul sends Onesimus back, he says to Philemon, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides." Paul's just reminding Philemon that Philemon was converted under his ministry as well. And so Paul said, "Look, whatever he owes you, I'll pay it. I'll be a surety." You will get every cent. But here's something else. He said in verse 17, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself." You receive Onesimus back just like you'd receive me. So Paul is a surety. The surety is the man who pays the debt. The surety is the man who guarantees that everything is going to be taken care of. Our Lord was made a surety by a divine oath. Once again, Arthur W.

Pink said concerning Jesus Christ, listen to this. "It is the surety by the divine oath which gives stability unto the covenant. God entered into a covenant with the first Adam, but he had no surety. And therefore, though our first parent had all the tremendous advantages of a sinless nature filled with holy inclinations, and free from all evil imaginations, desires, and habits, yet he broke the covenant and forfeited all the benefits thereof. God made a covenant with Israel at Sinai, and appointed a high priest to act as the typical surety of it. Yet, as we have seen, that covenant and the surety made nothing perfect. The purpose of that covenant was to demonstrate the need of another and better one. In contradistinction from these, God has made with his elect in Christ a covenant ordered in all things and sure, for he has laid help upon one who is mighty." So the very first thing a sinner needs in salvation is a surety. So here's the question

Conclusion: Christ Our Surety

Weaver concludes by urging listeners to base their salvation solely on Christ's suretyship, not on experiences or works, and to rejoice in His complete payment for sin.

You will get every cent. But here's something else. He said in verse 17, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself." You receive Onesimus back just like you'd receive me. So Paul is a surety. The surety is the man who pays the debt. The surety is the man who guarantees that everything is going to be taken care of. Our Lord was made a surety by a divine oath. Once again, Arthur W.

that I want to ask. What makes you think that you're saved? Do you base your salvation upon an experience? Do you base your salvation upon a decision? Do you base your salvation upon works, deeds, motives, intent, doing the best you can? The truth of the matter is, if you base your salvation on those things, you do not have salvation. What you must have first and foremost in a Savior is a suretyship. If you do not have someone who will stand in your place and guarantee payment to the fullest, you're not saved. There must be a surety in salvation. We'll see next week the other four things that are involved. But only Jesus Christ is our divine surety. Only he can produce and provide a real, true and genuine salvation because only he can guarantee the full and final and complete payment to God the Father. So you must have a surety. Think about that this week and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ is our surety. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day.

We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you above all for the Lord Jesus Christ and his so great salvation. We're thankful, Lord, that He is indeed our Savior. We give Thee praise. We give Thee honor. We give Thee worship. We bow before Thee through the Lord Jesus Christ and glorify Thy great and holy name. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

False Assurance of Salvation

Summary: Many people wrongly assume they are saved based on family heritage, nationality, church membership, or personal experiences rather than on biblical grounds.

Evidence: Weaver lists responses like 'My father was a preacher' and the girl whose mother said she was a Christian because she lived in America.

Salvation Is Impossible with Man

Summary: Human effort, decision, or merit cannot achieve salvation; it is only possible through God's power.

Evidence: Jesus said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible' (Mark 10:27).

Salvation Is from Sin, Not Just Its Penalty

Summary: True salvation delivers from the power and practice of sin, not merely from its consequences; a life of ongoing, unrepentant sin indicates a lack of salvation.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Salvation from judgment... is a byproduct of being saved from your sins' and cites Matthew 1:21.

The Necessity of Self-Examination

Summary: Believers must examine their lives against Scripture to confirm their faith, looking for a consistent pattern of obedience rather than sinless perfection.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10, and 1 John 2:3-6 are cited, with emphasis on the Greek present tense indicating continual keeping of commandments.

Christ as the Divine Surety

Summary: Jesus Christ is the surety who guarantees the payment of sin's debt, standing in the place of sinners who cannot pay.

Evidence: Hebrews 7:22 is quoted, and the concept is illustrated by Judah's suretyship for Benjamin (Genesis 43-44) and Paul's for Onesimus (Philemon).

Key Arguments

Salvation is not inherited or cultural

Summary: Being born into a Christian family or living in a 'Christian nation' does not make one a Christian; salvation is a sovereign, supernatural work of God.

Evidence: John 1:13 says believers are 'born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.'

The rich young ruler's morality was insufficient

Summary: Despite his outward obedience to commandments, the rich young ruler's trust in riches revealed he had not kept the first commandment, showing that external morality cannot save.

Evidence: Jesus told him to sell all he had, exposing his idolatry; he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.

Trust in riches makes salvation impossible

Summary: Jesus taught that it is impossible for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God, as illustrated by the camel and the needle's eye.

Evidence: Mark 10:24-25: 'how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle...'

Continuing in sin disproves salvation

Summary: Those who practice unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom; true salvation results in a changed life, not a continuation in sin.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: 'such were some of you: but ye are washed...' and Galatians 5:19-21: 'they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.'

Salvation is exclusively through Christ

Summary: There is no salvation in any other name; Jesus is the only way to the Father, and Peter's declaration in Acts 4:12 directly challenged the Roman imperial cult.

Evidence: 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.'

A surety is essential for salvation

Summary: Sin is an unpayable debt; a surety is needed to guarantee payment. Christ is the surety who undertakes for His people, satisfying God's demands.

Evidence: Hebrews 7:22: 'By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.' The parable of the unforgiving servant shows the impossibility of paying sin's debt.

Scripture References

Mark 10:17-27

Context: The account of the rich young ruler, read at the beginning of the sermon, illustrating the impossibility of salvation by human effort and the need for God's power.

John 1:11-13

Context: Used to show that salvation is not by natural birth or human will but by God's sovereign work.

Mark 10:19

Context: Jesus quotes the commandments to the rich young ruler, which the man claims to have kept from his youth.

Mark 10:21

Context: Jesus tells the man he lacks one thing: to sell all, give to the poor, and follow Him, exposing his idolatry.

