“The Work of Salvation” - Pt 1
Notes
Transcript
BACK TO THE BASICS…
So far, we have looked at the Plan of God and the Problem of Sin.
This morning we come to the most BASIC subject: The Work of Salvation!
“How does a person become a child of God?”
READ TEXT (Ephesians 1:3-14) – PRAY
I'd like to share with you six things about the Work of Salvation (three this morning)!
I. Salvation Originates in the Mind of God!
I. Salvation Originates in the Mind of God!
4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
A couple of words/phrases I would center your attention on:
"…he chose us" -"to elect, to select out of" (it means the same in English!)
God chose us “…before the foundation of the world”
"…He predestined us" - "to mark out a horizon ahead of time"
He planned it. It's a part of something that He is doing!
Notice the MOTIVE: (v.4b) – “…In love”
(v.5b) – “…according to the good pleasure of His will”
While we might not understand how this works, we can take comfort in the truth that salvation is no accident, or after-thought!
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God's plan is built on His foreknowledge--because He knows all things, therefore He plans all things according to His purpose.
11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
The most common response is, “Can you explain all this?”
The answer I usually end up giving is, “I really don't know how this works!”
I really don't! I marvel at the fact that salvation begins in the mind of God!
What I do know is that (Romans 9) clearly tells me is that the purpose or reason why God did it is not found in you or me!
14 What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!
15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
17 For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
God didn't look down from heaven and say, "Wow! What a fantastic person! I've just got to have _____________ on the team!"
The reason is not because He thought we would make such great trophies of grace! Rather, it is the WILL and PURPOSE of God!
God selected you before you were born. He didn't wait for you to prove your worthiness. God Himself made the decision in eternity past to save you!
Even though this is difficult to understand, is still what the Bible teaches!
FURTHER, it doesn’t change your choice and/or responsibility to believe in Christ!
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.
AND FURTHERMORE, we should not explain predestination away by saying, God knew what we would choose (foreknowledge), therefore predestination is simply God looking ahead to what we would choose and saying, “I did that!”
That is NOT WHAT SCRIPTURE TEACHES!
God chose you before the foundation of the world, and you chose to believe in His Son Jesus Christ!
They are BOTH TRUE!
They are BOTH a part of God's plan. And while we may not understand how this works, we can (and should) be thankful for His GRACE!
II. Salvation Depends Upon the Grace of God!
II. Salvation Depends Upon the Grace of God!
(Ephesians 2:4-10)
129 times in the New Testament God refers to His grace!
Salvation is based on the Grace of God, and NOT the performance of man!
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
God's grace trains me to walk in holiness!
Your motivation to live a godly life should be because of His grace!
It flows from an understanding that God saved you for one reason--He loves you and has extended His grace toward you!
III. Salvation Requires the Ministry of the Holy Spirit!
III. Salvation Requires the Ministry of the Holy Spirit!
12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
"What does being born of the water mean?"
"What does being born of the water mean?"
There are at least FOUR possibilities:
VIEW #1 - Water refers to physical birth and the Spirit to spiritual birth!
VIEW #1 - Water refers to physical birth and the Spirit to spiritual birth!
6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
It appears that one is physical and the other spiritual.
VIEW #2 - Water refers to baptism!
VIEW #2 - Water refers to baptism!
The proof for that view is lacking. Baptism is not mentioned in this text at all. I believe that is imposing on the text to hold this view.
VIEW #3 - Jesus is referring to the typology of water!
VIEW #3 - Jesus is referring to the typology of water!
Which normally the Word of God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,
23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
The two agents which cause salvation are the Spirit and the Word!
VIEW #4 - Jesus is referring to the NEW BIRTH!
VIEW #4 - Jesus is referring to the NEW BIRTH!
Since He is talking to a Jewish leader, who is very knowledgeable of the O.T. that Jesus is referring to the experience of the new birth!
25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Many believe that the water here refers to it's natural use, that of cleansing!
"Which view is correct?" - The one you hold!
I believe the context (v.6) supports the first view. Just as a person is born physically, they must also be born spiritually!
7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.
8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
God’s salvation requires the work of the Holy Spirit!
As we’ve already seen (at the beginning of this message), even the ability to put your faith in Christ is caused by the Spirit of God!
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
63 The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.)
65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
That's why it is imperative, if you are feeling the call of God to respond!
(Romans 10:9-13)
(John 12:35-43)
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
1 Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.”
2 For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
