Enjoy Your Salvation

Philadelphia Baptist Church

6/10/2007 Sun. a.m.

Enjoy Your Salvation

Isaiah 43:1-7

To see others come to Christ! What a blessing! They began a wonderful new life with the Lord. The Bible tells us that this new life in Christ is ours to enjoy. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

The question this morning is this…do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? And are you enjoying the salvation that He brings? If you are here this morning and you do not have new life in Christ…it is time for you to accept the life that can only come through faith in Jesus! Once you accept Christ, you have eternal life or salvation. The second question is this…are you enjoying this salvation?

Let me give you a few thoughts from the prophet Isaiah on how to enjoy our relationship with Jesus Christ. How to enjoy our salvation!

I. Because of Our Past v3-4

A. Most of us would just as soon forget our pasts.

1. None of them are anything to brag about!

2. However, it is the very past that we wish we could forget that makes the present so wonderful.

3. The Context - God reminds Israel of what He has done for them

B. Notice 3 things God has done for every believer in his past.

1. Redemption

a. The great price the Lord paid to save our souls.

Rev. 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1 Pet. 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

b. We are saved because 2,000 years before we were even born, the Lord Jesus willingly died to save our souls.

c. And, when we came to Him by faith, He was willing to receive us just as we were and through pure grace forgive us and save us.

2. Renewal

a. When God says He called them by their name, that implies an intimate knowledge of who they were and are.

b. When they became His, He changed their name because He had changed their character.

c. Jacob (Trickster) to Israel (Prince with God)

d. (Abram - High Father to Abraham - Father of a Multitude)

e. When we came to Jesus in our past, He did the same thing for us.

f. What we were called - lost, children of the devil, sinners, the wicked, the children of wrath, the damned.

g. What we came to be called - Saints, Children of God, The Redeemed, Saved, Citizens of Heaven

h. When we think of what we were and what Jesus has made us, it ought to cause us to enjoy our salvation!

3. Reception

a. God reminds the Israelites that He has taken possession of them and they are His alone.

b. When we came to Jesus, we were received just as we were!

c. Aren't you thankful for that?

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

d. At the very moment of salvation, Jesus took possession of our lives and now, we belong to Him.

e. Now I belong to Jesus…Jesus belongs to me Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity!

1 Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

f. By the way, nothing can ever change that status.

Rom. 8:38-39 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. When we take a moment and look back at where He brought us from, it should have the power to encourage us and give us great in our salvation.

Isa. 51:1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Eph 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

II. Because of Our Provider vs.2

A. In this verse, God reminds the Israelites that He has met their need since day one and that He has pledged Himself to continue to do just that.

1. These circumstances reference famous events in the history of the nation when God intervened and provided their need.

2. Pass through the waters - The Red Sea

3. Pass through the river - The crossing of the Jordan

4. Walk through the fire - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

B. What does this mean for us?

1. Just that God has not changed!

2. What He did for Israel, He can be counted on to do for you and me!

3. After all, He is no respecter of persons.

C. There is not an area of life in which God won't work to fulfill His promises to us.

1. As we face the storms, walk through the valleys, endure the dark nights of life, remember that He is the same God now as He was then and He will never fail us!

2. He will, however, meet every need you have for His own glory.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

D. There are several reasons why we can count on God to supply us.

1. He is Able

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

2. He is Willing

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

3. He is Faithful To His Word

2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Rom. 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

4. He Is Always Near

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

E. Whatever the need, God stands ready, willing and able to take care of that situation.

III. Because of His Promise. Vs. 4-7

A. In these verses, God reminds His people that they have a bright future.

1. He promises to gather them together and bring them back to their promised land.

2. In the millennium, this will become a reality.

3. Israel will again rest in peace and he chosen people of God will occupy all that is theirs.

4. What a day that will be for them.

B. While these verses speak primarily to Israel, again, there is application for you and me.

1. We too live under the hope of His promises.

2. There will be a Gathering.

1 Cor. 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

3. One day, Jesus will return in the clouds and receive His people unto Himself.

4. One day, a day known only in the omniscience of Almighty God, Jesus is going to come again and all His people will be leaving this world to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

5. In light of His coming, what are we to do?

a. Be Ready - Matt. 24:44

b. Be Looking - Luke 12:37; 2 Tim. 4:8

c. Be Pure - 1 John 3:3

d. Be Telling - Mark. 16:15

C. We Shall See Him And Be With Him Forever

1. Our world is a world of trials, depressions and anxieties.

2. Heaven, however, will be a place of endless praise and ceaseless worship of a worthy God.

3. Heaven will be about the praise and worship of the King!

4. Are we ready for this promise to become a reality? I hope so, because it will not be long now.

How can we enjoy the salvation of God? First we must possess it…we must exercise faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary. Trust Him today. Once saved, let's remember that:

1. God saved us in the past.

2. God provides for us in the present.

3. God has a beautiful plan for us in the future.

With these thoughts in mind, there is no reason to fear. Claim the promises of God and enjoy your new life in Christ! Tell others what He has done for you. The Bible says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." Psalms 107:2