Soteriology Doctrine of Salvation Message 1

Soteriology Doctrine of Salvation

Verse 1 Salvation is a big word,

But I am not too small To know Christ died on Calvary, From sin to save us all. For when a sinner trusts Him To save him from his sin, The Savior comes with peace and joy To dwell his heart within. Salvation! Salvation! The gift of God is free; For Jesus died for sinners, Even you and me. Verse 2 The Bible clearly tells us That all are lost in sin; That not by any goodness Can we salvation win. If I could have but one verse, John three sixteen would do: God loved the world and gave His Son To die for me and you. 3 Salvation is forever, The Word of God is plain; A sheep found by the Shepherd Cannot be lost again! For "they shall never perish," None plucks them from His hand; Though they are only happy when They follow His command.

The Doctrine of Salvation

No evangelical theme is more deserving of prayerful and careful study than that of salvation.

The preeminent reason for a Biblical understanding of this basic doctrine is that it represents the supreme mission of the Master.

Why was He, when He was so rich in heaven, willing to become poor on earth?

Why did He willingly discard a garment of glory for the robe of our humanity?

Paul answers these, and other pertinent questions associated with Christ's incarnation.

He came into the world to save sinners ( I Timothy 1: 15).

1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV 1900)

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

He did not leave the battlements above, where He was the Prince of Glory, to become a teacher, or a model for our obedience,

or as a martyr willing to die for truths and principles He believed.

According to His own declaration, He came to seek and to save the lost ( Luke 19:10).

Luke 19:10 (KJV 1900)

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

His saving name was ready for Him as soon as He entered the world to die as its Saviour, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus:

for he shall save His people from their sin" (Matthew 1:21).

Matthew 1:21 (KJV 1900)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Such a matchless name has carried with it the promise of deliver­ ance from sin's

guilt and government.

It is also imperative to know all the Bible teaches about salvation, seeing it contains the only

divinely provided remedy for sin.

Without such a provision, the sinner is both helpless and hopeless.

Accepting this blood­ bought salvation so freely offered, the sinner can experience

freedom from the past with all its failure; victory in present days from sin's tyranny; and hope of

escape from sin's full reward in hell.

All who are lost are shut up to God's perfect, peerless salvation.

There is no other way out of the gloom and despair of sin.

"There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved" (Acts 4: 12).

Acts 4:12 (KJV 1900)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If this salvation is neglected and finally rejected, there can be no escape from the righteous judgments of

God (II Thessalonians 1:9; Hebrews 2:3).

2 Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV 1900)

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

All we could ever know about this indispensable salvation is to be found within the covers of the Bible, and what it says about this important theme is all

that concerns us.

With man's estimation of salvation we are not concerned.

I} The Greatness of Salvation

The salvation of infinite proportions, the writer of Hebrews warns us against neglecting (Hebrews 2:3 ), is specifically the salvation related to sin.

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV 1900)

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Throughout the Bible the term is associated with a salvation or deliverance from physical diseases ( Luke 7:50) , as well as freedom from

Luke 7:50 (KJV 1900)

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

material wants.

The "great salvation" is the greatest manifestation of God's power to deliver, namely, the salvation from satanic bondage which Christ's death and Resurrection made possible.

Such a peerless salvation is well named "great," for there is nothing greater in all the universe than this inclusive word "gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification and glorification."

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (Psalm 48:1) , and everything from His heart and hand bears the imprint of His greatness.

Psalm 48:1 (KJV 1900)

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

All of His creative works pale into insignificance alongside His saving grace and power.

A. Salvation Is Great Because of Its Divine Author

What a marvelous origin "the salvation of your souls" has ( I Peter 1:9) I It dates creation, being conceived in the mind of God in the dateless past.

1 Peter 1:9 (KJV 1900)

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

It came to us according to the eternal purpose of God (Ephesians 3:11; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2) .

Ephesians 3:11 (KJV 1900)

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV 1900)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Titus 1:2 (KJV 1900)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

It began with God's foreknowing.

