"ARE THERE FEW WHO ARE SAVED?"
Luke 13:23
INTRODUCTION
1. In August 2005, Newsweek and Beliefnet asked 1,004 Americans what
they believe and how they practice their faith
2. Among the questions was this one: Can a good person who isn't of
your religious faith go to heaven or attain salvation, or not?
3. Here are their responses...
Yes No Don't know
Evangelical Protestants 68% 22% 10%
Non-Evangelical Protestants 83% 10% 7%
Catholics 91% 3% 6%
Non-Christians 73% 3% 24%
Total 79% 12% 9%
4. The responses are interesting...
a. Most people believe those of different faiths will be saved
b. Among Catholics and more liberal Protestants, that view is
overwhelming
c. Even the majority of those who view themselves as "evangelical"
agree
[This would suggest that most believe many will be saved. Is that true?
Jesus was asked a similar question (cf. Lk 13:23), and spoke often on
the subject of who will be saved. Note that He taught...]
I. FEW WILL BE SAVED
A. MANY THINK MOST WILL BE SAVED...
1. Or to put it another way, that most people will go to heaven
2. Yet Jesus taught that few would be saved - Lk 13:23-24; cf. Mt
7:13-14
B. WE DO WELL TO REMEMBER...
1. Only eight souls were saved during The Flood - Gen 7:21-23;
1Pe 3:20; 2Pe 2:5
2. Only three souls escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
- Gen 19:24-30
3. Only two men out of 603,550 over the age of 20 were permitted
to enter the land of Canaan - Num 14:26-32; cf. 1:45-46
[Sadly, there will be few who find the way that leads to life (Mt 7:14).
And what is the way that leads to life? Again, we find Jesus taught
that...]
II. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY
A. MANY THINK ALL RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WILL BE SAVED...
1. As some put it, "It doesn't really matter what you believe..."
2. Yet Jesus taught that no one comes to the Father but through
Him - Jn 14:6
B. WE DO WELL TO REMEMBER...
1. The example of Cornelius, a religious person who needed
salvation - Ac 10:1-6; 11:14
2. The example of many other religious people who needed salvation
a. The devout Jews on the Day of Pentecost - Ac 2:5,36-38
b. The devout Ethiopian returning from worship at Jerusalem
- Ac 8:27-28,35-38
c. The devout Lydia, a worshipper of God who kept the Sabbath
- Ac 16:13-14
d. The devout Saul, doing what he thought was the Lord's will
- Ac 26:9; cf. Ga 1:14
[Being religious is not enough, and one cannot truly be a Christian who
believes that salvation can be found outside of Christ (Ac 4:12). But
note that Jesus also taught salvation is...]
III. FOR THOSE WHO OBEY
A. MANY THINK THAT ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS WILL BE SAVED...
1. That we are saved by faith only, with no need for obedience
2. Yet Jesus warned of those who believed in Him but were lost
- Mt 7:21-23
a. They believed Him to be their Lord
b. They spent their lives in service to the Lord
c. But they had not done the Father's will!
B. WE DO WELL TO REMEMBER...
1. That Jesus is the author of salvation to all who obey Him - He
5:9
2. The end of those who do not obey His gospel - 2Th 1:7-9
3. Not all believers will be saved
a. The demons believe, yet tremble! - Jm 2:19
b. Some believed, but were unwilling to confess Him - Jn 12:
42-43
CONCLUSION
1. Believing that many (if not all) will be saved is...
a. A comforting doctrine
b. A view praised as tolerant and loving
2. But if one really desires to follow Jesus, they must abide in His
teaching (Jn 8:30-32)...
a. That few will be saved
b. That Jesus is the only way
c. That salvation is for those who do His Father's will
Of course, God wants all men to be saved (1Ti 2:3-6; 2Pe 3:9). He has
provided His Son as the perfect Sacrifice and the perfect Mediator. But
will we believe and obey His Son...?
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