Mark 10:23-25

Context: Jesus teaches how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom, especially those who trust in riches.

Mark 10:26-27

Context: The disciples' question 'Who then can be saved?' and Jesus' answer that with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 1:21

Context: Cited to emphasize that Jesus saves His people from their sins, not just from judgment.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Context: Lists those who will not inherit the kingdom and contrasts their past sinful state with their present washed, sanctified, and justified condition.

Galatians 5:19-21

Context: Lists the works of the flesh and warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 6:1-2

Context: Paul's rhetorical question about continuing in sin that grace may abound, answered with 'God forbid' and the statement that those dead to sin cannot live in it.

John 14:6

Context: Jesus' exclusive claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, with no one coming to the Father except through Him.

Ephesians 2:18

Context: Through Christ we both have access by one Spirit to the Father, emphasizing the Trinitarian nature of salvation.

Acts 4:8-12

Context: Peter's declaration before the rulers that salvation is found in no other name under heaven, directly challenging the Roman imperial claim.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Context: Paul's command to examine and prove oneself to see whether Christ is in you, using Scripture as the objective standard.

2 Peter 1:10

Context: Peter's admonition to make one's calling and election sure by adding virtues, confirming salvation through biblical evidence.

1 John 2:3-6

Context: The test of knowing Christ is keeping His commandments; a consistent pattern of obedience demonstrates abiding in Him.

1 Kings 15:5

Context: David's life is used as an illustration of a generally obedient life with a notable exception, showing that true believers are characterized by obedience, not sinless perfection.

Hebrews 7:22

Context: Jesus is made a surety of a better testament, introducing the concept of Christ as the guarantor of the new covenant.

Matthew 18:23-35

Context: The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the impossibility of paying the debt of sin (10,000 talents) and the need for a surety.

Genesis 43-44

Context: Judah becomes surety for Benjamin, pledging to bear the blame forever if he does not bring him back, typifying Christ's suretyship.

Historical References

Augustus Caesar's claim of being the only name for salvation

Context: In 14 B.C., Augustus Caesar proclaimed that there was no other name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved, which Peter directly contradicted in Acts 4:12.

Important Quotes

With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Significance: This is the central thesis of the sermon, emphasizing that salvation cannot be achieved by human effort but only by God's power.

Salvation from judgment, salvation from condemnation, salvation from destruction is a byproduct of being saved from your sins.

Significance: Clarifies that true salvation is fundamentally deliverance from sin itself, not merely an escape from hell.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Significance: A key command for self-examination against Scripture to ensure genuine faith.

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Significance: Introduces the doctrine of Christ as the surety who guarantees the new covenant.

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.

Significance: Judah's pledge for Benjamin serves as an Old Testament type of Christ's suretyship for sinners.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it.

Significance: Paul's offer to pay Onesimus's debt illustrates the surety's role, pointing to Christ's substitutionary payment.

Discussion Questions

What are some common false assurances of salvation that people rely on today, and how can we lovingly challenge them with Scripture?

Context: Weaver lists family heritage, nationality, church membership, and experiences as insufficient grounds for assurance.

How does the rich young ruler's story expose the danger of trusting in anything other than Christ for salvation?

Context: The rich young ruler outwardly kept commandments but trusted in his wealth, revealing his idolatry.

In what ways do people today treat Jesus as a 'fire escape' rather than a Savior from sin?

Context: Weaver warns against wanting deliverance from hell without repentance and turning from sin.

What does it mean to 'examine yourselves' according to 2 Corinthians 13:5, and how can we do this without falling into morbid introspection?

Context: Weaver explains that examination involves comparing our lives to the objective standard of Scripture.

How does the concept of Christ as our surety deepen our understanding of salvation and assurance?

Context: The sermon presents Christ as the one who guarantees payment of our sin debt, illustrated by Judah and Paul.

Why is it impossible for a person to be saved while continuing in unrepentant sin, according to 1 Corinthians 6 and Galatians 5?

Context: These passages list sins that characterize the unrighteous and state that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom.

How does Peter's declaration in Acts 4:12 challenge the pluralistic mindset of our culture?

Context: Peter proclaimed that salvation is found in no other name, directly opposing the Roman imperial cult and modern religious pluralism.

Applications

Examine your salvation biblically

Summary: Do not rely on family background, nationality, or experiences; instead, test your life against Scripture to see if you are truly in the faith.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 13:5 commands self-examination; 1 John 2:3-6 gives the test of keeping Christ's commandments.

Repent of trusting in anything other than Christ

Summary: Identify any idols—such as wealth, morality, or religious activity—that you may be trusting for salvation, and turn to Christ alone.

Evidence: The rich young ruler trusted in his riches and went away sorrowful; Jesus said it is hard for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom.

Understand salvation as deliverance from sin

Summary: Recognize that salvation is not merely a ticket to heaven but a transformation that breaks the power of sin; if you are living in unrepentant sin, examine whether you have truly been saved.

Evidence: Matthew 1:21 says Jesus saves His people from their sins; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 shows that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom.

Rest in Christ as your surety

Summary: Find assurance not in your own performance but in Christ's finished work as the surety who guarantees your salvation and has paid your sin debt in full.