It was no immediate, unpremeditated plan to meet a sudden emergency, no after-thought on God's part.

"Deep and far in an untrackable Eternity its foundations were laid.

It is not a thing of yesterday.

It will not pass away with tomorrow.

The Father has en- horsed it with His own everlastingness."

Salvation, then, is great seeing that God is its Source or Origin.

"But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" ( Romans 5: 8) .

Romans 5:8 (KJV 1900)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy

and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).

Ephesians 1:4 (KJV 1900)

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

"In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" ( Titus 1: 2).

Titus 1:2 (KJV 1900)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last

times for you" ( I Peter 1:20).

1 Peter 1:20 (KJV 1900)

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

B. Salvation Is Great Because of the Price Paid to Procure It

Negligence or rejection of this matchless salvation is made more terrible because of all Jesus endured to provide it.

By His blood-shedding, death and Resurrection, He secured a perfect salvation for a sinning race.

It is therefore a precious salvation, seeing it has come down to us drenched with the precious blood of Christ.

He had to give His life as a ransom in order to save us (Matthew 20:28; II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:14,15; I Peter 1:19) .

Matthew 20:28 (KJV 1900)

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV 1900)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 2:14 (KJV 1900)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Hebrews 2:15 (KJV 1900)

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1 Peter 1:19 (KJV 1900)

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Creation was a great work of God, but it only cost Him His breath. "He spake, and it was done."

But when it came to our salvation, He had to give more than His breath, He had to give His blood.

We were purchased by that precious blood (Acts 20:28) .

Acts 20:28 (KJV 1900)

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

C. Salvation Is Great Because of Its Agency

It is the Holy Spirit who makes possible the actual work of salvation in the heart of the believing

sinner. He it is who applies the efficacious blood.

The terms of salvation are so simple that a child can understand them.

''What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16: 30,31).

Acts 16:30 (KJV 1900)

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31 (KJV 1900)

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Repentance toward God and faith in Christ form the channel of salvation.

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that

believe on His name" (John 1:12).

John 1:12 KJV 1900

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward

our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21).

Acts 20:21 (KJV 1900)

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

How grateful we should be for the simplicity of the Gospel.

Here, then, are the key words of salvation: repent, call, receive, believe ( Titus 3:5-8) .

Titus 3:5–8 (KJV 1900)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

D. Salvation Is Great Because of Its Universality

Because God so loved the world, and through the finished work of His Son, provided salvation

for all the world, He wills all men to be saved.

Alas, however, multitudes will not come to Him that they may have life! Irrespective of nationality, position, condition, age or need, God's

salvation is for all (John 3:16; I Timothy 2:4-6; 4:10; I John 2:2; 4:14).

John 3:16 (KJV 1900)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Timothy 2:4–6 (KJV 1900)

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 Timothy 4:10 (KJV 1900)

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 John 2:2 (KJV 1900)

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:14 (KJV 1900)

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Such a universality does not mean Universalism, a false system of religious teach- ing that believes all men are to be saved ultimately.

Jesus declared that all who fail to accept Him as Saviour must "perish" (John 3:16)-a word meaning not annihilation, but eternal banishment

John 3:16 (KJV 1900)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

from the presence of a thrice holy God.

Our Lord's teaching on the finality of hell also proves the falsity of Universalism (Luke 16:19- 31).

Luke 16:19–31 (KJV 1900)

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

E . Salvation Is Great Because of the Blessings It Bestows

What constitutes this unique salvation which prophets and apostles wrote about?

On the negative side, it offers emancipation from the bondage of sin, and from all its eternal consequences.

Its constituent elements are deliverance from the powers of darkness, from the curse and condemnation of sin.

On the positive side, salvation provides us with a perfect standing before God through the merits of the Saviour.

It brings us into the fellowship of our Deliverer, with whom we are made one forever.

Once saved, we cease be our own.

