Mike Abendroth: November 6, 2013

It is a potpourri show today on NoCo. Pastor Mike first goes over some of his philosophy of ministry and how he interacts with new church attenders and what they can expect if they come to Bethlehem Bible Church. Pastor Mike also discusses the difference between parental and judicial forgiveness, before talking about assurance of salvation. Jesus told the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Do we all need to have Jesus sitting next to us telling us this so that we can have assurance? No! Unlike Roman Catholics (who teach that you can’t really know if you’re going to heaven or not) — the Bible teaches that you can have complete assurance. Read 1 John 5:2-21 (specifically focus on v 13): “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” Assurance is not “Jesus plus …” — it is Jesus alone. By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone — this is what we trust in and what comprises salvation, not anything we do that would “add” to the finished work of Christ on the cross. Read the book of Colossians if you are struggling with this truth.