Evidence: Hebrews 7:22 declares Jesus the surety of a better covenant; the illustrations of Judah and Paul show a surety taking full responsibility.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:04:56Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:17:51Z

Clean Transcript

So You Think You're Saved - Part 1 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, well, let's open our Bible today, if you would please, to Mark chapter 10. We're going to read verses 17 through 27. And actually, this message is going to be in two parts. Mainly, this is going to be an introduction in one point today and the rest next week. The title of the message is, "So You Think You're Saved." So look at it in Mark chapter 10, beginning there with verse 17.
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"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness."
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"Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
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The title of the message is "So You Think You're Saved." There are several important questions that must be answered to those who profess to be saved. First of all, what is salvation? Number two, what is it that which you were saved from? Third, how are you saved? Fourth, who saved you? Fifth, what is the foundation of salvation? And sixth, what is your assurance in salvation? The subject is really a serious subject. However, the answers that I have received over the years as to "are you saved" or "how do you know that you're saved" would be absolutely hilarious if it were not so serious. Many think just simply because they belong to a church, or they've been baptized, or they do the best they can, or they have a religious nature, then obviously they think they're saved.
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I've heard all kinds of responses like, "My father was a preacher. My grandfather was a preacher. I come from a long line of Christians." And I have to tell them, and I have to emphasize the simple fact that salvation is not communicated by nature. It is a sovereign and supernatural grace, and certainly not a natural grace. And simply because your parents or grandparents were Christians, it does not mean that you're one.
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You remember that passage in John 1, verses 11 through 13. The Bible says, our Lord was speaking, or John was speaking concerning him, said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
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Now listen to verse 13, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." So just simply because someone has been related very intimately with a real Christian does not mean that they're a Christian whatsoever. Years ago, I was preaching in a Bible camp in Illinois, and one young teenage girl was listening very attentively. So after the service was over, I asked her if she was a Christian.
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Her response was, "I don't know. I'll have to ask my mother." So I said, "Well, sweetheart, I'll tell you what you do. You go home and ask your mother tonight, and tomorrow when you come back to the camp"—it was a day camp—"you can give me your mother's answer." She said, "I'll do that." So the next morning I saw her before service and I asked her, did she ask her mother whether or not she was a Christian?
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She said, "I most certainly did." I said, "Well, what did your mother say?" She said, "My mother said, 'Well, of course you're a Christian. You live in America, don't you?'" You know, just because America has been designated and called a Christian nation, that certainly doesn't mean that everyone in it is a Christian whatsoever. When you look at this text in Mark chapter 10, this rich young ruler had a lot of things that were going for him.
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First of all, he had a motive, and it was a good motive. He was concerned about his salvation. He was concerned about eternal life. And the Bible says that he came running to the Lord Jesus. So he was very eager to find out about salvation. He's very eager to find out about eternal life. Not only did he have money, but he also had manners because he knelt before the Lord Jesus and he addressed him, "Good Master, what must I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
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So evidently the man was raised quite right. But not only did he have manners, he also had money because the Bible calls him a rich young ruler. He not only had a motive, he not only had manners, he not only had money, he evidently had morals. And the money that he possessed, he either inherited or earned it lawfully and scripturally. Because when he asked our Lord what must he do that he may enter eternal life, our Lord answered in verse 19, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother." And he answered, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth." So evidently, this young man was very, very mannerly.
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There's no two ways about that. In fact, I would imagine the morality of this young man, although he was unsaved, would probably put a lot of professing Christians to shame because their lives probably could not match up even to his morality. But, you know, it's interesting that our Lord answered him after he had said, "All these things I've observed from my youth." Our Lord said in verse 21, "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me." Now, I've got a good question for you. How many of you, when you were converted, sold everything that you had and gave to the poor? Well, not one. Well, is that a requirement for salvation?
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And the answer is no. Well, why did our Lord tell this young man that the one thing that he lacked was he needed to sell everything he had and give to the poor? Well, the answer is really very simple, because in verse 19, our Lord was just simply quoting the law of God. You remember, it is by the law that we understand the knowledge of sin. And he just simply said, "Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and thy mother."
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And he said, "All these things have I kept from my youth up." But now what our Lord does in verse 21 is he applies the law. He does not quote what he just quoted. He said, "I'll tell you what you do. You go and sell everything that you have, give to the poor, take up your cross and follow me. That's what you lack." And what happened? The young man went away exceedingly sorrowful. Why?
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The Bible said before he had great possessions. So what our Lord was showing him was this. He had not only not kept the law of God, he had not even kept the first commandment, which is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Because his money, obviously, was indeed his God.
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Now, our Lord makes it clear that anything that we trust in, other than himself, will not save us anyway whatsoever. So look, if you would, in verse 23, the Bible says that Jesus looked at his disciples and said unto his disciples, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God."
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Now, he didn't say it was impossible for a rich man to be saved, but he said it's very difficult. It's very hard when you stop and look. And I'm going to show you why he said that when you stop and think about the rich men in the world today, the billionaires, the multimillionaires. Most of them are totally not only unsaved, they're anti-Christ, anti-Christian, anti-everything. There are probably some that are saved, but here's why it's difficult for a rich man to be saved. Look in verse 24. "But the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" Notice he said, "how hard is it for them that trust in riches?"
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So the man who has the billions and the millions usually ends up trusting in those instead of our Lord. And then he says in verse 25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." So how difficult is it for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? Well, it's impossible. So it's impossible for anyone who trusts in their riches to enter into the kingdom of God.
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Now, I want you to note something. Skip down to verse 26. When our Lord said that, His disciples were astonished out of measure. Their mouths dropped open. They couldn't believe what they had heard. And they asked among themselves, they said among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" So I want you to note that question. "Who then can be saved?" So look at our Lord's answer in verse 27.
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"Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." So you have to make sure that you connect verse 26 and 27 for they ask, "Who then can be saved?" And our Lord said, "With men it is impossible." So note, if you would please, our Lord said, "With man it is impossible." So no one can save themselves by any means or by any measure whatsoever. So salvation by man, for man, through man and because of man and declared by man and assured by man is an utter impossibility. It's impossible.
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Years ago, I was preaching a series on the biblical doctrine of repentance. I don't remember how far along I was in that series, but after service, one man came to me and he said, "Preacher, you make it so hard for a man to be saved." And I looked at him and I said, "Sir, I want to apologize for that. Evidently, I did not make myself clear. I said, it's true, you might have misunderstood, but I certainly did not mean to make it hard for a man to be saved. I meant to make it impossible."
