SALVATION BY Faith

Someone’s life story begining with, “When I got saved...” There was a time when they were engaging in self destructive or immoral behavior. Something happened that awakened them to the love of God, a spiritual conversion. They surrendered their life to Jesus, the negative behaviors, and poor choices left behind, and embraced a new identity, found a church and became a follower of Jesus.

Grace Centers of Hope — Young Man — Bench — Saved

Bible study — Key question

HOW CAN I BE SAVED?

“UM’s hold in common with all Christians a faith in the mystery of salvation in and through Jesus Christ.” B.O.D. 2012

Salvation, ever thought about it? What it really means to be saved? Saved to what — Saved from what

J.W. the founder of Methodism, believed along with the Apostle Paul, that salvation is PERSONAL because he experienced it...and that it’s because of of God’s great love because he didn’t knew he didn’t deserve it...

“SALVATION the GREATEST of ALL Blessings”

(S3) — Wesley’s revelation of true salvation came in two parts...

October 2 1st, 1735, John and Charles Wesley and a group of Moravians, set sail for Georgia. Their voyage was a succession of storms.

“The sea broke over the vessel split the main sail in pieces and poured in between the decks as if the great deep had already swallowed them up.”

Yet he found that Moravians were delivered from the spirit of fear, as they were calmly singing and praising God in the bowels of the brutally tossed vessel. “Even the women and children were not afraid to die.”

Wesley,~ ashamed of his unwillingness to die, asked himself; “How is it thou hast no faith” This greatly affected him though he would not discover how much until months later. His journey to Georgia to him was a great disappointment due to many failings, leading him eventually to sneak off in the night, quietly returning to London.

Ever faced a storm? Questioned your own salvation?

“John returned very discouraged that he couldn’t translate his ideas about God in effective ways for the people of the Georgia. In this period he became friends with a Moravian preacher, Peter Boehler. At a small religious meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, on May 24, 1738, John had an experience with God that changed his life.” He famously described this experience as having his heart “strangely warmed.”

“This personal encounter with God prompted John to spend the rest of his life energetically encouraging others to meet God personally. This encounter with God seems to have caused his faith to move from mostly his head to his heart; it activated a deep dependence on God’s grace and a whole new way of living that he then shared with thousands of people.”

(S4) —

But he discovered, like the Apostle Paul, not all were so eager to here his new preaching and his enthusiasm for what he learned in his conversion. Because of his change in preaching, Methodists came to be called "Enthusiasts, religious fanatics of some sort. People claiming to be spirit-filled [or enthused] were considered suspicious."

Wesley in his preaching challenged both those in and outside the church with the truth salvation he discovered. “He preached the sermon “Salvation by Faith” at St. Mary’s, Oxford University as one of the University sermons on June 11, 1738, less than three weeks after his famous personal conversion.

This led to his being forbidden to preach in England’s churches again...”The world as my parish... thousands came to hear of his message of the need for repentance salvation.

“Wesley taught that “Grace is the source, faith the condition, of salvation.”

(S5) —

Wesley's Sermons — Questions — “If grace is the source, then what is this faith through which we are saved?”

I. Faith in the JESUS the risen Christ

“Christ and God through Christ are to be the proper object of our faith. Distinguishing us from those who only believe there is a God.

This would be only the beginning of Wesley’s troubles — Attacked by some in the crowds

Paul’s mission to the gentiles, a world with many God’s — Preaching only one true God

(S6) —

Ephesians 2:4–7 (NLT)

4 But GOD is so rich in mercy, and GOD loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, GOD gave us life when GOD raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by GOD’S grace that you have been saved!) 6 For GOD raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So GOD can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of GOD’S grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all GOD has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Many people say, “I have faith, or just have faith and…but did you ever ask the what or who their faith is in?

I can say I have faith in my car, till it doesn't start…

Steve’s check engine light story

Who is your faith in? God who is merciful, who loves you, gives you life, raised Jesus from the dead, united you with him in life…through faith?

Romans 10:9 (NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The apostles knew Jesus, but would not yet fully know this faith for salvation until...

This salvation is, “faith that acknowledges the necessity and merit of Christ’ death, and the power of his resurrection.” for the assurance of our salvation...

What is the salvation which is through faith?

(S7) —

II. It is a PRESENT salvation

Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed.

The apostle is speaking of not just a future event (eternal); but a now and present salvation that one can obtain, experienced, and lived in this life.

