Can a Christian lose his salvation? If not, what do we do with all the passages warning believers not to fall away? In this sermon we consider Jesus' words of promise which touch on this issue.

This was the message given at the funeral of Jeff McConnell Pastor Doug's brother. The sermon presents a powerful, pastoral exploration of the gospel message through the lens of personal loss and divine truth, using the story of a dying man's journey to illustrate the necessity of confronting the bad news of human sin before embracing the good news of salvation in Christ. It begins with a sobering examination of humanity's fallen condition, rooted in Adam and Eve's rebellion, emphasizing that all people are guilty before God due to sin in thought, word, and deed, and that no amount of good works can atone for this guilt. The central message then unfolds with the joyful proclamation that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, lived a perfect life, died as a substitute on the cross, and offers His righteousness as a free gift to all who repent, believe, and trust in Him alone. The sermon underscores that true faith involves not just intellectual agreement but personal surrender—acknowledging one's sin, believing in Christ's atoning death and resurrection, and committing to Him as Savior. It concludes with a solemn yet hopeful call to choose eternal life through faith in Jesus, contrasting the final moments of a defiant dictator with a believer's peaceful departure, and urging every listener to prepare for eternity by receiving the gospel as the only true hope for salvation.

The sermon, titled 'How the Dragon Almost Stole Christmas,' uses Revelation 12 to reveal the cosmic conflict between God's redemptive plan and Satan's relentless opposition, centered on the birth of Christ. The woman symbolizes Israel, portrayed as a nation in labor, enduring millennia of suffering and persecution as Satan, depicted as a great red dragon, seeks to destroy the Messiah at every turn. Despite relentless attacks—from Cain to Herod, from Pharaoh to Hitler—Christ's birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension fulfill God's promise, defeating death and securing salvation. The sermon emphasizes that Israel's enduring existence and the persistence of anti-Semitism are not coincidental but part of a divine drama in which God remains faithful to His covenant, and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises to both Israel and the Church is certain. The message concludes with a call to trust in God's unwavering faithfulness, knowing that no power—human or demonic—can thwart His eternal plan.