By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
I. GOLDEN TEXT.
1 Timothy 4:16. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
LESSON NOTES:
I. INTRODUCTION. Besides glorifying God and edifying the believer, soul winning is the most important job of the Church. Jesus‘ last words to us on Earth, was His Great Commission. Adverse to this evangelistic effort are extreme false doctrines, among these are: (1) Everyone is saved and does not have to make a profession of Jesus as Lord or (2) Only the Israelites will be saved and (3) Once you are saved, you cannot lose your salvation. Believe it or not there are millions of people who adhere to these false teachings; putting us actually in the minority. But, minority or not, the Bible is right. Our doctrine is right. These lessons will (1) help us to answer these challenges (not trying to win arguments, but win souls) (2) help us arm our people with the correct doctrine and (3) help us to help new converts from getting confused, when they are approached by these false teachings.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
II. THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST PERTAINING TO SALVATION (SOTERIOLOGY). For a person to be rooted and grounded it is important to study the portion of the Official COGIC Manual which deals with both Christology and Soteriology.
III. TEXTS USED TO PUSH THE FALSE TEACHING OF UNIVERSAL RECONCILIATIONISM.[1] Please realize that you can take the Bible and make it say what you want. Here are the Scriptures Universal Reconciliationists use. They ALL make sense. But, we must rightly divide the Word. Which we will do in the next section.
1
Timothy 4:10
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
2
Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Romans
11:32
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Romans
5:18
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
Titus
2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
1
Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
John
12:47
If
anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not
come to judge the world but to save the world.
John
12:32
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Luke
3:6
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Ephesians
1:10
As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Romans
14:11
For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
John
3:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
1
Timothy 2:4
Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1
Peter 4:6
For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
Philippians
2:9-11
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John
1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Isaiah
25:6-8
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
Colossians
1:20
And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
1
Corinthians 15:28
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Lamentations
3:31-33
For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.
1
John 2:2
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Luke
2:10
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
1
John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Matthew
18:14
So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
2
Corinthians 5:19
That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
IV. RESPONSE TO THE FALSE TEACHING.
A. THE MAIN QUESTION AT HAND. The question before us is this
(1) Out of an estimated 7.6 billion people on the face of the Earth only 2.3 billion people [or 32% of the world’s population] “profess” to be Christians.[2] [3] Therefore,
(2) Are 5.3 billion people going to burn in Hell for eternity because they are not Christians?
B. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF JESUS EVEN EXISTING?[4] 2.74 billion people.
C. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE?
Matthew 24:14. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole earth, for a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
D. DOES TORMENT IN HELL LAST FOREVER?
Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Revelation 14:9-13. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
E. DOES GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL?
Matthew 10:28. Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in Hell.
F. HELL IS NOT THE FINAL DESTINATION FOR THE LOST.
Revelation 20:12-15. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
G. IS IT NECESSARY TO CONFESS CHRIST AS LORD TO BE SAVED FROM HELL?
1 John 1:12. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life.
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
H. ARE ONLY CHRISTIANS GOING TO HEAVEN?
Revelation 22:14. Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
I. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL OR HEARD OF JESUS?
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
J. GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NOT HEARD THE WORD, BASED ON THEIR CONSCIENCE.
Romans 2:14-16 New Living Translation (NLT)[5] 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
K. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN COUNTRIES WHERE IT IS ILLEGAL TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY?
Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
L. GOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT TRULY KNOWS WHO ARE HIS.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The LORD knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the LORD must turn away from wickedness."
M. SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SHOCKED THAT THEY MISS HEAVEN.
Matthew 7:21-23 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'LORD, LORD,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
N. SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SHOCKED THAT THEY MAKE HEAVEN.
Matthew 25:34-40 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'LORD, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
V. PRAYER
FOR SALVATION.[6] As we
close, if you have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I have sinned against You.
Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I
believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the
cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus
today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
[1] https:www.openbible.infotopicsuniversal_salvation.
(Accessed, August 4, 2020).
[2] 1 http:www.worldometers.infoworld-population.
(Accessed, February 3, 2018).
[3] 2
http:www.worldstopmost.com2018largest-religions-world-fastest-growing.
(Accessed February 3, 2018).
[4]https:www.bing.comsearch?q=how+many+people+have+never+heard+of+jesus&form=EDGEAR&qs=PF&cvid=5fc1416b684a488f964d0b28
02a27afc&cc=US&setlang=en-US&PC=HCTS. (Accessed, February 3, 2018).
[5] New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New
Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House
Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
[6] http:www.joycemeyer.orgOurMinistriesEverydayAnswersHow+to+Become+a+Christian. (Accessed, March 2, 2011).
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