Sermon Tone Analysis

Are You Saved or Not Saved?

What was wrong with indulgences?

General:

According to Rome, the temporal punishment due to sin may be alleviated or removed by the merits of Christ and the saints dispensed by the church.

Cairns, A. (2002).

In Dictionary of Theological Terms (p.

231).

Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International.

Specifically: indulgences.

A practice of the medieval Roman Catholic Church that suggested that financial contributions to the church could ensure that a person who had died could be released from purgatory (the place of torment) into heavenly bliss.

Indulgences, among other practices, prompted Martin Luther to question the scriptural basis for many teachings of the medieval Roman Catholic Church.

This in turn led to the Protestant Reformation and Luther’s emphasis on a person being declared righteous on the basis of faith in Christ alone without reference to meritorious human works of any kind.

Grenz, S., Guretzki, D., & Nordling, C. F. (1999).

In Pocket dictionary of theological terms (p.

66).

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Indulgences were based on the need to suffer for ones sins.

indulgences.

A major controversy of the Reformation era involved the sale of indulgences that, it was believed, could shorten the time a Christian would have to spend in *purgatory.

In the sixteenth century an indulgence could be granted under the auspices (support) of the pope, usually in exchange for a gift of money or land, to reduce the penalty of the “temporal consequences of sin,” i.e., unfulfilled penances.

Martin *Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses focused mainly on the theological problems attendant to the sale of indulgences.

Feldmeth, N. P. (2008).

In Pocket Dictionary of Church History: Over 300 Terms Clearly and Concisely Defined (p.

79).

Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.

Indulgences

There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of purgatory immediately after the money clinks in the bottom of the chest.

All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.

Any Christian whatsoever, who is truly repentant, enjoys remission from penalty and guilt, and this is given him without letters of indulgence.

Martin Luther

Water, M. (2000).

The new encyclopedia of Christian quotations (p.

530).

Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd.

Two Views on Eternal Security

The Arminian says that man has received his salvation as an act of his will and he may forfeit his salvation as an act of the will—or through specific sins.

The Calvinist says that the true believer will persevere in his faith.

This doctrine is sometimes called “perseverance of the saints,” which is not a proper title since it places the emphasis on man’s ability to persevere rather than on God’s ability to keep the believer.

A better title might be “perseverance of the Lord.”

Enns, P. P. (1989).

The Moody handbook of theology (p.

340).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

The basis for the security of salvation does not rest with man, but with God.

The security of the believer is based on the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This doctrine does not suggest that the believer will never backslide or sin.

It means, however, that when a person has genuinely believed in Christ as His Savior from sin he is forever secured by God by His keeping power.

Enns, P. P. (1989).

The Moody handbook of theology (p.

340).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Secure in the Father

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph.

1:4).

The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph.

1:5).

The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom.

8:28–30).

The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future.

None are lost in the process.

The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom.

5:7–10).

Enns, P. P. (1989).

The Moody handbook of theology (pp.

340–341).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph.

1:4).

The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph.

1:5).

The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom.

8:28–30).

The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future.

None are lost in the process.

The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom.

5:7–10).

Enns, P. P. (1989).

The Moody handbook of theology (pp.

340–341).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph.

1:4).

The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph.

1:5).

The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom.

8:28–30).

The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future.

None are lost in the process.

The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom.

5:7–10).

Enns, P. P. (1989).

The Moody handbook of theology (pp.

340–341).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph.

1:4).

The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph.

1:5).

The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom.

8:28–30).

The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future.

None are lost in the process.

The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom.

5:7–10).

Enns, P. P. (1989).

The Moody handbook of theology (pp.

340–341).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Secure In Christ

The Son has redeemed the believer (Eph.

1:7), removed the wrath of God from the believer (Rom.

3:25), justified the believer (Rom.

5:1), provided forgiveness (Col.

2:13), and sanctified the believer (1 Cor.

1:2).

Moreover, Christ prays for believers to be with Him (John 17:24); He continues to be their Advocate at God’s bar of justice (1 John 2:1); and He continues to make intercession as the believer’s High Priest (Heb.

7:25).

If a believer could be lost it would imply Christ is ineffective in His work as the believer’s Mediator.