What does it mean to be Saved? version 2

What does it mean to be Saved?

I. Jesus came to save that which was lost. Jesus Does the seeking, no finding God- God finds you!

(Luke 19:11-14) 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

II. Who is Lost?

(John 3:14-18) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

A. Those who neglect “so great” salvation: All you have to do to go to Hell is do nothing. (Hebrews 2:3) 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Illustration: Man in a boat rushing toward a dangerous water fall doesn’t need to do anything to be destroyed. B. Those who under estimate salvation’s value. 1.) Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage. 2.) Judas sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver.

C. Those who will not let go of their own righteousness. (Naman wanted another way to be healed.) (Ephesians 2:8-9) 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Illustration- Touching the hem of his garment is Faith, the virtue that went out was grace! Faith is man reaching up to Heaven; Grace is Heaven reaching down to man.

Illustration- A drowning man grasping and flailing is like a man who tries the works of the law to save himself. Society says the help the drowning man:

1. Give him more social programs- a little money, better education (liberalism) - Bible says no! 2. Tell him to keep trying- believe in himself- (humanism) 3. Put a new suit on him!- (materialism) Bible says no! Put a new man in the suit!

III. What did he come to save the lost from?

(1 Peter 1:3-4) “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

A. The power of Sins Deception. (despair) (The prodigal son) B. The power of Sin’s Destruction. (death) (Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead) Illustration - my own father’s death. C. The Power of sins Damnation. (Hell) (The rich man and Lazarus)

IV. What are we saved by? By the precious blood of Christ.

(John 5:24 ) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

V. What are we saved to? To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that will not fade away.

(Romans 3:23-25) In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.