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And that's what our Lord said. "With man it is impossible." But you see, what has happened today is that salvation, like everything else, has been watered down. So that anyone and anything is considered saved even if they live in open rebellion against God and in total and complete violation of the law of God. What a lot of people have forgotten is this. Salvation is not necessarily something to take you to heaven. Salvation not necessarily is something to keep you out of hell. Salvation is from sin.
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Do you not remember what the angel said to Mary in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 21? "For she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." So being saved from judgment, being saved from condemnation, being saved from destruction, being saved from hell is a byproduct of being saved from your sins. Very clearly, what a lot of people want today is they want to use the Lord Jesus Christ as a mere fire escape while they enjoy their sins. Basically, what they want is this. They want to be free from the judgment and the punishment of their sins while they enjoy their sins. And while they certainly do not want to go to hell, they certainly do not want to suffer, they certainly do not want to be condemned, but they don't want to repent either. They do not want to give up their sins and turn from their sins. What they want is to be saved from the consequences of their sins while they enjoy their sins and live in their sins.
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There is no such salvation as that. It is impossible.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, hold Mark 10, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I understand that there are indeed some notorious sinners, and some of us may have been notorious sinners in times past as well. And God certainly is very capable of saving notorious sinners. But there is a difference between a man who was a notorious sinner and someone now who still is a notorious sinner. For in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, if you'll look there beginning with verse 9, 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 9, look what the Apostle says. "Know ye not." In other words, here is something that you should know. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" And look at the next statement, "Be not deceived." So if you think somehow that the unrighteous are going to inherit the kingdom of God, he says, you're deceived. I don't want you to be deceived. So he says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
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"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," the sodomites, "nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Now watch verse 11, "And such were"—that's past tense—"such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." So there's a big difference between what you once were and what you are now.
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If you'll turn to the book of Galatians chapter 5, beginning with verse 19, you'll see the same truth given in a little different light. Galatians 5 and verse 19, the apostle says this, "Now the works of the flesh are," and he's going to name them, "they are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." So there's a vast difference between living in open, rebellious sin continually, and having done that in times past, and God changed you and God saved you. So, there is a vast difference in that. In fact, the Apostle Paul asks and answers this same question for us in Romans chapter 6, in verses 1 and 2, when he asks, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
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So let me repeat this. Let me make this exceedingly clear. And that is salvation from judgment, salvation from condemnation, salvation from destruction is a byproduct of being saved from your sins, which bring you to judgment and to condemnation. And so clearly our Lord is not some fire escape and clearly our Lord is not someone to be used and abused, not at all. So, let me make another statement that makes it very clear, and that is this, the only true salvation, the only real salvation, the only genuine salvation, is the salvation that's in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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You remember what he said in John 14 in verse 6, when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." So Jesus Christ is claiming an exclusive salvation. There is no salvation in anything else, or anyone else. There is no salvation in Islam. There is no salvation in Hinduism. There is no salvation in Buddhism. In other words, it is an exclusive route, and that route is only through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. That's why the Bible says in Ephesians 2 and verse 18, "For through him"—that is through Jesus Christ—"we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." So the only way that anyone can get to the Father is through the Son and in the Spirit.
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Now, I want you to turn to another passage, and that's Acts chapter 4, because I want you to see a tremendous statement made by the Apostle Peter. And I want to take a moment to explain it. Look in Acts chapter 4, and we're going to be reading there with verse 8. Acts chapter 4 and verse 8. So Peter is now having his opportunity to preach to the rulers. And he says this, "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."
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"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
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Now we probably did not realize the significance of verse 12. Because when the Apostle Peter said, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Peter was declaring war on the Roman Empire and on the Roman Caesar. Why? Because in 14 B.C. there was a bright star that shone in the heavens, and Augustus Caesar, who was then on the throne, had it posted and had it sent throughout his empire, that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby you must be saved other than the name of Augustus Caesar." And Peter said, "That's a lie. The only name that you can be saved in and through is the Lord Jesus Christ."
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And so here's a simple truth. If you're not saved by Jesus Christ, if you're not willing to be saved by Jesus Christ, you will never be saved, because the only salvation that exists, exists only in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the way, the truth, and the life. Now, so the title of the message is, "So You Think You're Saved." And the reason I title it like this is so many people base their salvation on a multitude of things other than the Lord Jesus Christ. I've had people tell me that they know that they're saved based upon their experience. And they'll say, "Well, I know what happened to me." And you know, you fail to understand the fact that anything can produce an experience. I mean, I usually tell people, if you want an experience, all you've got to do is before you go to sleep, eat you a
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peanut butter, mayonnaise, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and bologna sandwich. You'll probably have quite an experience. I mean, the flesh can give you an experience. The enemy can give you an experience. The world can give you an experience. And just because your hair stands on end and goosebumps come up and down your neck and run up and down your arms does not mean that that is salvation. And so many people say, "Well, I know what happened to me." Well, salvation, I'm going to show you by the time we get through next week, is an objective reality.
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It is based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. It may have a subjective application, but salvation is an objective reality and an objective fact. A lot of people try to say, "Well, I've decided to be a Christian." It's just like that song that we normally sing, "I have decided to follow Jesus," which basically is man honoring and man glorifying and really a salvation by works. "I have decided to follow Jesus."
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You know, the truth of the matter is this. You can make decisions all day long, but if you don't have the power to bring those decisions to fruition, they are worthless. I could decide that I'd like to be a multimillionaire before 6 p.m. today, but I can't be. I could decide that I'd like to have a head full of wavy hair, but it's not going to be. I can decide I'd like to be 20 years younger. That's not going to happen either. I can make—you can't decide your way into heaven. You can't decide your way into salvation.
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What did our Lord say? "With men, salvation is absolutely impossible." So here's where we are today. Most people have never realized that the Word of God is indeed an objective standard. Everything in our lives, including our salvation, is to be examined in light of the Word of God. The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter gave us some good admonition and some great counsel. I want you to see it. So first of all, I want you to turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and look at verse 5. Here's what the Apostle Paul said. Look at this, 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 5. Watch what he said.
