3. Reading for Today
Luke 13:22-25

4. Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV) 26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

7. During the Lord’s earthly ministry, men were interested in the number of people that could be saved.
Often men would ask such questions, “How many shall be saved?” (Lk. 13:24-25)
Luke 13:24-25 (NKJV) 24  "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25  When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'

8. There’s no need to worry about the number that shall be saved (2 Pet
It is individual (Phil. 2:12; cf. Acts 16:30; 22:10)
Acts 22:10 (NKJV) 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'
Acts 16:30 (NKJV)
30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
2 Peter 1:10 (NKJV) 10  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

9. Matthew 7:13-14
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

10. People still ask the same question.
Let’s interview some people and see what kind of answers we get and then look in the Bible for the correct answer.
Because frankly honest, today you are going to receive a lot of answers when it comes to this question!

11. “How many shall be saved?”
THE ATHEIST
Let’s ask the atheist:
“How many shall be saved?”

12. The atheist is wrong when he tells us that no one will be saved.
Let’s ask the atheist: “How many shall be saved?”
Do you know what his answer is?
Nobody!
Well, what about the Big Bang Theory?
Did the universe begin with a simple big explosion of “nothing”?
Are we just a giant cosmic accident? Is that reasonable?
But … what about man? What about the creation?
Isn’t it much more reasonable to believe what the Bible says? (Gen. 1:1, 26; Acts 17:28; Psa. 19:1; Rom. 1:20; Psa. 14:1)
The atheist is wrong when he tells us that no one will be saved.

13. Cannot make up his mind whether God exists or not.
THE AGNOSTIC
Cannot make up his mind whether God exists or not.

14. A: Someone who stays up all night wondering if there is a Dog?”
THE AGNOSTIC
Thus, he couldn’t possibly know whether or not any are saved. Maybe?
Pursuing the agnostic’s philosophy always leads to a dead end.
Groucho Marx:
“Q: What do you get when you cross an insomniac, an agnostic, and a dyslexic?
A: Someone who stays up all night wondering if there is a Dog?”

15. THE MORALIST
The Moralist takes the position that all good, moral people, will be saved regardless of what they are religiously.

16. THE MORALIST
Although the Bible teaches the importance of morality, it also says that one must hear and obey the gospel (eg: Cornelius (Acts 10 & 11).
The same is true today. Morality is essential but so is hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel of Christ (Rom. 6:17-18; 1:5; 16:26).
One cannot be saved unless he does both! 2 Thes. 1:7-9
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NKJV) 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:17-18 (NKJV) 17  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

17. THE UNIVERSALIST
The Universalist believes everybody will be saved. God is too good to allow anyone to be lost (1 Jn. 4:8).
1 John 4:8 (NKJV) 8  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

18. THE UNIVERSALIST
What about Romans 11:22?
If you don’t believe in the severity of God, just ask a few people (Gen. 3; Lev. 10; Acts 5).
Why did those things happen? Because of the severity of God when man commits sin!
God is not a capricious, temperamental, and vengeful God (Psa. 103:8; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4; Jn. 6:68; 12:48; Matt. 5:7; Rom. 2:3b-11; Matt. 6:14-15; Acts 10:34-35).
You see, the person who says nobody will be saved is just as wrong as the person that says everybody will be saved!
John 6:68 (NKJV) 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Romans 11:22 (NKJV) 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Psalm 103:8 (NKJV) 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

19. THE CALVINIST
Calvinism is a system of theology devised by John Calvin, one of the reformers who lived in the 16th century. “God from the foundation of the world, predestined some men to everlasting life and all others to everlasting death – the number of which is certain and definite.”
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

20. THE CALVINIST Calvinism consists of 5 major tenants: T-U-L-I-P
Total Hereditary Depravity (Eccl. 7:29; Ezek. 18)
Unconditional Election (Rev. 22:17)
Limited Atonement (Heb. 2:9)
Irresistible Grace (Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21)
Perseverance of the Saints (Col. 1:21-23)
Surely the Calvinist is wrong when he advocates this position!
Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, …”
Romans 1:16 (NKJV) 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Revelation 22:17 (NKJV) 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NKJV) 29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."
Hebrews 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

21. THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESS
The JW takes the position that exactly 144,000 will be saved; those and those alone!
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

22. THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Read Revelation 14:1-4:
This is not literal! These are figures of speech – the waters, the thunder, the harpers, and the 144,000. By the way, these are all virgin Jewish men! Will women be excluded?!
Revelation 22:17; Matthew 11:28: “Whosoever will” & “all you that labour and are heavy laden.”
All people are invited to share the blessings of the gospel. All people have the opportunity to be saved! Titus 2:11
God doesn’t limit Himself like the JW’s falsely argue! 2 Pet. 3:9
Titus 2:11 (NKJV) =11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

23. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
The RCC takes the position that only those who have embraced Roman Catholicism will be saved.
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

24. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC Catholicism cannot provide the correct answer.
What does the Bible teach about the RCC? Matt. 16:18; Psa. 127:1
You do not read about the RCC in the Bible! 2 Thess. 2:3-4?
It wasn’t until ~600 A.D. that the first Roman Pope was crowned; 600 years too late!
They are “blind leaders of the blind” (Matt. 15:13-14).
Catholicism cannot provide the correct answer.
Matthew 15:13-14 (NKJV) 13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

25. THE PROTESTANT
The term protestant came from the idea that people protested against Roman Catholicism.
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

26. THE PROTESTANT
But when I ask the question “How many shall be saved”, they say that all sincerely religious people will be saved, regardless of what they believe.
What about worshipping idols?
What about human sacrifice?
What about worshipping the Devil?
No, I don’t believe that this fellow has the right answer the question, especially when he says “Just be sincerely religious”. Lots of people are sincerely religious! Most conversions in the Bible were of sincerely religious people.
The Jews – Acts The Eunuch – Acts 8--- Saul of Tarsus – Acts 9
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

27. That’s how many shall be saved!
THE BIBLE
Did any of the eight people interviewed give the right answer in light of the Scriptures? No!
It would be a great injustice if we did not give a positive, clear, decisive answer as to how many will be saved. What is written? 2 Tim. 3:16-17
Hear (Acts 11:14). What words? (Rom. 10:17; Romans 1:16; Matt. 17:5)
Believe (Acts 16:30-31)
Repent (Acts 17:30-31)
Confess (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37)
Baptized (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)
Endure (Matt. 24:13; Acts 8:22; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9).
That’s how many shall be saved!

28. First eight people gave us answers from human reasoning.
The answers I gave were from God’s book (Matt. 1:21; Lk. 19:10; Acts 4:12).
How many shall be saved? As many as want to be saved!
“Whosoever will” may be saved! No more, no less.
Do you want to be saved? 2 Cor. 6:2
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?

29. Do you want to obey The Lord today?