Author: Art Davison

WHAT GOD KEEPS–NUMBERS 6:22-27

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WHAT GOD KEEPS
NUMBERS 6:22-27

Key verse: v. 24, “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee.”

Introduction:
Since God is omnipotent, when He keeps something, it is permanent—a fact readily seen in Scriptures. The true child of God should constantly rejoice in God’s keeping power.
The security of the Believer is one of the doctrines of the Word of God that Satan hates and he has tried for centuries to destroy this doctrine. However, God continues to KEEP His people in many ways. Listed here are a number of examples of what God keeps:

I. HE KEEPS US FROM LOSING OUR SALVATION

A. He is able, Jude 24, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”

1. To keep us from falling, Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
2. To present us faultless before His presence, Revelation 14:5, “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
B. By the power of His name, John 17:11, “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
1. To keep us from evil, John 17:15, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
2. He keeps us night and day, Isaiah 27:3, “I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.”

II. HE KEEPS US FROM STUMBLING

A. He will keep the feet of His saints, 1 Samuel 2:9, “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.”

1. Our steps are established by the Lord, Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24- Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
2. The Lord preserves our goings and comings, Psalm 121:8, “The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
B. His angels have charge over us, Psalm 91:11-12, “For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12- They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

III. HE KEEPS US AS A TREASURE

A. We are the Apple of His Eye, Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”

1. He found us in a desert land, Deuteronomy 32:10, “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”
2. The Lord protects those that are precious to Him, Zechariah 2:8, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”
B. We are His jewels, His special treasure, Malachi 3:17, “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels [Heb. special treasure]; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

IV. THE LORD KEEPS US IN THE PEACE OF GOD

A. The Peace that passes understanding, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

1. It is to know Christ, Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
2. It is like eating hidden manna, Revelation 2:17, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
B. God’s peace is a perfect peace, Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
1. God offers His peace to those who will trust Him, Isaiah 57:19, “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.”
2. For those who will not trust Christ there is no peace, Isaiah 57:20-21, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21- There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

CONCLUSION

“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee” are great words to hear. It is to know that the Lord is protecting us from every sort of evil. He allows us to go through difficulty, but His protection is always there to lean on during those times.

WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?–DEUTERONOMY 10:12:

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WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?
DEUTERONOMY 10:12:
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” See also MATTHEW 22:34-40.
Introduction:
There are four things mentioned in this verse that God expects of us: to FEAR the Lord thy God; to WALK in His ways; to LOVE Him; and to SERVE Him.
In order to do these things, three parts of us are involved: the HEART, the SOUL, and the MIND. Matthew 22:37 says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

I. GOD REQUIRES US TO FEAR THE LORD.
A. The unbelieving man has no fear of God, Romans 3:18, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
1. Man does not hearken to the Word of God, Luke 11:28, “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
a. Hearken means to hear the Word of God.
b. It does not only mean to hear, but to keep or obey the Word of God is the significance of the word.
2. Fear is a result of the preaching of the Word of God, Acts 2:43, “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”
B. The Fear of the Lord come on a person who realizes that they are condemned before the Lord without Jesus Christ. John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

II. GOD REQUIRES US TO WALK IN HIS WAYS.

A. When a man trust Christ as his Savior, he gives HIS WORD that he will walk in God’s ways. Deuteronomy 26:17, “Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:”

1. The word “avouched” means “to affirm” that God is your God.
2. It means “to guarantee” that you will “walk in his ways.”
B. “That it may be well with you,” Deuteronomy 5:33, “Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” Walk in the ways of the Lord…
1. …that ye may live.”
2. …that it may be well with you.”
3. …that ye prolong your days.”

III. GOD REQUIRES US TO LOVE HIM.
A. Love Him with all your heart. Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” This the physical being. You should love God with all of your physical strength.
B. Love Him with all of your soul. This is the spiritual and emotional part of man. This is the inner person that Gods see when no one else can.
C. Love Him with all of your mind. This is your understanding, all of your mental faculties and abilities.

