Can one be Saved Out of the Church
By David Baker
TEXT
: Eph. 3:21INTRODUCTION
:A. THE WORLD SAYS "YES!"
B. "CAN'T A GOOD PERSON BE SAVED OUT OF THE CHURCH?"
1. Whose standard of goodness shall we use?
2. If one can, all can - no need for the church.
3. No one argues that the church saves. The question is
"
Who does God save?"C. PREACHING THE NECESSITY OF BEING IN THE CHURCH, WE DO NOT
PREACH PEOPLE INTO HELL.
I.
OUR QUESTION DOESN'T DEAL WITH A DENOMINATION.A. DENOMINATIONALISTS DENY THE NECESSITY.
B. GOD REJECTS & CONDEMNS DENOMINATIONALISM( 1 Cor. 1:10 ).
C. WE ARE DISCUSSING THE CHURCH CHRIST PROMISED TO BUILD AND
BOUGHT WITH HIS BLOOD( Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28 ).
II.
IF WE CAN BE SAVED OUT OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST DIED FOR A NON-ESSENTIAL.A. THE CHURCH IS CLIMAX TO GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE( Eph.3:10-11 ).
B. GOD'S PLAN - CHRIST SHOULD DIE FOR IT( Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25-27 ).
C. JESUS PRAYED THAT IF THERE BE ANOTHER WAY( Matt. 26:39 ).
III.
IF SO, WE CAN BE SAVED OUT OF WHAT THE CHURCH IS.A. EKKLESIA, "TO CALL OUT."
1. By the gospel( 2 Thes. 2:14 ). To what?( vs.13; Rom.1:16 ).
2. Called from what into what?( 1 Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13-14 ).
3. Called to be saints( 1 Cor. 1:2, 9 ).
B. THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM( Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4 ).
C. THE CHURCH IS GOD'S FAMILY( 1 Tim. 3:15 ).
HIS
CHILDREN ARE IN HIS FAMILY.D. JESUS, A PRIEST OVER GOD'S HOUSE( Heb. 10:21 ). No priest?
E. BODY( Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23 ).
IV.
IF SO, THEN SAVED WITHOUT THAT WHICH IS IN THECHURCH.
A. ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST( Eph. 1:3 ).
B. ALL DIVINE CHOOSING IN CHRIST( vs. 4 ).
C. ALL SONSHIP IS IN CHRIST( vs. 5 ).
D. GOD'S GRACE IS IN CHRIST( vs. 6 ).
E. REDEMPTION & FORGIVENESS ARE IN CHRIST( vs. 7 ).
F. HIS WILL PURPOSED IN CHRIST( vs. 8-9 ).
G. ALL THINGS SUMMED UP IN HIM( vs. 10 ).
H. CHRIST IS THE FULLNESS OF ALL THINGS DIVINE( Col. 2:9 ).
I. THE CHURCH IS THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST( Eph. 1:22-23 ).
V.
FINAL ARGUMENT - MARRIED TO CHRIST.A. JESUS DESCRIBED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST AS THE BRIDEGROOM
( John 3:28-30 ).
B. PAUL ESPOUSED US TO ONE HUSBAND( 2 Cor. 11:1-2 ).
C. THE CHURCH IS HIS BRIDE( Eph. 5:22-23 ).
CONCLUSION
:A. ONE MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE LORD'S CHURCH TO BE SAVED.
B. ARE YOU A MEMBER?
C. 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-27.