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"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Now, note what he said, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove yourselves." Now, how are you going to examine yourself as to whether or not you're in the faith? How are you going to prove yourself? The only way that you can do that is you can take your life, your attitudes, your actions, your conduct, and compare them side by side with what the Word of God says salvation is. In other words, you're comparing your life to God's objective standard. So when He says, "examine yourselves," He's saying examine yourselves in light of Scripture. "Prove yourselves." Prove yourselves in light of Scripture. And then He said very clearly, "Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" In other words, you should determine, you should discover how Jesus Christ is in you based upon the Word of God.
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Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Peter 1 and verse 10. 2 Peter 1 and verse 10. Peter says basically the same thing, but just a little differently. 2 Peter chapter 1 in verse 10, Peter admonishes and commands, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." The "these things" that he's mentioned are those things previously there beginning with about verse 3 and you work your way all the way down, but he says, "give diligence to make your calling and election sure." Well, how do you know that you've been savingly called into salvation? Well, obviously, by examining your life and what is stated there. How do you know whether or not you're one of God's elect? By seeing if your calling has been biblical. If your calling has been biblical, you are one of God's elect. It's just that simple. So he tells us exactly how we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure. If you will turn right over a few pages to 1 John chapter 2.
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I want to show you how simple this is. If we examine ourselves, if we examine our lives, it is not some type of morbid introspection. It is not staring at your navel like some folks do and say they're meditating. No, no, no. When we're examining ourselves, we're comparing our lives to the objective standard of the Word of God. So, notice if you would, in 1 John chapter 2, beginning there with verse 3, we'll read through verse 6, and then I'll come back and make some statements. Look at it. 1 John 2 verse 3, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."
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"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." Now go back and look at verse 3. John wrote, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." First of all, the word "keep" is the Greek word "tereo," and it means to observe, to attend to carefully, to keep, to guard, and to hold fast. So literally he is saying, "and hereby we do know that we know him if we are keeping, holding fast, guarding, giving careful attention to his commandments."
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Okay, now, listen to me. It is also a present active subjunctive. So it reads like this, "and hereby we do know that we know him if we are continually keeping his commandments." This passage does not teach sinless perfection. No passage in the Bible teaches sinless perfection, not in this life, because that is impossible. But notice if you would, he said in verse 4, "He that saith, I know him, and is not continually keeping his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso is continually keeping his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." And the realization of that is "he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." So once again, this is not talking about sinless perfection, but what this passage is talking about is a life that is consistent and constant in obedience.
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We are sinners and we sin. We have our faults. We have our failings. But those should be a bump in the road. They're not what you and I would call the normal thing as Christians. So let me put it like this. 1 John 2, verses 3-6 could be illustrated very clearly by 1 Kings 15, verse 5. How so? Listen to what God said concerning David. God said, "Because David did that which was right in mine eyes, and turned not aside from anything that I commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah." Hmm. What did he say about David? David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside in anything except in the matter of Uriah. Did David commit adultery with Bathsheba? Yes. Did David have Uriah
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murdered with the sword of the children of Ammon? Yes. Did David have other faults and other sins? And the answer is yes. But his life was not a life of open rebellion. His life was not a life of open sin. Those were where he stumbled. Those were where he fell because his life, generally speaking, was a life of obedience. That's why David was called, even by God, a man after God's own heart.
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So we have to ask a very succinct question in light of what I'm teaching, and that question is this: what does a sinner need in order to be saved? The short answer to that is a Savior. But then you have to ask another question, and this is a more complex part. What is involved in being the Savior? I could ask that another way. How do we know that Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior? What is involved in being a Savior?
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You remember the Bible says in Matthew 1 and verse 21, "and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." So what is involved in being saved from our sins? And what I want to do is this. I want to break down the constituent parts of being a Saviour, so that we not only may see our need of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also that we may see His perfect and complete work, and that He indeed is the one and only Saviour. So, I'm only going to give you one point today, and the rest of the message will come next week, okay?
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So, salvation requires a surety. Salvation requires a surety. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 7 and look if you would please at verse 22. Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 22. An interesting word is used in this passage concerning Jesus Christ. It says, "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." Jesus Christ was made a surety of a better testament. Now the Greek word for surety is the word "enguos," which literally means a surety or a sponsor. I want to read to you just one short paragraph of what Arthur W. Pink said on this verse when he's talking about a surety. Listen carefully. "The Greek word for surety properly means a bondsman, one who pledges his name, property, or influence that a certain thing shall be done.
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When a contract is made, a debt contracted, or a note given, a friend often becomes the surety in the case and is himself responsible if the terms of the contract are not complied with. A surety is one who agrees to undertake for another who is lacking in ability to discharge his own obligations. Whatever undertaking the surety makes, whether in words or promise, or the depositing of real security in the hands of an arbitrator, or by any other personal engagement of life or body, it implies the defect of the person for whom anyone becomes surety. The surety is sponsor for another, standing in the room of and acting for one who is incompetent in and of himself. He represents that other person and pledges to make good his engagements. Thus Christ was not a surety for God, for he needed none. But Christ was a surety for his own poor, failing, and deficient people who were unable to meet their obligations, incapable of discharging their liabilities. In view of this, Christ agreed to undertake for them, fully pay all their debts, and completely satisfy every demand which God had against them."
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So a surety then is someone who pledges himself for another. Everyone understands this. So if Steve went to the bank and wanted to borrow $10,000 and they said, "Do you have any collateral?" He said, "Nope." "You have any credit?" "No." "Well, what makes you think we're going to loan you any money?" "Well, I've got a good friend by the name of Gary. Gary's got plenty of money and he's going to sign this note. And if I don't pay it, Gary will." That's a surety. That's a surety.
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You see what I'm saying? Now, in order to understand our need of a surety, we have to also understand that sin is a debt. It's something that must be paid. Everyone in this room could probably quote Romans 6 and verse 23. "For the wages of sin is"—what?—"death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." But it is recognized as a debt. If I owe Gary a wage, that is a debt. He's worked for me, I owe him money. So sin is a debt.
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I want to show you how great that debt is. I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 18. There's an awful lot of truth in this passage and a lot of applications that could be made, but I'm only interested in one right now. But I want you to note Matthew chapter 18 and let's begin reading with verse 23 and we'll read through verse 35. So pay close attention to this. Matthew 18, verse 23.
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"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king." Note if you would now, this is a parable, and our Lord is saying the kingdom of heaven is likened unto this. So you'll have to understand this parable. "Likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants." And certainly God does that for us. He takes account. "And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest."