IV. GOD REQUIRES US TO SERVE HIM.

A. God wants us to be in subjection to Him.

One who is under the control of God, Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
2. One who is lead by God, Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”
B. God wants us to work for Him. 1 Corinthians 13:9, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
1. Faith without works is dead, James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
2. We are His workmanship and God has plans for us, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

CONCLUSION

What does God expect from us? He expects a fully equipped servant, who has prepared himself by worship, Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” One who has prepared himself through his love for the Lord, in the giving of himself to the Lord.

THIS NATION IN THE SIGHT OF THE NATIONS–DEUTERONOMY 4:6-8

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THIS NATION IN THE SIGHT OF THE NATIONS
DEUTERONOMY 4:6-8
Introduction:

“For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” Deuteronomy 4:7. This speaks of Israel, but it could be said of America as well. What nation is more blessed then the United States? Do not other nations envy our prosperity and our freedom to live our lives?

Today all of that is changing because we have changed. Let’s consider some things about America in respect to the Word of God and what it requires.

I. SURELY THIS GREAT NATION IS A WISE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE

A. Is this nation a wise and understanding nation, Job 28:28, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
1. Where is the fear of the Lord in America?
a. The fear of the Lord is a clean thing, Psalm 19:9-10,“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10- More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
b. The wicked have no fear of God, Psalm 36:1-2, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2- For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
c. This is a heart problem, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
2. Do we keep God’s commandments? Deuteronomy 4:6, “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
a. Keeping God’s Word is what makes us different from the world, Proverbs 8:32, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.”
b. Why America became great in the past, Psalm 1:1-4, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2- But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3- And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4- The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”
3. Are we an understanding nation today? Psalm 34:14-16, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15- The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16- The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”
a. The eyes of the Lord are on those that know Him as Savior, v. 15; Psalm 33:18-19, “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.”
b. The face of the Lord is against the evil doer, v. 16; Ezekiel 14:8,“And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
1) Those that say “there is not God,” Psalm 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
2) Their end is destruction, Deuteronomy 32:20, “And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.”
B. Surely this nation is a blessed nation, Psalm 89:15-16, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16- In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.”
1. They shall walk in thy presence, Psalm 4:6-7, “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7- Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”
2. They rejoice in the name of the Lord, Psalm 33:21, “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
3. In His righteousness the nation is exalted, Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
C. However, this nation has forgotten God, Deuteronomy 32:18, “Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.”
1. Those that forget God, Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
2. America has grown fat and forgotten the God who made her, Deuteronomy 32:15, “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” [Jeshurun is a poetical name for the people of Israel, used in token of affection, meaning, “the dear upright people.”]

CONCLUSION

America has changed for the worst. We have so many good things to enjoy that God has so abundantly given us, but we as people have become blind to the truth.
America is not the America of yesterday, but is headed for a One-World-Government that will take away everything that America has stood for in the past. America has forgotten God.

THE WAY OF THE EAGLE–DEUTERONOMY 32:7-14

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THE WAY OF THE EAGLE
DEUTERONOMY 32:7-14
Key verse: v. 11, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”

Introduction:
Agur, the psalm writer, exclaimed that there were four things that were too wonderful for him which were hard to describe. The first was, “The way of an eagle in the air” (Proverbs 30:18-19).
Eagles are majestic in appearance as they soar and glide on their powerful wings. Their swiftness, strength, and keen eyesight are amazing.

