TEXT:  1 Cor. 10:12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WE DON'T TAKE SALVATION SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.

          1.       Spiritual things unreal.  We can't see them.

          2.       It can't happen to me.

B.      SELF-SUFFICIENCY WARNED AGAINST( Matt. 19:23-26 ).

I.      A CHILD OF GOD CAN FALL.

A.      1 Cor. 10:12.  NOT A WASTED WARNING... TO CHRISTIANS.

B.      1 Cor. 9:27.  POSSIBLE FOR PAUL TO BE REJECTED.

C.      Heb. 11:6.  FAITH IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION( John 8:24 ).

          1.       See what can happen to Christians?( Heb. 3:12 ).

          2.       What can happen to faith?( 1 Tim. 1:19; 4:1; 2 Tim. 2:18 ).

          3.       What does this cause?( Heb. 6:4-8;  10:26-29 ).

          4.       Additional danger( Heb. 3:12-14 ).

D.      PAUL'S PLAIN STATEMENT( Gal. 5:4 ).

E.      THE TRAGEDY OF FALLING FROM GRACE( 2 Pet. 2:20-22 ).

II.     HOW TO KEEP FROM FALLING.

A.      BE WATCHFUL( Matt. 26:41 ).

          1.       The devil is a tricky customer( 1 Pet. 5:8 ).

          2.       The world is full of land mines( Eph. 5:15-16 ).

          3.       ( vs. 17 ).  Take it seriously, we are at war( 6:12 ).

B.      James 4:7.  RESIST, DON'T JOIN( Eph. 5:6-12 ).

C.      BE FILLED WITH THE SCRIPTURES( Matt. 4:1-11 ).

D.      LOOK TO JESUS( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

E.      EXHORT ONE ANOTHER( Heb. 3:12-13;  10:24-25 ).

F.      WORK TO DEVELOP CHARACTER( 2 Pet. 1:5-10;  Phil. 4:8 ).

G.      HOLD ON TIGHT( Heb. 3:14;  4:14;  10:23 ).

H.      PRAY( Matt. 26:41 )

III.    THE FALLEN CHRISTIAN CAN BE RESTORED( Gal. 6:1 ).

A.      Acts 8:22.  REPENT AND PRAY.

B.      1 John 1:6-10.  COME OUT OF THE DARK AND CONFESS SINS.

C.      WE ARE PROMISED FORGIVENESS( 1 John 2:1-2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

B.      FORGIVENESS IS FOR CHRISTIANS( Rom. 8:1 ).

C.      HOW DOES ONE BECOME A CHRISTIAN( Matt. 28:19-20;  Acts 2:38 ).