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"And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."
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"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Now obviously in this parable there is the application of forgiveness. There is also the application, if God has forgiven us in the greatest, we should be forgiving those who sin against us in the lesser or in the least. There is that. There are so many applications from this parable.
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But notice if you would, first of all, this one man owed him 10,000 talents. The Greek is "myriad" which literally means a myriad of talents. And this phrase, a myriad of talents, is the highest number known in the Greek arithmetical notation. You could not exceed it. It's a myriad of talents. You have to stop and think, and I forget exactly how much a talent is, but if you just were to take our English pound, 16 ounces to the pound, 16 ounces of silver or 16 ounces of gold, and it does not tell us how much he owed him in the sense either in silver or gold, but John Gill in his commentary is quoting Dr. Hammond, who figured up what 10,000 talents was, and Dr. Hammond said it was 1,875,000 pounds. Well, you figure that against the price of silver today, say 25 bucks an ounce, how many ounces are in a pound? I figure up gold at 2,000, and it's just an astronomical figure.
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It is something that is impossible for anyone to pay. Now, this is exactly what our Lord is saying. This is why He said He delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all the debt that was due unto him. Will he ever pay it? How could he pay it if he could not even work? See, obviously, clearly, it's talking about sin being a debt that is such an impossibility for any sinner to pay. So for sin, a sinner needs a surety. He needs someone that's going to stand in for him that will guarantee the payment of his debt. A sinner cannot pay the debt and live for the wages of sin is death, not just physical, but eternal as well.
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So what I want to do is this. I want to give you two illustrations of a surety. I will give you one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. So I want you to turn in the Old Testament to Genesis chapter 43. Genesis chapter 43. And let's begin reading there with verse one. I'm sure that you know the story. In the sense that Joseph now has been sold by his brothers. He's in Egypt. He's second in command.
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And of course, there's a famine in the land. The boys have already gone down to Egypt and brought forth food and it's run out. And now it's time to go back again and get more. So watch in Genesis 43, beginning there, verse one, "And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food."
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"And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you." That's Benjamin, who was the real brother of Joseph. "And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother?"
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"And we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever."
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"For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time." Now note what Judah said. "Send the lad with me, I will be surety for him." And, of course, you know the story. He did send Benjamin down with his brothers. And, of course, they all came in, and they ate with Joseph. And you remember, Joseph had ten times the amount of food put on Benjamin's plate as on the other brother's plate. And, of course, he communed with them. They still did not know who he was. And so he instructed his steward to place his cup in Benjamin's sack after it was filled with food. So the steward did so, and then the boys were sent away. Before they could get out of the city, Joseph said to his steward, "You overtake them. You search their sacks, you find my cup. And whoever has that cup, deserves death, and to be a bondman." So look at it.
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Genesis chapter 44, beginning there with verse 4. Watch it. Genesis 44 and verse 4. "And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing."
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"And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless."
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"Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city." Now the interesting thing is this. They said, "Whoever has this cup, let him die, and we will be bondmen." Now they came back and Joseph said this, "Leave Benjamin here,
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rest of you go home." And I want you to look what happens. Look in Genesis 44, beginning there, verse 16. "And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants," or slaves, "both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him."
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"And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us."
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"And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces;" that's Joseph, "and I saw him not since: and if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever."
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"Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant"—that is, let me, Judah—"abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father."
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Now I want you to note what is happening. Benjamin has been taken. Judah said, "I was a surety for him. I will be a substitute. I will take his place. I will pay his debt. Let him go." Now, I want you to turn to the book of Philemon, the book of Philemon. Note, if you would, a surety is one that guarantees payment. When you get to the book of Philemon, right before the book of Hebrews, one chapter, little book. In this book, and it's a wonderful book, Philemon has a servant by the name of Onesimus. I could spend an hour just talking about Onesimus. But evidently, Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away to Rome. I don't know what he did in Rome, but he got in trouble and he got thrown into a dungeon and guess who else was in that dungeon? The apostle Paul. And so the apostle Paul probably knew Onesimus and the apostle Paul preached to him and talked to him and witnessed to him and Onesimus was converted. And so Paul now is going to send this slave back to his owner.
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But I want you to notice what he says in the book of Philemon, chapter 1, only one chapter there, beginning with verse 17. As Paul sends Onesimus back, he says to Philemon, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides." Paul's just reminding Philemon that Philemon was converted under his ministry as well. And so Paul said, "Look, whatever he owes you, I'll pay it. I'll be a surety."
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You will get every cent. But here's something else. He said in verse 17, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself." You receive Onesimus back just like you'd receive me. So Paul is a surety. The surety is the man who pays the debt. The surety is the man who guarantees that everything is going to be taken care of. Our Lord was made a surety by a divine oath. Once again, Arthur W.
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Pink said concerning Jesus Christ, listen to this. "It is the surety by the divine oath which gives stability unto the covenant. God entered into a covenant with the first Adam, but he had no surety. And therefore, though our first parent had all the tremendous advantages of a sinless nature filled with holy inclinations, and free from all evil imaginations, desires, and habits, yet he broke the covenant and forfeited all the benefits thereof. God made a covenant with Israel at Sinai, and appointed a high priest to act as the typical surety of it. Yet, as we have seen, that covenant and the surety made nothing perfect. The purpose of that covenant was to demonstrate the need of another and better one. In contradistinction from these, God has made with his elect in Christ a covenant ordered in all things and sure, for he has laid help upon one who is mighty." So the very first thing a sinner needs in salvation is a surety. So here's the question
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that I want to ask. What makes you think that you're saved? Do you base your salvation upon an experience? Do you base your salvation upon a decision? Do you base your salvation upon works, deeds, motives, intent, doing the best you can? The truth of the matter is, if you base your salvation on those things, you do not have salvation. What you must have first and foremost in a Savior is a suretyship. If you do not have someone who will stand in your place and guarantee payment to the fullest, you're not saved. There must be a surety in salvation. We'll see next week the other four things that are involved. But only Jesus Christ is our divine surety. Only he can produce and provide a real, true and genuine salvation because only he can guarantee the full and final and complete payment to God the Father. So you must have a surety. Think about that this week and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ is our surety. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day.
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We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you above all for the Lord Jesus Christ and his so great salvation. We're thankful, Lord, that He is indeed our Savior. We give Thee praise. We give Thee honor. We give Thee worship. We bow before Thee through the Lord Jesus Christ and glorify Thy great and holy name. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:04:56Z