We become His property.

What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (I Corinthians 6:19,20).

1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV 1900)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV 1900)

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We also receive satisfaction with our salvation, power as well as pardon, joy as well as justification.

F. Salvation Is Great Because It Is eternal in Its duration

Ours is an eternal salvation in the Lord (Isaiah 45:17; 51:6).

Isaiah 45:17 (KJV 1900)

But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Isaiah 51:6 (KJV 1900)

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look upon the earth beneath: For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, And the earth shall wax old like a garment, And they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: But my salvation shall be for ever, And my righteousness shall not be abolished.

It awakens in us a ceaseless wonder and an undying gratitude, seeing that it travels toward a consummate goal.

Salvation is not for this life only. It ends in the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

Christ is the Provider of an unceasing salvation (Hebrews 5:9; 9:12).

Hebrews 5:9 (KJV 1900)

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Hebrews 9:12 (KJV 1900)

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Through His wondrous grace, the Saviour imparts eternal security to all He saves (John 10:28).

John 10:28 (KJV 1900)

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

G. Salvation Is Great Because It Is Incomparable

There is no other way God can clear and deliver the guilty save through the sacrifice and mediation of His beloved Son.

The sinner in his need is shut up to God's provision.

Did not Jesus Himself say, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6)?

John 14:6 (KJV 1900)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Man's own worth or works are useless as avenues of salvation or of justification in the sight of God.

The lost have to come just as they are, without one plea, and depend upon divine mercy for salvation (Ephesians 2: 7­ ).Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 (KJV 1900)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:7 (KJV 1900)

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

H. Salvation Is Great Because It Came to Us Personified

We are prone to forget that salvation is not something, but SOMEONE.

"The Lord Jehovah ... is become my salvation" ( Isaiah 12:2; Psalms 27:1; 62:2).

Isaiah 12:2 (KJV 1900)

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

Psalm 27:1 (KJV 1900)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 62:2 (KJV 1900)

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

If salvation is treated as an intangible something we must struggle in order to keep, then there will be a constant fear that we may lose it.

But our salvation is not a mere it but HIM, even the Saviour Himself, and it is ludicrous to try and keep Him when He is Saviour and Keeper combined.

He is able to keep what He has committed unto us, seeing that what He committed was Himself.

The Grades of Salvation

It is to be feared that not all evangelicals fully comprehend the implications of salvation.

Too often it is confined to what takes place in the initial experience of conversion.

Christ is accepted as Saviour, and with the guilt and burden of sin removed, the confession is made,

"Praise God, I have been saved."

And there the matter rests. But the teaching of the New Testament is, "I have been saved: I am being saved: I have yet to be saved."

If ·we fail to recognize these three aspects, tenses or gradations of salvation, then ours is not the realization of the

uttermost salvation the Lord has for His own.

Wherefore He is able also to save unto the uttermost them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV 1900)

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

God's perfect salvation covers the past, includes the present and embraces the future, as Paul so clearly reveals in his Roman epistle.

1. A Past Salvation

Salvation is a gift we receive the moment we accept Christ as our Saviour. In the moment of our

surrender to His claims, we experience His Gospel to be the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

No matter how sinful we were in the past, in a moment of time the red blood of Jesus makes the black heart whiter than the snow.

Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV 1900)

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Under the curse and condition of sin, we came to know what it was to be saved from the 1 Corinthians 1:18; II Timothy 1:9).

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV 1900

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV 1900

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

And saved, we It is this aspect of salvation we have in mind when we sing:in!

0 the bliss of that glorious thought, My sin, not in part, but the whole to His Cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, 0 my soul!

As to the nature of this initial grade of salvation, Scripture proclaims it to be­

A Common Salvation (Jude 3).

Jude 3 (KJV 1900)

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Strongs

κοινός (koinós | koy-nos')

Derivation: probably from G4862;

Strong's: common, i.e. (literally) shared by all or several, or (ceremonially) profane

KJV: —common, defiled, unclean, unholy.

