“The Work of Salvation” - Pt 3

BACK TO BASICS…

This morning we continue our study of "The Work of Salvation!"

I. Salvation ORIGINATES in the MIND of God!

Ephesians 1:4–5 CSB

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,

II. Salvation DEPENDS Upon the GRACE of God!

Ephesians 2:8 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

III. Salvation REQUIRES the WORK of the Holy Spirit!

John 3:5 CSB

5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Titus 3:5 CSB

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.

ALL OF THE TRINITY IS INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF SALVATION!

IV. Salvation CENTERS in the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 10:14 CSB

14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:14 NIV84

14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Romans 5:8–10 CSB

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

We are reconciled by His death and saved by His life!

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 CSB

3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

The work of salvation is based, from beginning to end, on faith in the death and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 CSB

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

1 Corinthians 15:20 CSB

20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

V. Salvation DEMANDS a RESPONSE!

“If salvation is based on God—it begins in His mind, depends on His grace, and is accomplished through what Jesus did; then what is my response?”

I believe that human response, though caused by God, is something we must all understand because we're accountable for it!

“How can I be accountable for it if God is doing it?”

My friend, whether you ever understand that truth, you are ACCOUNTABLE (the whole world will one day stand before God)!

2 Corinthians 5:10 CSB

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Our RESPONSE in the work of salvation involves two things:

A. I need a RESPONSE towards SIN!

1. Repentance from sin!

Acts 2:37–39 CSB

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 3:19–20 CSB

19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.

Acts 17:30 CSB

30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,

2. Confession of sin!

1 John 1:9 CSB

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

B. I need a RESPONSE towards JESUS CHRIST!

1. Believe in the Lord Jesus!

Acts 16:31 CSB

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

2. Confess Jesus is Lord!

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

3. Baptism in the Name of Jesus!

Acts 2:38 CSB

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16:32–33 CSB

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.

Romans 6:3–4 CSB

3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

Galatians 3:26–27 CSB

26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.

Colossians 2:11–12 CSB

11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

“Do I have to be baptized to be saved?”

That’s the WRONG QUESTION: “Why would you NOT want to be baptized?”

If you have CONFESSED, “Jesus is Lord,” that means you OBEY what He commands!

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If you are not willing to follow the COMMAND of Christ, then at least follow His EXAMPLE:

Matthew 3:13–15 CSB

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

Matthew 3:16–17 CSB

16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

The RIGHT QUESTION is, “Why would you NOT want to do something that fulfills the COMMAND of Jesus and PLEASES God the Father?”

Matthew 7:21 CSB

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Luke 6:46–49 CSB

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.”

The FOUNDATION upon which we are to build our lives is OBEDIENCE!

VI. Salvation RESULTS in a NEW POSITION!

2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

Romans 5:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,