So You Think You're Saved - Part 1 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver challenges common assumptions about salvation, emphasizing that many people base their assurance on false grounds such as family heritage, nationality, religious activity, or personal experiences. Using the account of the rich young ruler in Mark 10, he demonstrates that salvation is impossible with man but possible with God. The sermon introduces the first of several requirements for salvation: a surety. Jesus Christ is the divine surety who guarantees the payment of sin's debt, as illustrated by Judah's suretyship for Benjamin and Paul's for Onesimus. Believers are called to examine themselves against Scripture to ensure their salvation is genuine.

Introduction: The Question of Salvation

Weaver introduces the topic by reading Mark 10:17-27 and posing critical questions about salvation, noting that many people have misguided bases for their assurance.

Scripture Reading — Mark 10:17-27

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness."

False Grounds of Assurance

He refutes common false assurances such as family lineage, nationality, religious upbringing, and personal experiences, emphasizing that salvation is not communicated by nature.

The Rich Young Ruler: A Case Study

Salvation Is Impossible with Man

Salvation Is from Sin, Not Just Its Consequences

Weaver clarifies that salvation is primarily from sin itself, not merely a fire escape from hell; many want deliverance from punishment without repentance.

Do you not remember what the angel said to Mary in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 21?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:21

"For she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

There is no such salvation as that. It is impossible.

The Distinction Between Past and Present Sin

Using 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-21, he distinguishes between those who once lived in sin but are now washed and those who continue in unrepentant sin, who will not inherit the kingdom.

"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," the sodomites,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:19-21

"nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:19-21

"Now the works of the flesh are,"

and he's going to name them,

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:19-21

"they are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Examine Yourselves by Scripture

Scripture Reading — John 14:6

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 1:10

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 1:10

" Well, how do you know that you've been savingly called into salvation? Well, obviously, by examining your life and what is stated there. How do you know whether or not you're one of God's elect? By seeing if your calling has been biblical. If your calling has been biblical, you are one of God's elect. It's just that simple. So he tells us exactly how we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure. If you will turn right over a few pages to 1 John chapter 2.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:3-6

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 15:5

"Because David did that which was right in mine eyes, and turned not aside from anything that I commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah."

Salvation Requires a Surety

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 7:22

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king."

Note if you would now, this is a parable, and our Lord is saying the kingdom of heaven is likened unto this. So you'll have to understand this parable.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"Likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants."

And certainly God does that for us. He takes account.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 43-44

Genesis chapter 44, beginning there with verse 4. Watch it. Genesis 44 and verse 4. "And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing." "And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless." "Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city." Now the interesting thing is this. They said, "Whoever has this cup, let him die, and we will be bondmen." Now they came back and Joseph said this, "Leave Benjamin here, rest of you go home." And I want you to look what happens. Look in Genesis 44, beginning there, verse 16. "And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants," or slaves, "both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him."

Conclusion: Christ Our Surety

Weaver concludes by urging listeners to base their salvation solely on Christ's suretyship, not on experiences or works, and to rejoice in His complete payment for sin.

So You Think You're Saved - Part 1 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	v-Lie0KiJTQ
Subject	Economics and Stewardship
Course	Debt, Money, and Stewardship
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-12-15
Dictation Name
Book	Book 071: So You Think You're Saved — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	74

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Question of Salvation: Weaver introduces the topic by reading Mark 10:17-27 and posing critical questions about salvation, noting that many people have misguided bases for their assurance.
False Grounds of Assurance: He refutes common false assurances such as family lineage, nationality, religious upbringing, and personal experiences, emphasizing that salvation is not communicated by nature.
The Rich Young Ruler: A Case Study: Weaver examines the rich young ruler's good qualities—motive, manners, money, and morals—and shows how Jesus exposed his idolatry of wealth, revealing that trust in anything other than Christ prevents salvation.
Salvation Is Impossible with Man: Jesus' statement that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle leads to the disciples' astonishment and the declaration that with man salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Salvation Is from Sin, Not Just Its Consequences: Weaver clarifies that salvation is primarily from sin itself, not merely a fire escape from hell; many want deliverance from punishment without repentance.
The Distinction Between Past and Present Sin: Using 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-21, he distinguishes between those who once lived in sin but are now washed and those who continue in unrepentant sin, who will not inherit the kingdom.
Examine Yourselves by Scripture: Believers are commanded to examine themselves against the objective standard of God's Word (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 2:3-6) to confirm their calling and election, looking for a consistent pattern of obedience.
Salvation Requires a Surety: The first constituent part of salvation is a surety—one who guarantees payment of a debt. Jesus is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), illustrated by Judah's pledge for Benjamin and Paul's for Onesimus.
Conclusion: Christ Our Surety: Weaver concludes by urging listeners to base their salvation solely on Christ's suretyship, not on experiences or works, and to rejoice in His complete payment for sin.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Salvation is not inherited or cultural

Being born into a Christian family or living in a 'Christian nation' does not make one a Christian; salvation is a sovereign, supernatural work of God.

