Many people believe in God. In fact, the majority of people believe in God, but the majority of people who believe in God don’t truly have a relationship with God outside of church on Sunday mornings. The idea is that as long as they go to church and hear the word of God, that’s enough to save them. But is this Biblical? Is there more to salvation than just going to church or knowing the Bible? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of building our relationship with God as well as how to do that effectively in his message, Oh To Know Him.
18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:18–21
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Many people in the Church take the term salvation for granted. We take the confidence that we have in our salvation in Christ Jesus for granted. If someone were to ask for reassurance on how they know they are saved, would you know how to answer them? Do you know how you know that you have salvation? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he eases our minds on our confidence in our salvation through Jesus Christ in his video, Salvation Pt. 4: How Do I Know I Have Salvation?
Romans 10:9-13 Ephesians 2:8-9 John 3:16 Psalms 24:1 1 John 1:9-2:1 1 John 3:3-10 Hebrews 10:26-29
How Do I Know I Have Salvation?
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the process of being forgiven and redeemed from sin.
How Do I Know I Have Salvation?
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world.
Many people in the Church take the term salvation for granted. How many of us would be able to explain what salvation is, why we all need it, as well as how to get/receive it to someone who has never heard? How can we spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth if we don’t fully know how to explain it ourselves? Peter told us to be ready to give a reason for our hope; therefore, wouldn’t why we need salvation and how we obtained it fall under that category? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he lays out the foundation for our salvation that all Christians should have in his video, Salvation Pt. 3: How Do I Get Salvation?
Acts 2:37–41 John 14:5–6 Ephesians 2:8-9 Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) Acts 10:34-35 1 John 1:9 1 John 2:1–6 Psalms 32:5 Matthew 11:28–30 1 Corinthians 10:13 Psalms 32:5
How Do I Get Salvation?
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the process of being forgiven and redeemed from sin.
How Do I Obtain Salvation?
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.” 40 And with many other words He bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:37–41
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
We’ve all heard that we all need salvation, but how many of us can truly say we understand and know why that is? If we were asked by someone who has never heard, would we be able to explain it to them? This should be the foundation that every Christian has, but sadly many of us don’t have this foundation. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he lays the foundation to fully explain why we need salvation in his video, Salvation Pt. 2: Why Do I Need Salvation?
John 3:16-18 Romans 3:23-25a Romans 6:23 Isaiah 64:6a Romans 3:10–12 Malachi 3:6 Matthew 19:3–9 Romans 3:19–20 Romans 5:12; 18-21 1 Corinthians 15:45 Ephesians 2:3 Psalms 58:3 Matthew 25:41
Why Do I Need Salvation?
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the process of being forgiven and redeemed from sin.
What If I Haven’t Sinned?
We all have sinned. Either lying, stealing, lusting, gluttony, greed, etc. all of us have sinned to some capacity, this is why we all need salvation.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.
Romans 3:21-25
Because we have all sinned, we all deserve death because sin brings spiritual and physical death to those who give in to it.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Even though sin leads to death, Christ has given us the option of salvation in Him because He died for all who would believe.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Those who grew up in the Church are familiar with the term salvation and what that means. In fact, many of us take it for granted and expect everyone to know what it means to accept salvation and be saved. If someone were to ask for a definition of salvation, would you be able to give it? Are you someone who doesn’t fully understand what salvation is and wants to build a strong Christian foundation? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he searches through Scripture for the best definition in his video, Salvation Pt. 1: What is Salvation?
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalms 18:2
11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
Isaiah 43:11
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Salvation
1. A saving or being saved from danger, evil, difficulty, destruction, etc.; rescue
2. A person or thing that is a means, cause, or source of preservation or rescue
3. Theol. Deliverance from sin and from the penalties of sin; redemption
Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Redeem
1. To buy back
2. To get back; recover, as by paying a fee
3. To pay off (a mortgage or note)
Salvation means to be redeemed which means to be purchased back.
Redeemed or Purchased Back From What?
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all menbecause all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Many Christians believe and teach that all you have to do is repent, and life will be easier because once you are saved, you are always saved. In fact, some go as far as to believe that Christians no longer can even sin because they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. Could this be why we Christians are held to a higher standard than the world? We’re supposed to be Christ to the world, so are we perfect as Jesus is perfect? So then are they right, and Christians are saved from sinning because Jesus said, ‘whom the Son sets free is free indeed’? Or is there something more to it? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers in her video, Can Christians Sin?
1 John 3:9-10 Romans 6:1-2 Colossians 3:5-10 1 Corinthians 10:13 Romans 7:13-25 1 John 1:5-10 1 John 5:16-18 John 10:27-28 Ephesians 1:13-14 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Philippians 1:6 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Can Christians Sin?
Whom The Son Sets Free
Because Jesus said that you will be free if He sets you free, does that mean Christians can’t sin?
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36
Jesus didn’t say that you would no longer struggle with sin; He said that you would be free from the bondage of sin. In other words, you would now have the tools you need in order to overcome whatever sin comes your way. But look at what Jesus tells Peter, His best friend, after finding him asleep instead of praying.
