Sermon Tone Analysis

6-12-22 Pastor Larry Booth

I. Introduction:

I have heard someone recently say that the greatest heresy in the church today is to say that “a person is saved by asking Jesus to come into your heart.”

(video).

I feel that he was quick to make these statements because it was like a dog with a new bone.

Sometimes young preachers get a thought and pursue it because it’s a juicy new criticism of something, and do not choose to study out a matter.

The word “trinity” is not in the Bible, but we still believe in the concept of trinity.

To say that ministers who use this phrase of “asking Jesus into your hearts,” is heretical goes a bit far, and I would caution one to use wisdom around those who constantly criticize other believers who hold different views.

This is a common statement we say today, and according to this preacher, “it has only been taught for the last 50 years or so.”

He then emphasized the need for one to “repent” of his sins and to live a life that proves what he has done, and that was true salvation.

While I do not disagree wholly with this statement, I do have an issue with being against a persons statement of faith, that Jesus has “come into his heart.”

So let’s look over the next few weeks at the words saved, born again, repentance, and then the concept of Jesus coming into one’s heart to be saved to see if this is a biblical term.

II.

“Saved” from what?

“Salvation is moving from living death to deathless life”- Jack Odell

A. An Old Testament viewpoint

1. Delivering one’s soul from Hell

Job 33:27-28 (KJV)

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

Elihu must have thought that Job had sinned.

This statement is Elihu’s response to Job, and his philosophy of what he thought Job needed to hear: “Repent and God will save you from Hell.”

This is an Old Testament viewpoint before Abraham, and before the CROSS.

While we may agree with this statement, it is a man’s viewpoint at the time, and is not God speaking here.

It is generally a good ideal to keep a repentant heart, but Job was already right with God for God had said this to Satan prior to all of Job’s calamities (Job 1:8).

Many times we today want to judge someone on the outside and declare that they are going through a terrible time in their life because something they have done wrong.

This was Job’s friend’s theory, but was the farthest from the truth.

A person of the same mindset would read this verse and agree with Elihu’s statement.

His statement is true, but was a statement out of place.

We must understand here that we gather our modern view from many scriptures and traditional teachings.

I’m seeing the same hard line statements today as the only way to look at salvation: “repent or you’re going to Hell!” Some are correct, and some are maybe not so correct.

Let’s take a look.

2. The psalmist defines “saved” here as delivering one’s soul from death, and keeping one alive in famine.

Psalm 33:16-22 (KJV)

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

The psalmist uses this phrase “saved” to speak of many things like being delivered by God from one’s enemies (44:7; 106:10), From one’s troubles (34:6; 107:13), and anything that seems to oppose.

Psalm 80:3 (KJV)

3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

David used this phrase many times: “Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.”

This phrase refers to God’s favor that comes after one is humble, or repentant, or seeking God.

The result is to be saved from one’s circumstances.

Even when Israel didn’t deserve it, God sometimes “saved” them to show Himself to men.

Psalm 106:7-8 (KJV)

7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

3.

In Joel, when the future Messiah would come to judge the earth, the promise was given that “all who call upon the name of the Lord, would be delivered and saved.”

Joel 2:32 (AMP)

32 And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered and saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the remnant [of survivors] shall be those whom the Lord calls.

“Saved” here has a duel meaning of deliverance from their enemy but also hints about the salvation that Jesus would bring through His blood for those who survive the Tribulation.

Paul uses this verse to speak of the salvation of the believer.

Romans 10:13 (KJV)

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

4. Jeremiah prophesied of it also and said this new covenant would be marked with an internal salvation, written in their hearts.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (KJV)

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (KJV)

31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

B. A New Testament viewpoint

This viewpoint begins with Jesus and His message to the Jews before they rejected Him.

It was about entering God’s kingdom spiritually and physically.

They rejected His message.

Ultimately Jesus brought salvation to the Jew and Gentile alike on the cross, and we are truly “saved” by the blood of Jesus that was shed there at Calvary.

The concept of salvation for the Jews at first was more about following the Messiah into the kingdom.

Jesus helped them understand.

1. It’s hard for a rich man to be saved

Mark 10:23-27 (HCSB)

23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 But the disciples were astonished at His words.

Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

Notice the disciples had equated salvation with going into the “kingdom of God.”

This is possibly based off of our previous verse and many verses out of Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Zachariah.

The disciples had been taught that riches were a sign of God’s favor, but Jesus taught this was not always true.

In fact riches could hinder a person from “ENTERING THE KINGDOM.”

The disciples first connected this with being “SAVED.”

Saved in general here may have meant something different to them, today we understand more of what Jesus meant.

Look at Jesus’s first statements prior to this, to better understand why he was explaining what “saved” is.

2. Welcoming the kingdom of God like a child- readily accept

Mark 10:13-16 (HCSB)

13 Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them.

14 When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

15 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

16 After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.

The KJV used the word “receive” here which is the Greek word δέχομαι, dechomai

δέχομαι, dechomai

“Usage Notes: signifies "to accept," by a deliberate and ready reception of what is offered (cp.