Are You a High Stakes Gambler?


  1. My Way is a poor risk: Proverbs 14:12; 28:26
    1. No one ever unconditionally surrenders on their own terms.
      1. Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri in August, 1945
      2. Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself . . ."
      3. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ . . ."
      4. Jesus' terms of surrender are non-negotiable
    2. Some say, "There are many ways to get to heaven; you take yours and I'll take mine."
    3. But what did JESUS say?
      1. John 14:6
      2. Matthew 7:13-14; 21-23


  2. My Church is a foolish gamble:
    1. Matthew 16:18
    2. Acts 20:28
    3. Acts 2:47


  3. Faith Only is a losing proposition
    1. "That we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort." Methodist Articles of Religion No. IX (not wholesome, but certainly full of holes)
      1. While Romans 3:28 & 5:1 say we're justified by faith, they do not say by faith only.
      2. Acts 13:38 justified by Christ
      3. Romans 3:24 justified by God's grace thru the redemption which is in Christ Jesus
      4. Romans 5:9 justified by Christ's blood
      5. I Cor. 6:11 justified in the name of our L.J.C. and by the Spirit of our God
    2. "You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." James 2:24
      1. James 2:21 "Wasn't Abraham justified by works, when he offered Isaac upon the altar?
      2. James 2:25 "Wasn't Rahab justified by works when she received the spies and sent them out another way?"
      3. In Hebrews 11, we see how that by faith Abel offered, Noah prepared, Abraham obeyed.
      4. I Peter 1:22 "Seeing then ye have purified your souls in obedience to the truth . . ."


  4. No Baptism is a poor gamble
    1. Mark 16:16
    2. I Peter 3:21


  5. Any Baptism is a bad bet
    1. Some people fail to understand the nature, purpose, and essentiality of baptism:
      1. Some say, "I was baptized as an infant." Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12 "buried w/Him"
      2. Some say "I've already been immersed."
        1. Harding U. - Jimmy Allen 'any immersion to please God is acceptable.'
        2. What is the purposeor reason for being baptized? Acts 2:38; 22:16
        3. New knowledge cannot be retroactively applied to an invalid immersion- Acts 19.


  6. My Time is a terrible chance. Please don't take a chance with your eternal destiny!
    1. Matthew 27:65 Pilate: "Make it as secure as you know how."
    2. II Peter 1:10 "Make your calling and election sure."
    3. II Corinthians 6:2 "Behold, now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation."
    4. Acts 24:24-25 "Go thy way for now, when I have a convenient time, I will call for thee."