Sunday, November 5, 2023 AM
THESE THINGS WE BELIEVE: The Pathway of Salvation
Mike Teel, Pastor
Focal Passages:
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. —I John 5:12-13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. —Romans 10:13 (KJV)
HOW CAN WE
FOR SURE WE ARE SAVED?
–Here are two questions that help us put Salvation into perspective:
—-Have you come to the place in your Spiritual life where you know for certain if you were to die today, you would go to heaven, or is this something you would say you are still working on?
—-If you were to die to day and God said to you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What would you say?
–The answers to these two questions can vary significantly: Yes, no, maybe, don’t think you can know for sure.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. —I John 5:13
1. THE
OF SALVATION
–Far too many people have no assurance that when they die, they are going to heaven.
–This is largely due to the fact they do not understand what it means to be saved by Grace.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9
2.
SALVATION
–Too many people believe today that if they are going to heaven it is because of they have earned heaven by being a good person, or living a good life or following the commandments, etc.
–God has given us the gift of Salvation Eternal Life and we cannot purchase the gift because it has already been purchased.
THE
OF WORD SALVATION
The word “Salvation” has various meanings in Scripture.
1.
OR
–For instance, in the New Testament this word and its verb form is sometimes used in the sense of rescuing from danger or destruction.
25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” —Matthew 8:25
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. —Acts 27:20
–It is also used to indicate healing from disease.
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment. —Matthew 9:22 (CSB)
2.
SALVATION
–The greatest use is with regard to spiritual salvation through Christ.
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved? —Matthew 19:25
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. —John 10:9
–Salvation in this sense means full redemption of the whole man.
–God paid the ransom to Himself in order to satisfy His demands of the Holy, righteous nature.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. —II Corinthians 5:19
–On the cross Jesus Christ made the once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of men.
11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. —Hebrews 9:11-12
–This salvation was and is offered to believers on God’s initiative as an expression of His love for sinners.
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16
–This everlasting or eternal life is not a life that begins after death, but is the quality of life which is eternal, beginning the moment one believes in Jesus and continuing in eternity.
THE
OF SALVATION
1.
PLAN
–God has but one plan of salvation for “all” people.
–God has never had any other plan of salvation.
–Not through our performance (law) or heritage (Jew) or even affiliation (church).
2.
PLAN
–Some would have us believe that, during the Old Testament times, men were saved by keeping the law.
—-Paul corrected that false conception:
16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. —Galatians 2:16
—-Example of Abraham:
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” —Galatians 3:6
—-Example of Moses:
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. —Hebrews 11:24-26
–These Old Testament folks were saved through faith in Christ who was to come, even as we are saved through faith in Christ who has come.
3. FOUR IMPORTANT
IN THE
OF SALVATION
There are four important phases in the experience of salvation.
A.
–Conversion means a turning.
–When a person experiences conversion, they change from a life of sin to living a life of obedience to God.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. —I John 3:7-10
Two important elements in conversion:
a. REPENTANCE
–More than conviction –
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ —Luke 18:13
–More than sorrow –
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. —II Corinthians 7:10
–Change of mind –
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. —I John 3:7-10
–Necessary –
3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. —Luke 13:3
–Sometimes accompanied by restitution –
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” —Luke 19:8
b. FAITH
–Believe – the intellectual element –
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” —Acts 16:31
–Acceptance –
2 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— —John 1:12
–Surrender / Trust –
5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. —Romans 4:5
B.
–The experience of salvation is more than conversion, a turning away from sin, and a turning to the Lord Jesus Christ.
–It is more than regeneration, a new birth, brought by the Spirit of God.
–When one repents of his sin and puts his trust in Christ, God forgives his sins.
–But He does more than that: He restores the sinner to divine favor.
–The story of the Prodigal Son –
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. —Luke 15:22-24
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. —Romans 5:1-2
C.
–God not only forgives and justifies the believer, He adopts him into His family and makes him His own child.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— —Ephesians 1:4-5
a. Adoption: When a child is adopted in today’s society, it is almost impossible to “disinherit” them. It is easier to disinherit a naturally born child.
b. Expression of God’s Love –
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. —I John 3:1
c. Man’s Nature –
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. —Ephesians 2:3
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, —Galatians 3:26
D.
–In the growth process it is the nature of children to grow spiritually and mentally.
–It is the same way with the “spiritual” growth process.
–We are expected to grow and mature spiritually.
–Natural: birth (explore & develop); childhood (obedience); young adult / teenager (trust); adulthood (reproduction)
–Where are you in the maturation process? Some of us are by nature chronologically old but still very young in Spiritual things.
–The Spiritual growth process is not complete in this life.
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. —I John 3:2
–It starts with a life changing experience – Regeneration
–It progresses by the operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart and life – Sanctification
–It ends in the glorious consummation in the presence of the Lord – Glorification
SOME
ABOUT SALVATION
1.
GIFT –
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23
–Cannot be earned. –
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9
–We are not saved BY our good works, but FOR good works.
–Price was paid by Christ. –
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:5-6
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. —II Corinthians 5:21
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. —I Peter 3:18
2. IT IS A
,
EXPERIENCE
A. Personal – God does not deal with people as families or groups. Romans 14:12
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
B. Soul
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15
3. THREE-
EXPERIENCE
–Initial Experience – Regeneration:
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 8for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— —Ephesians 2:5, 8
–A Growing Experience – Sanctification:
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, —Philippians 2:12
–A Culminating Experience – Glorification:
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! —Romans 5:9
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. —Romans 13:11
4.
IN DURATION
–This deals with the topic of Eternal Security or Once Saved Always Saved.
–Question: If we are not saved by our works (merit) then how can we lose our salvation by our works?
–If we can lose our salvation, then there would have to be another sacrifice. Christ came once for all.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, —Hebrews 10:26
–We will discuss this more when we examine the Doctrine of Eternal Security.
5. CALLS FOR A PUBLIC
–A public profession of faith allows everyone to know your position with Christ.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. —Matthew 10:32 (KJV)
–It also allows you to enjoy the full satisfaction of a person’s salvation.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. —Romans 10:9-10
6. EXPRESSES ITSELF IN
–A true test of salvation is the desire to be obedient to God!
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. —John 14:23-24
9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him —Hebrews 5:9
–It also means doing that which is good, dedicating our life to the service of God.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. —James 1:27
–Negative and positive obedience.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:1-2
7. SALVATION IS
FOR
PEOPLE
–Not willing any to perish.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —II Peter 3:9
4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. —I Timothy 2:4
–Love sent Jesus.
–It was God’s love for the world that led Him to send His Son into the world.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16
–Motivated by God’s love.
–It was the salvation of the world that motivated Jesus to go to the cross and die.
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. —I John 2:2
–Share the Gospel.
–God has commissioned His Church to share the gospel with the whole world.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, —Matthew 28:19
LIVE IT OUT
God’s plan is for everyone to be saved!
Do you know Christ personally as a result of a biblical salvation experience?
How do others know you have been saved?