Can One Be Saved Out Of The Church?

TEXT:  Eph. 3:21

INTRODUCTION:

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 THE

CHURCH.

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.