See: G4862

Cognate Group: G2842 (communicate), G2844 (companion), G2840 (call common), G4790 (communicate with), G2841 (communicate), G4791 (companion), G2843 (willing to communicate), G2839 (common)

Variants: κοινός

Hebrew Equivalents: אֶחָד, חֶבֶר

Other Resources: Thayer LSJ VGNT CWD GrLNT

AV Occurrences (12 Instances, 6 Words)

with defiled (1)

Mark 7:2

Mark 7:2 (KJV 1900)

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

common (6)

Acts 2:44; 4:32; 10:28; 11:8; Titus 1:4; Jude 1:3

Acts 2:44 (KJV 1900)

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Acts 4:32 (KJV 1900)

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 10:28 (KJV 1900)

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 11:8 (KJV 1900)

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

Titus 1:4 (KJV 1900)

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Jude 3 (KJV 1900)

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

that is common (1)

Acts 10:14

Acts 10:14 (KJV 1900)

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

unclean (2)

Rom 14:14; 14:14

Romans 14:14 KJV 1900

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 14:14 KJV 1900

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

it is unclean (1)

Rom 14:14

Romans 14:14 (KJV 1900)

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

an unholy thing (1)

Heb 10:29

Hebrews 10:29 KJV 1900

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Thayer

G2839

G2839 — κοινός

κοινῇ, κοινόν (from ξύν, σύν, with; hence especially in epic ξυνός for κοινός, whence the Latincena ((?); see Vanicek, p. 1065));

1. as in Greek writings from Hesiod (Works, 721) down (opposed to ἴδιος) common (i. e. belonging to several, Latincommunis): Acts 2:44; 4:32; κοινῇ πίστις, Titus 1:4; σωτηρία, Jude 1:3.

Acts 2:44 (KJV 1900)

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Acts 4:32 KJV 1900

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Titus 1:4 (KJV 1900)

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Jude 3 KJV 1900

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

2. by a usage foreign to classical Greek, common i. e. ordinary, belonging to the generality (Latinvulgaris); by the Jews opposed to ἅγιος, ἡγιασμένος, καθαρός; hence unhallowed, Latinprofanus, levitically unclean (in classical Greek βέβηλος, which see 2): Mark 7:2, 7:5 (where R L marginal reading ἀνίπτοις); Rom 14:14; Heb 10:29; Rev 21:27 (Rec. κοινοῦν) Acts 10:14; κοινόν ἤ ἀκάθαρτον, 10:28; 11:8 (κοινά ἤ ἀκάθαρτα οὐκ ἐσθίομεν, Justin Martyr, dialog contra Trypho,

Mark 7:2 (KJV 1900)

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

Mark 7:5 (KJV 1900)

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Romans 14:14 (KJV 1900)

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Hebrews 10:29 KJV 1900

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Revelation 21:27 (KJV 1900)

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Acts 10:14 (KJV 1900)

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

c. 20). (Cf. Trench, § ci.)

Word "common" suggests something for all, universal, none are excluded from the pale of mercy. except by their own fault.

Cod, not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9) has provided a salvation adapted to all and

needed by all.

A Personal Salvation.

What is universal must also be personal if it is to be of any practical value.

Each of us can appropriate this Blood-bought _salvation and say, 'This IS my salvation (Psalms 25:5; 35:3; Romans 10:9).

Psalm 25:5 (KJV 1900)

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: For thou art the God of my salvation; On thee do I wait all the day.

Psalm 35:3 KJV 1900

Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Romans 10:9 (KJV 1900)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Further, no one can act for us in this all-important matter.

A Present Salvation.

Because it is a personal salvation, it be- comes effective as we recognize it as a present

salvation (II Corinthians 6:2; Luke 19:9).

2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV 1900)

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Luke 19:9 (KJV 1900)

And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

When God says, "Now," He means "Now,'' or this very moment.