This the saving grace Wesley felt when he experienced a rightness in his heart with God. But it was not just one moment, he went on to have a sense of a greater peace and assurance that God loved him and was saved. This began a Revival in Wesley’s life — Now alive with Christ, raised from his transgressions into the incomparable riches of knowing his grace; which he felt now lived within. Leading him to a new way of inspirational preaching, as one who now “walked assured and unashamed,” truly transformed by the love of God within his heart.

(S8) —

“It is something attainable, yea, actually attained, on earth, by those who are partakers of this faith.”

This present salvation (justification), when one receives assurance in their heart of God’s great love...

If you’re a mom, you know love! (the pain of childbirth) — If you’re a grandparent, you know love — If you’re a friend to another, you know love

But if your a follower of Jesus, you are alive in Jesus , God’s great favor poured out on us and in us; saved in the present

“Our Wesleyan theology embraces the scriptural promise that we can expect to receive assurance of our present salvation as the Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (B.O.D. loc 1813)

Isn't that the assurance we all desire?

(S9) —

What is the salvation which is through faith?

III. Salvation from SIN

“This is that great salvation foretold by the angel,” The words to Joseph regarding the child Mary in her womb.” Mat 1:21 “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

(S10) —

J.W. goes on to share the sin we are saved from;

1. Saved from the GUILT of past sin

There is no greater burden to carry then guilt of past mistakes God by his grace gives us the power to look in the rear-view mirror, free of guilt, only so we can praise God because we are no longer who or what we once were.

(S11) —

2. Saved from the FEAR of God’s judgment

Because of seed of original sin, because of our prone to wander and because of existing temptation, because we all fall short of his glory, deserving not. Yet it is because of God’s great love for us, we discover that it is GRACE which reveals: The forgiving Mercy of God

Ephesians 2:4 (NLT)

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

No longer having to be bound to the chains of the past, when we are repentant in heart, forgiveness in spirit frees us to live an abundant life with assurance and peace of God.

(The woman in St. Charles)

Saved from the guilt of sin and the fear of Gods judgment.

Romans 8:1 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

(S12) —

3. Saved from the POWER of sin

A current salvation means that yes sin remains, but that sin no longer needs to reign over us in our present bodies.

Romans 6:12 “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”

J.W. speaks of a freedom from habitual and willful sin. Not sinless, but transformed by the great grace of God, giving a true believer the power over sin in the present life. A waking every day to live as if living for the Lord, because he has lavished such great love on us an in us.

Salvation through faith in Christ — Present salvation — Salvation from Sin

(S13) —

What is the salvation which is through faith?

IV. The great GIFT of God

Ephesians 2:8...it is a gift from God.

I don’t know about you, but I like gifts, especially when they don’t cost me anything! This gift of grace cost you nothing, it only requires your response.

I am not sure if it is giving or receiving a gift which feels the greatest, but, I know this there is nothing of greater neglect than a gift ready for the taking, yet left unopened...

1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift you received...

Gift left to die within — Poetry

Salvation — A gift given: God mighty in his power to save!

J.W. knew God, but it wasn’t till he discovered salvation through FAITH in Christ, PRESENT salvation, salvation from SIN, the great GIFT of God, when he felt God’s mighty power when he truly came to know God’s great favor, his forgiving mercy and the gift of his grace; he knew he was saved!

(S14) —

This is a message he would take too much of London, and much of the world would come to know God who is mighty to save.

“Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed that the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him": here is comfort, high as heaven, stronger than death! What! Mercy for all "Then I, even I, may hope for mercy!" And so thou mayest, thou afflicted one, whom none hath comforted! God will not cast out thy prayer. Nay, perhaps he may say the next hour, "Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee;" so forgiven, that they shall reign over thee no more; yea, and that "the Holy Spirit shall bear witness with thy spirit that thou art a child of God." O glad tidings! tidings of great joy, which are sent unto all people!

Where do you stand today? What do you believe? Do you have salvation through faith in Christ? Do you know this PRESENT salvation? Salvation from SIN? The great GIFT of God?

(S15) —

YOU CAN!

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

It is by this salvation in Jesus, that we can walk by faith as those who are unashamed, bearing the love, mercy and grace of God to the world; that it is “by this grace that which we are saved…saved in this life; to live as one who has the “love of God and love of neighbor shed abroad in their hearts.”

What good is salvation to us if we are unaffected by its saving power? What good is salvation to us if we do not simply have faith?

“Grace is the source; and faith is (the only) condition of salvation.”

Faith in Christ alone. And we come to this faith by his great gift called grace! Assured and unashamed knowing God’s saving love?

Because God is mighty to save!

Resources

1. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/john-wesleys-heart-strangely-warmed-11630227.html

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