The Promise and Gift of Salvation
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Titus 3:4–7
Titus 3:4–7
But when the kindness and love for mankind of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
What Is Salvation?
What Is Salvation?
Salvation is one of the central messages of the Bible. Scripture shows us not only who GOD is, but also shows us His plans for the human race. Salvation is a theme of both the Old and New Testaments. Man has questioned what this word Salvation means for centuries. Is it temporary, is it eternal, can I lose my salvation? The nugget of truth of salvation is present all through the writings of scripture. God is the GOD of salvation, desiring that all humankind repent and be saved
In a biblical context, salvation is the deliverance from the consequences of sin, including death and separation from God, achieved through faith in Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death and resurrection.
The first and most important thing we must all realize is that We are all sinners in need of saving.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
What is Sin?
sin is anything you say, do, or think that goes against what God wants.
The first thing you must understand is that all sin is bad. James 2:10 says “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” What we sometimes fail to realize is that while all sin is bad and destructive, some sins have a higher heavenly price tag attached to them than others. This means the consequences attached to engaging in certain sins is greater than others. It doesn’t mean the sin itself is greater, just the heavenly price you pay for indulging in it.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
What you must also be aware of is that your sin does not just affect your life, it affects other people’s lives as well. The greater the influence you have, the greater the impact of your sin. This doesn’t mean the sin you committed was greater, it just means it affected more people.
There was only one person who lived a perfect, sinless life. His name is Jesus.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
God knows our hearts, our thoughts, our motives. To say we have no sin, is arrogance and a lie.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God despises sin. It separates us from Him.
God Wishes That All Are Saved
God Wishes That All Are Saved
We are GOD’s creation. He desires to have a personal relationship with us, just as we have relationships with family and friends. He is our heavenly Father and praises us when we make him happy and gives us discipline when we disappoint him.
Old Testament
For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
New Testament
1 Timothy 2:1–4
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
We All Need Salvation.
We All Need Salvation.
We are all sinners, separated from God by our actions and thoughts, resulting in spiritual death. Without Salvation, we are all doomed to be absent from GOD for all eternity. In the Old Testament, sacrifices had to me made to pay for or atone for our sins. Jesus came to earth in human form, living a sinless life. and was crucified as the final sacrifice for all sins. once we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior, God views us through the lens of grace.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Parable of The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. (Separation from God)
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ (Admission of Sin and a call for forgiveness)
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (God Welcoming home the lost sheep!)
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.(Forgiveness)
“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
When we run from GOD we are just like the prodigal, We have no foreseeable future. We feel lost, empty and wander aimlessly searching for things to fulfill the emptiness inside. We take comfort in tools Satan uses to keep us separated from GOD, and there are thousands of things Satan uses to keep our eyes diverted from GOD.
Salvation Is A Gift
Salvation Is A Gift
Salvation can’t be bought. It can’t be passed on from one person to another. You can’t just snap your fingers make yourself righteous before God. Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we have been given the gift of grace. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, We receive the gift of God’s grace and we are saved from our sins.
It is not earned, it is not something you can buy. You can’t earn it by being a good person or by doing good works or deeds. GOD himself decides to whom the gift will be given, and when we receive it, no one can take it away. It's a gift from God, given freely through grace and faith in Jesus Christ. it is a gift that must be received. This is done through faith, repentance, and a turning towards God.
1. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Salvation Is Eternal (Forever)
Salvation Is Eternal (Forever)
Salvation is Gods gift. It is forever. He does not take away the gift once we have received it.
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out… And this is the will of him who sent me; that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. (John 6:37, 39)
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
It is my sincerest hope and prayer that you are given the opportunity to receive this gift from GOD. I pray that the verses I’ve selected give you the information you need to make the choice to follow Jesus. I am one who ran as far away from GOD as some of you here this evening. I was raised in Church, when I became an adult there were times I would run back to Church, other times I would run as far away as I could. GOD kept drawing me back to show me the peace that you hear so many sermons about. Perhaps my being here tonight is a way of showing an example of how someone can run so far away and be welcomed back to his arms through his grace and forgiveness. My life has not been perfect, I have not been a perfect follower of Jesus. I still make mistakes and sin to this day, you won’t be perfect either, you will have times you will stumble. God’s grace covers all of our sins if we are faithful to confess them to Him and repent and ask for forgiveness. If you do not know Jesus, let tonight be the night you allow him into your heart and change your life for eternity. If you seek him with your whole heart, confessing your sins, he is faithful to forgive and offer to you the gift of his grace.
Invitation and closing prayer
