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TWO MORE NEW
SOUL-SAVING LESSONS
ADDED TO
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WEBSITE
In our last e-newsletter, we announced the availability of the last lesson ("The Thief on the Cross") in the first series of our new "Soul-Saving" videos. At the same time, we also announced the availability of the first two lessons ("Knowing Your Enemy—Satan" and "Are You Ready to Die?") in the second "Soul-Saving Series."
In this edition of our newsletter, we are pleased to announce the addition of two more lessons in the second "Soul-Saving Series" of videos.
"Do You Want to Go to Heaven?"
"Saved by Grace"
In his lesson, "Do You Want to Go to Heaven," Ben Bailey investigates the question of whether each of us really wants to spend eternity with God. Ben begins the lesson by discussing the fact that there is "someone out there" who does not want any of us to go to Heaven. That "someone," of course, is our archenemy, Satan. After first calling attention to the reality of Satan's existence and the effectiveness of his tactics, Ben then turns his attention to a discussion of a number of reasons why some people will miss Heaven. As Ben points out, some people will miss Heaven because they have underestimated Satan's influence in their lives. Others will miss Heaven because they did not understand the point that Isaiah was making (Isaiah 59:1-2) regarding how sin separates people from God. Still others will miss Heaven because they offered up foolish excuses that they mistakenly thought would sway God on the Day of Judgment.
Ben then turns his attention to things that can help us get to Heaven. He discusses the beauty and splendor of Heaven itself. He talks about the fact that because God is there, Heaven should be the only place we should ever want to go. And he mentions the all-important fact that only those who are "in Christ" will be welcomed into Heaven. Ben also brings to light the fact that there are numerous "warning signs" that should command our immediate attention as we make our earthly pilgrimage toward Heaven. There are times when we need to be reminded "DO NOT ENTER!" There are times when we need to be reminded to "SLOW DOWN!" And there are times when we reach a warning sign that reminds us of a "CROSSROAD" in our lives—one that requires an uncompromising decision on our part.
As Ben brings the lesson on "Do You Want to Go to Heaven?" to a close, he asks the question, "What must a person actually do in order to go to Heaven?" In answering that extremely pertinent query, Ben takes the viewer to the Scriptures (which are the only source of information on the entrance requirements into Heaven that humanity possesses) to examine what God has said in response to this question. Ben's discussion of the plan of salvation is simple, straightforward, and to the point. We think you will find this lesson to be extremely edifying in a number of ways, and we invite you to view it at your earliest convenience.
The next offering in our second "Soul-Saving Series" is titled "Saved by Grace." Ben begins his investigation of this important topic by asking, "What is it that saves man from sin?" In response to that question, he offers up a number of incorrect answers (such as "righteous works" or "individual acts of merit"). He then uses those wrong replies as a springboard to launch into a discussion of what actually does
save humans from sin. Ben points out that salvation is available to us only because of the amazing grace of God—a principle taught very clearly by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9 ("For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast"). Ben notes that as we read Paul’s inspired comments, we can understand exactly how faith and grace work together for the child of God.
Ben moves farther into his investigation by examining a number of false views of the part that God's grace plays in salvation. He mentions, for example, the incorrect idea that grace somehow gives us a "license to sin." He also refutes the incorrect view of many in the religious world today which suggests that "grace alone" saves. He then dismantles the erroneous concept that a Christian cannot fall from God's grace (i.e., the idea of "once saved, always saved").
For the remainder of the lesson, Ben turns his attention to ferreting out from God's Word answers to the following questions:
- How does the grace of God save us?
- What is grace’s part in salvation?
- What does grace do?
- How is grace provided for us?
- What does grace mean?
- What are the teachings of the Bible concerning grace?
Ben examines the importance of the Holy Spirit in getting God's grace to humankind by providing the Bible as God's inspired Word (2 Peter 1:20-21). He discusses the fact that while grace makes salvation available, it is our faith that makes salvation accessible. And he spends considerable time stressing the critical part that Jesus played by coming to Earth as a servant and voluntarily dying the most gruesome death we could ever imagine—the curse of the cross (Gal. 3:11-13)—in order to provide humanity with God's grace. To quote Ben, "As we think about grace, we cannot leave Jesus out of the picture." How very true!
As Ben closes his lesson on salvation by grace, he explains to the viewer what a person must do to appropriate God's grace in his life. Once again, Ben's discussion of the plan of salvation is simple, straightforward, and to the point. A person would have to have help to misunderstand Ben's points as he reiterates the importance of obedience to God's direct commands.
We believe that you will be edified and encouraged by each of these two new lessons in our second "Soul-Saving Series," which are available on our Website in video, audio, and written transcript formats. |
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