Salvation (2)
Theology • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsThis is a five part series on some of the key Doctrines of the Christian faith. Much of the arrangement of the messages in this series comes from Wayne Grudem's book, Christian Beliefs.
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I want people to see what salvation is, and what it is not.
When the Bible talks about salvation, what is it talking about?
When the Bible talks about salvation, what is it talking about?
It’s deeper than just entrance into heaven.
Justification - No longer being counted as guilty before God. This happens through faith in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 3:28).
Illustration: Courtroom - Paid in full
We are saved.
Freedom from the Penalty of Sin
Sanctification - The process of maturing in Christ-likeness. (Rom. 8:29)
Growing in godliness.
Character, desires, beliefs, worldview are gradually conformed to God’s ways.
Called Sanctification.
Abundant life - (John 10:10)
We are being saved.
Freedom from the Power of sin.
Glorification - Receiving a resurrected body after the current physical body dies. Then we will live with God forever. (Phil. 3:20-21).
We will be saved.
Freedom from the Presence of sin.
What part does a person play in their salvation?
What part does a person play in their salvation?
Salvation is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Illustration: Scale - Good deeds outweigh my bad.
God saves… he is the savior.
Toddler fell in the pool, one of the girls from challenge jumped in and saved her.
There was a person needing to be saved.
There was the person who did the saving.
You cannot earn it: It is received by faith (Eph. 2:9, Rom. 3:28, 5:1, Gal. 2:16, 3:24).
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
It is not based on works (good/bad)
You do not make it happen.
“Why do Christians think they are better than everyone else?”
We shouldn’t, according to this verse.
We have received a gift. The proper response is gratitude, along with a desire for others to be blessed in the same way.
“One hungry begger telling another hungry begger where they can find some food.”
One person in need of the Savior, telling another person in need of a Savior, where they can find Him.
God extends a call to repent and believe the gospel:
Sometimes called a “gospel call.”
He does it through his disciples (Mark 16:15)
A gospel call consists of:
All people have sinned (Rom. 3:23).
The penalty of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).
Jesus died to pay the penalty of our sin (Rom. 5:8).
Those who will be saved (the elect) eventually respond by repentance and belief in the gospel message.
The Holy Spirit brings them to conviction of sin and faith in Jesus.
God often uses logic, testimonies, stories, etc...
But ultimately it is The Holy Spirit who brings a sinner to repentance.
A person could see much logical evidence, yet still refuse to repent and believe.
A person could come to repent and believe without those means as well.
While God is the one who saves, our responsibility to to respond to the gospel call by repentance and faith.
Cop-out: I’m not going to respond to the gospel. If God wanted to save me he would just do it.
Our part: Repent ant Believe the gospel.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
What does it mean for a person to have a conversion to Christianity?
What does it mean for a person to have a conversion to Christianity?
Conversion is the point at which a person responds to the gospel call by repentance and belief in the gospel.
The person is changed by The Holy Spirit from the inside out:
He receives a “New Heart” Ezek. 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
God does a miracle in a persons heart. He gives them a “new heart” (spiritually speaking). (Ezek. 36:26)
He is “born again” John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
He is a “New Creation” 2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
A person might not even know it’s the Holy Spirit.
They may just hear the gospel and believe it.
While the person next to them is unmoved by the same message.
Simple way to think about it:
Former: Faith in Christ + Works —> Salvation
Biblical: Faith in Christ —> Salvation + Works
What about the Christian who uses their salvation as an excuse to sin?
What about the Christian who uses their salvation as an excuse to sin?
This perspective is clearly condemned in Scripture Rom. 6:15
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
They may not actually know God 1 Cor. 15:34
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
Most likely, they have not truly been saved 1 John 2:4
Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Next Step?
Next Step?
Receive Salvation:
Switch Perspectives:
Former: Faith in Christ + Works —> Salvation
Now: Faith in Christ —> Salvation + Works
Have Humility: Forgiven people have no reason to be proud. (Girl who fell in the pool).
Tell others: “one hungry begger telling another…”