The Flesh
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41
Both of these Scriptures were spoken by Jesus before His death and resurrection; therefore, none can argue that this verse isn’t for us. Either all of Jesus’ teachings and words were for us, or none of them were. We can’t cherry-pick the Gospel.
In fact, just to prove to you nothing has changed, let’s take a look at the Church after the death and resurrection of Christ.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
According to Paul, the greatest apostle who ever lived, we are going to stumble and fall. We, the Church (Christians), are going to make mistakes and therefore fall into temptation and sin. But he also gave us hope that our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will help pick us back up when we fall down, just as Jesus told Peter to do.
31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:31-32
When we sin, we have to get back up and then go on and help others. We bear each other’s burdens because we can’t carry the weight on our own. We help each other through our struggles and trials. Iron sharpens iron.
How Do We Overcome?
We Continue The Good Fight
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:5-14
We fight temptation through the help of the Holy Spirit that has been given to us through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ that washes us clean. We have to remember we’re a work in progress, but we also have to remember to never settle for less than perfect. We are to strive for perfection so that if we miss it, we may land amongst excellence, for there is no verse to confirm the false comforts of ‘once saved always saved’.
11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, ~ Ezekiel 33:11
God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He does not want anyone to die and go to the Lake of Fire for all eternity. It is a place where:
The flames are never quenched. The worm does not die. Anguish and pain never cease. Complete and total darkness unlike anything on earth. Thirst and hunger are never satisfied. There’s never-ending suffering and torment—uncontrollable grief and sorrow. There is no peace, no joy, no comfort, nothing but loneliness, pain, and regret.
But you don’t have to go there. God doesn’t want you there, and neither do we. Here is how you can avoid a place like that. Accept Jesus and His free gift of salvation. Maybe you have never heard of Jesus. Or maybe you have never understood what it is that Jesus offers us.
Well, we were all destined to die and go to hell or the Lake of Fire. The only thing that could save us was a pure, unblemished sacrifice. So, Jesus, the Son of God, volunteered to shed His own precious, sinless blood, a sacrifice that was without spot or wrinkle. He chose to take all of the sins of the world on Himself and to die that we might have life.
But on the third day, He rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for us. And one day, He is coming back for us. And that day is very, very soon. To receive His salvation, all you have to do is ask Him. If you are ready to ask Him for forgiveness and to make a commitment to live for Him, pray this prayer with me.
LORD Jesus, please forgive me for all my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Help me to live my life for You, that I might escape the fiery flames of death and enter into eternal life on that Great Day. Fill me with You Holy Spirit that I might be molded into Your perfect and holy image as Adam was created in Your perfect and holy image. Give me a heart of flesh for my heart of stone that I might desire good and not evil. Be with me now, LORD God. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
20 years ago, the Spirit of Fear made its way to the center of every culture. In today’s world, fear has seemed to overcome all people, including the Church. The Church seems to be more afraid today than the early Church under Roman persecution. Is there anything wrong with being afraid? Is it a sin to be afraid? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer to the question, Is Fear a Sin?
Hebrews 2:14-15 Romans 8:15 1 John 4:18 2 Timothy 1:7 Revelation 21:6-8 Matthew 8:26 Mark 4:40 Hebrews 11:6 Ephesians 2:8 James 4:8a Revelation 3:20
Is Fear a Sin?
Command Not To Be Afraid
If God commanded us not to do something, then it is a sin to do it. God commanded us not to be afraid. Therefore fear is a sin.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
How To Overcome Fear
If fear is a sin, then do not be afraid.
Know Who Your God Is
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.
John 10:27-30
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:31-37
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Don’t give into the Spirit of Fear because your God is for you, and with you.
Jesus told us to abide in Him, and He would abide in us. So, therefore, if we believe and repent, then we are now abiding in Him. But what happens if we turn away from Jesus? Is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation? If we turn away from Jesus, does that mean we were never really saved? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answer to these questions and more in her video, Can You Lose Your Salvation?
John 10:27-28 Romans 8:38-39 Luke 8:13-14 John 3:18 John 5:24 Matthew 7:16-20 Matthew 12:33 2 Peter 2:20-22 Genesis 1:27 Genesis 3:6 Ephesians 4:22-24 Hebrews 4:15
Can You Lose Your Salvation?
More Verses on Losing Your Salvation:
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:6-7
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:1-5
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Ephesians 5:6-11
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
When God calls us, do we run to Him or drag our feet? Oftentimes, we are afraid to burn our ships. We’re afraid to get rid of our safety net in case this “Christian Thing” doesn’t work out. Or maybe our ships are our sins that are holding us back. Or maybe it’s painful memories from our past that we can’t seem to let go of in order to make it to the next level. Join Rev. Kenny Yates as he teaches us the importance of burning our ships in his fiery message entitled Burn The Ships.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Luke 9:59-62 Genesis 24:35 Philippians 3:13-14 Luke 9:62 Matthew 8:34-35 Mark 10:28-30
Burn The Ships
When Elijah called Elisha, Elisha got rid of all backup plans. He burned all of his ships.
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