I. THE LORD BORE ISRAEL ON EAGLES’ WINGS

A. God moved with speed to get Israel out of Egypt at the appointed hour, Exodus 19:4, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles ’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
B. THE Lord takes note of the strength with which He redeemed Israel, Deuteronomy 32:11, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”
1. The eagle pushes the young out of the nest and takes care of them, Deuteronomy 32:10, “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”
a. He led [shielded] him about, Deuteronomy 33:29, “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency ! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.”
b. He instructed him, Psalm 147:19-20, “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.”
c. He kept [guard with fidelity] him, Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”
2. Then she flies under them with wings spread out to catch them when tired, Deuteronomy 32:11b, “and how I bare you on eagles ’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
3. God bears us up with His enormus strength, Exodus 13:16, “And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.”

II. LIKE THE EAGLE GOD FILLS US WITH GOOD THINGS

A. God satisfies us so that our strength is renewed, Psalm 103:5, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
1. These were God’s mercies of which we are not worthy, Genesis 32:10, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” [Jacob]
2. God’s mercy was such as to forget our sins, Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
B. God fills our mouths if we open them, Psalm 81:10, “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
1. He will give us the desires of our heart, Psalm 37:3-4, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4- Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
2. He is able to do more than we can imagine, Ephesians 3:19-20, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20- Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

III. GOD GIVES THE STRENGTH OF EAGLES TO HIS PEOPLE

A. They that wait on the Lord, Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
1. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation, Isaiah 25:9, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
2. Our strength will be changed as that of Samson, Judges 16:29-30, “And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left . 30- And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
3. The Believer grows stronger when he waits on the Lord, Job 17:9, “The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.”
B. The eaglet was created to fly, not stay in the nest, Amos 6:1, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!”
1. The Canaanites dwelt at ease when the tribe of Dan came looking for their inheritance, Judges 18:7, “Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.”
2. The eagle is not satisfied to stay in the nest, James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
3. We are to multiply, Hosea 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
4. We are to increase and abound in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men , even as we do toward you:”
Conclusion

THE TRUTH IS NOT HIDDEN–DEUTERONOMY 30:11-14; ROMANS 10:6-8

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THE TRUTH IS NOT HIDDEN
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-14; ROMANS 10:6-8

Key verse: Deuteronomy 30:14, “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”

Introduction:
The Truth is not hidden, but it does have to be believed. Some things can be right under our noses and still we can’t see them. There are some folks who are genuinely interested in knowing the truth and seek it out.
Today America has heard the truth and yet chooses not to believe it and yet some can’t seem to find it. Thus the question…

I. WHERE IS THE TRUTH?

A. God reproves man for having wandered in darkness through their own depravity, vv. 11-12; Proverbs 1:23, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”

1. Man sits in darkness and the shadow of death, Psalms 107:10-  11, “Such as   sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11- Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:”
2. He has sinned and rebelled against the Word of God, Lamentations 5:15-16, “The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. 16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!”
a. The joy of our heart is ceased, Jeremiah 25:10, “Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.”
b. The crown is fallen from our head, Job 19:9, “He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.”
B. He has not spoken the Truth to man in secret, v. 11; Isaiah 45:19, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.”
1. There is no other god to speak, Isaiah 43:10, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
2. God has spoken righteousness, Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
3. He had declared that which is right, Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

II. THE TRUTH IS NOT FAR AWAY

A. No one has to go to heaven for us to get the truth, Romans 10:6-8, “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”

B. The truth is found here on earth, Text v. 12, “It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?”

1. The truth is not among the dead, Matthew 22:32, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

2. God says that the truth is near us:

a. It is within ear shot, Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

b. It is by faith in the Word of God, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

C. Jesus invites us to learn the truth, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

1. Jesus speaks distinctly and explicitly:

a. “I am the door,” John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

b. “I am the Way,” John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

c. “I am the Truth,” 1 John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

d. “I am the Life,” John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

D. Jesus invites to come to Him for peace, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

1. I have broken the bands of your slavery, Leviticus 26:13, “I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.”

2. He offers rest for our souls, John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

E. “Believe on Him that sent me,” John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

CONCLUSION

The philosophy of the day is that there is truth in all religions, that there are many ways to heaven. However, the Bible says there is but one way to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ. Peter said in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”