John 1:13 says believers are 'born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.'

The rich young ruler's morality was insufficient

Despite his outward obedience to commandments, the rich young ruler's trust in riches revealed he had not kept the first commandment, showing that external morality cannot save.

Jesus told him to sell all he had, exposing his idolatry; he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.

Trust in riches makes salvation impossible

Jesus taught that it is impossible for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God, as illustrated by the camel and the needle's eye.

Mark 10:24-25: 'how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle...'

Continuing in sin disproves salvation

Those who practice unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom; true salvation results in a changed life, not a continuation in sin.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: 'such were some of you: but ye are washed...' and Galatians 5:19-21: 'they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.'

Salvation is exclusively through Christ

There is no salvation in any other name; Jesus is the only way to the Father, and Peter's declaration in Acts 4:12 directly challenged the Roman imperial cult.

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.'

A surety is essential for salvation

Sin is an unpayable debt; a surety is needed to guarantee payment. Christ is the surety who undertakes for His people, satisfying God's demands.

Hebrews 7:22: 'By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.' The parable of the unforgiving servant shows the impossibility of paying sin's debt.

Scripture References

Mark 10:17-27: The account of the rich young ruler, read at the beginning of the sermon, illustrating the impossibility of salvation by human effort and the need for God's power.
John 1:11-13: Used to show that salvation is not by natural birth or human will but by God's sovereign work.
Mark 10:19: Jesus quotes the commandments to the rich young ruler, which the man claims to have kept from his youth.
Mark 10:21: Jesus tells the man he lacks one thing: to sell all, give to the poor, and follow Him, exposing his idolatry.
Mark 10:23-25: Jesus teaches how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom, especially those who trust in riches.
Mark 10:26-27: The disciples' question 'Who then can be saved?' and Jesus' answer that with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 1:21: Cited to emphasize that Jesus saves His people from their sins, not just from judgment.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Lists those who will not inherit the kingdom and contrasts their past sinful state with their present washed, sanctified, and justified condition.
Galatians 5:19-21: Lists the works of the flesh and warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 6:1-2: Paul's rhetorical question about continuing in sin that grace may abound, answered with 'God forbid' and the statement that those dead to sin cannot live in it.
John 14:6: Jesus' exclusive claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, with no one coming to the Father except through Him.
Ephesians 2:18: Through Christ we both have access by one Spirit to the Father, emphasizing the Trinitarian nature of salvation.
Acts 4:8-12: Peter's declaration before the rulers that salvation is found in no other name under heaven, directly challenging the Roman imperial claim.
2 Corinthians 13:5: Paul's command to examine and prove oneself to see whether Christ is in you, using Scripture as the objective standard.
2 Peter 1:10: Peter's admonition to make one's calling and election sure by adding virtues, confirming salvation through biblical evidence.
1 John 2:3-6: The test of knowing Christ is keeping His commandments; a consistent pattern of obedience demonstrates abiding in Him.
1 Kings 15:5: David's life is used as an illustration of a generally obedient life with a notable exception, showing that true believers are characterized by obedience, not sinless perfection.
Hebrews 7:22: Jesus is made a surety of a better testament, introducing the concept of Christ as the guarantor of the new covenant.
Matthew 18:23-35: The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the impossibility of paying the debt of sin (10,000 talents) and the need for a surety.
Genesis 43-44: Judah becomes surety for Benjamin, pledging to bear the blame forever if he does not bring him back, typifying Christ's suretyship.

Historical References

Augustus Caesar's claim of being the only name for salvation: In 14 B.C., Augustus Caesar proclaimed that there was no other name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved, which Peter directly contradicted in Acts 4:12.

Important Quotes

With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

This is the central thesis of the sermon, emphasizing that salvation cannot be achieved by human effort but only by God's power.

Salvation from judgment, salvation from condemnation, salvation from destruction is a byproduct of being saved from your sins.

Clarifies that true salvation is fundamentally deliverance from sin itself, not merely an escape from hell.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

A key command for self-examination against Scripture to ensure genuine faith.

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Introduces the doctrine of Christ as the surety who guarantees the new covenant.

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.

Judah's pledge for Benjamin serves as an Old Testament type of Christ's suretyship for sinners.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it.

Paul's offer to pay Onesimus's debt illustrates the surety's role, pointing to Christ's substitutionary payment.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What are some common false assurances of salvation that people rely on today, and how can we lovingly challenge them with Scripture?

[Context]

Weaver lists family heritage, nationality, church membership, and experiences as insufficient grounds for assurance.

[Question]

How does the rich young ruler's story expose the danger of trusting in anything other than Christ for salvation?

[Context]

The rich young ruler outwardly kept commandments but trusted in his wealth, revealing his idolatry.

[Question]

In what ways do people today treat Jesus as a 'fire escape' rather than a Savior from sin?

[Context]

Weaver warns against wanting deliverance from hell without repentance and turning from sin.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'examine yourselves' according to 2 Corinthians 13:5, and how can we do this without falling into morbid introspection?

[Context]

Weaver explains that examination involves comparing our lives to the objective standard of Scripture.

[Question]

How does the concept of Christ as our surety deepen our understanding of salvation and assurance?

[Context]

The sermon presents Christ as the one who guarantees payment of our sin debt, illustrated by Judah and Paul.

[Question]

Why is it impossible for a person to be saved while continuing in unrepentant sin, according to 1 Corinthians 6 and Galatians 5?

[Context]

These passages list sins that characterize the unrighteous and state that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom.

[Question]

How does Peter's declaration in Acts 4:12 challenge the pluralistic mindset of our culture?

[Context]

Peter proclaimed that salvation is found in no other name, directly opposing the Roman imperial cult and modern religious pluralism.

Applications

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