It is folly to look upon salvation as a long and laborious process through which we must struggle and then have only a vague hope that we are saved.

A Powerful Salvation

Because God is mighty to save, there is no case He is not able to cope with. The blood of Christ can make the vilest clean (Luke 1:68,69; Romans 1: 16).

Luke 1:68 (KJV 1900)

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; For he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Luke 1:69 KJV 1900

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David;

Romans 1:16 (KJV 1900)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2. A Present Salvation

Too many who have been saved are ignorant of the fact that their salvation covers the journey between their conversion and death or the return of Christ.

Because He continues His ministry in glory, Christ's salvation is unfailing (Hebrews 7:24,25).

Hebrews 7:24 (KJV 1900)

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV 1900)

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Paul had this aspect of salvation in mind when he wrote-

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being

reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:10).

Romans 5:10 (KJV 1900)

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Here we have a double salvation-one by the death of Christ, and the other by His life.

"Reconciled to God by the death of His Son"-this is past salvation.

But Paul said "much more." Is there something more than being saved?

The apostle says there is- "being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." .

The reference to "his life" does not apply to the earthly life of Christ.

There is no salvation through the life· He lived among men, even although there are those who teach salvation by imitation. Live like Jesus, imbibe His teachings, emulate His example, and all will be right.

But Christ after the flesh is not a Saviour.

Paul, then, had in mind the present life of Christ, His risen, glorified throne-life.

He ever liveth to keep us saved, to provide us with a day by day salvation from the power of sin, as well as its penalty: from sin's govern- ment as well as its

guilt.

This is the grade of salvation we are to exhibit (Psalm 96: 2), and represents salvation from the habit and the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14; Philippians 2:12,13; II Corinthians 3:18).

Psalm 96:2 (KJV 1900)

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; Shew forth his salvation from day to day.

Romans 6:14 (KJV 1900)

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Philippians 2:12 (KJV 1900)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.

Philippians 2:13 (KJV 1900)

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV 1900)

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The question of paramount importance is Are we being saved?

Have we daily victory over the flesh? Do we reign in life by Christ Jesus?

Are we more than conquerors? Is ours the overcoming life?

Or can it be that, although we can look back and think of the day we were saved from our guilty past, we are miserably defeated in the present?

Ours is an up and down experience.

What joy and freedom becomes ours when we can sing-

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love, Moment by moment I've life from above; Looking to Jesus,

'till glory doth shine! Moment by Moment,0 Lord, I am Thine

3. A Prospective Future Salvation

Paul must have had the future in mind when he gave us this third aspect or tense of salvation.

"Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Romans 13:11).

Romans 13:11 (KJV 1900)

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

This is also the grade of salvation of which Peter speaks, as being "ready to be revealed in

the last time" (I Peter I :5) .

1 Peter 1:5 (KJV 1900)

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

"Nearer than when we believed?" Did we not receive salvation when we believed?

Yes! Do we not receive salvation as we keep on believing?

Yes! Then what brand of salvation did Paul refer to when he said it is "nearer" than it was in the initial hour of faith?

It is a salvation from the presence of sin,just as the past salvation delivered us from the penalty of sin, and a present salvation delivers us from the power of sin.

We need salvation from the presence of sin within, and from the presence of sin around us in the world.

When will this salvation take place?

Why, when Jesus comes.

He is our "Salvation,'' and as such is nearer than when we believed. Returning,

He will save us from sin within, giving us an unsinning nature like unto His own.

(I John 3:1,2).

1 John 3:1 (KJV 1900)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1 John 3:2 (KJV 1900)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

He will also save us from the presence of sin around, for when caught up to meet Him in the air, we shall be saved to sin no more.

With the redemption of the body (Romans 8:23; I Corinthians 15:51-54), the seat, source and seductiveness of sin will be removed.

Romans 8:23 KJV 1900

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 KJV 1900

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

This last aspect of Salvation will bring us entire conformity to Christ.At the Rapture, the Church will be saved to sin no more.