The Ascent - Understanding Salvation

In Black & White

Bible Passage: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9–10, Romans 10:13

Introduction: Monopoly Illustration. Weird rules everyone makes them up. Show me in black and white

Here we have the truth of who we are and what he did for us, in black and white

1. Recognizing Our Reality

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

All means all. everyone.

Look at verse 10. There is none righteous, no, not one.

No matter how, “not bad” we are, we have not lived up to the glory of god.

Sin - missing the mark. bows and arrows. To miss the mark is “sin. a sinner.

Dr. Carl menenger a swiss Sychologist said, “ if indeed people could understand there could be forgiveness for their past mistakes, 75% of all pshyciatric hospitals would be emptied over night. He believed that the main cause of mental illness was the remembrance, guilt, weight of sin.

The sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:27-28

Matthew 5:27–28 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

The standard for entering heaven, aside from salvation is perfection. And none make it.

Jay Scott 10ft and Mike Powell 30ft. no matter how hard we try we cannot even get close.

We always miss the standard. Have you hit the bulseye? it isnt a matter of getting close, it has to be perfect.

2. Realizing Our Reward

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Some may say, “you guys talk about sin, but I dont feel nothing”. You say sin is heavy, but it i dont feel nothing.

500 pound dumbell on a dead man - what will he feel? nothing.

No matter what the given inflationary rate is, the wages of sin remains the same, death.

Not just eternally, but immediately. Sin stinks.

Sin is not bad because it is forbidden, it is forbidden because it is bad.

God did not pick 10 things arbitrarily that he wanted to saddle you with rules.

A man siphoning gas from a motorhome, ends up with a mouthful of sewage.

Man steals sausage, gets wrapped up in the unexpected links. It entangles you.

You get more than you bargained for.

3. Remembering Love’s Reach

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It is not hard to find a man that will give his life for a good or innocent person.

But here we see that Jesus gave His life for those who are not. Those who are guilty

This is a gift that we do NOT deserve, a gift that we do not merrit. ALL OF OUR SIN IS FORGIVEN.

However, you have to receive this pardon.

A loong time ago, a man named george wilson, was convicted of robbing the pony express and killing a courrier in the process

he was sentenced to die.

A number of his friends appealed to andrew jackson for a pardon. The president Did.

When George wilson heard about it, he refused it.

They had to decide if they were going to put him to death or if the pardon would keep him alive.

This went to the supreme court. in 1830, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, “the pardon is but a piece of paper. the value of which depends on its acceptance, by the person implicated.

If a pardon is refused, it has not value. He was put to death.

The gift is for all of those who acknowledge they are a sionner and they need a savior.

Romans 8:1 NKJV

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Jesus took the condemnation. The price has been paid.

The man that was walking accross the plain in canada. Small fire over and over sat in the middle. You cannot burn what has already burned.

Jesus took the heat. The fire has already been burned. We are in His arms.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Everything is working together for good.

No condemnation in the past

No frustration in the present

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

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.

4. How Do we receive this gift?

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Believe in your heart that you are a sinner and that Jesus died for your sins.

Confess with your mouth, audible.

You are a whosoever!

5. Reaching Out Rejoicing

Romans 10:13 NKJV

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

It is forany who call on the name of the Lord. Those who believe in their Heart and confess with their mouth .