INTRODUCTION

1. Many people shy away from religious discussions.

2. Especially those discussions that inevitably include some form of judgment.

3. Some say it just isn’t our place to say one is wrong while another is right.

4. But God shows His patience while we are wrong (2 Pet. 3:9)

5. He’s waiting for mankind to repent in order to not perish and be saved.

6. Some people say, “God said to love, not judge. I’ll leave it up to God to judge others. My job is to accept them for who they are. Who’s to say? They could be just as right as anyone else.” This is a common position held.

7. Rev. 20:11-15 is from a view of the judgment day.

8. Some don’t even believe there will be such a day.

9. Notice that everyone will be there.

a. Sheep and goats.

b. Saved and unsaved.

c. Atheists and believers.

10. It can be seen that the standards for that day are already set.

II. WE ARE SAVED BY MANY THINGS IN COMBINATION

     A. Combination of God’s actions and our obedience to His will.

     B. We are saved by…

         1. God (Isa. 45:22; Psalm. 3:8; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10)

Isa. 45:22  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

         2. Jesus (Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11; 19:10; Acts 4:12)

Matt. 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

         3. Blood of Jesus (Rom. 5:9; Col. 1:14; 1 John 1:7)

Rom. 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

         4. Life of Christ (Rom.5:10; 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15)

Rom. 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

         5. Grace (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:7)

Eph. 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

         6. Gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1Cor.15:1-2)

Rom. 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

         7. Preaching (1 Cor. 1:21; Mark 16:15)

1Cor. 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

         8. Words (Acts 2:41; 11:14; 15:7)

Acts 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

         9. Hope (Rom. 8:24; 1 Cor. 15:19)

Rom. 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

       10. Faith (Rom. 5:1; Heb. 11:6; John 8:24)

Rom. 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

       11. Repentance (Luke 13:5; Acts 3:19)

Luke 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

       12. Confession (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37)

Rom. 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

       13. Baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21; Gal. 3:27)

Mark 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

       14. Saved by our commitment to God’s commands (Acts 2:40).

Acts 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

III. GOD WILL NOT SAVE THOSE IN IDOLATRY AND POLYTHEISM

     A. That is evidenced early in God’s Word Exo. 20:3-6.

     B. This includes the pagan religions of this present age.

        1. Voodoo

        2. Hindu

        3. Buddhists

        4. Wiccan, etc.

     C. What we believe does matter, and it can have everlasting consequences!

IV. GOD WILL NOT SAVE THOSE WHO DO NOT GO THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

     A. Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. John 14:6; Acts 4:12

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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.

     B. This excludes Jews, Muslims and others. These didn’t reject God, but they do reject Jesus. Muslims hold to a singular God, but reject Jesus.

V. GOD WILL NOT SAVE THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE AND OBEY JESUS

     A. Some argue Jesus isn’t interested in judging, but saving John 12:47-48.

John 12:47-48  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

     B. But judgment is included here!

         1. The words Jesus leaves with us will judge us.

         2. Refuse to believe and the sentence is already set.

VI. GOD WILL NOT SAVE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT OBEYED THE GOSPEL 

2Thess. 1:7-9  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

     A. 2 Thess. 1:7-9. Notice the two groups:

          1. Those who do not know God,

          2. Those who do not obey gospel.

     B. Millions will fit in each category.

          1. Some in ignorance.

          2. Some in apathy.

CONCLUSION

1. Consider these numbers of the world’s religions: Christian 33%, Islam 21%, Non- religious 16%, Hindu 14%, Buddhism 6%, Indigenous /other 10%, Jewish 0.22%.

2. Some say God wouldn’t condemn all of these people. But look at the lines. 2/3 of the World’s population rejects Jesus today. Of the 33% Christian, a large segment holds to doctrines that are in direct conflict with the Bible.

3. God has already put these standards in place. Our job is to learn them, obey them, and to help others see their error.

4. Pretending a standard does not exist will help no one, neither will ignoring these standards in hopes of sparing someone’s feelings.

5. I know sometimes people may get angry with me for telling them that something they are doing is wrong, especially with regard to how they “choose” to worship.

6. But I would rather put the un-watered down truth of God in front of them and at least give them a chance to respond to it than to soft-peddle it and the both of us end up in Hell’s torment for not obeying God. Jesus wasn’t always nice when He pointed out the truth….

Matt. 15:7-9  Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (cf. Mark 7:7)

Remember the original question? “WHO WILL GOD SAVE?” And many people like to say, “God said to love, not judge. I’ll leave it up to God to judge others. My job is to accept them for who they are. Who’s to say? They could be just as right as anyone else.”

“Who’s to say?” God already has.

Are you on the right side