What is Salvation?

What is Salvation?

Text: Ephesians 1:1–14

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

I. What Salvation is not:

A. Salvation is not works.

B. Salvation is not mental consent to the Gospel.

C. Salvation is not a birthright.

D. Salvation is not church membership.

E. Salvation is not connected to a denomination.

F. Salvation is not gradual perfection.

G. Salvation is not turning over a new leaf.

II. What salvation is:

A. Salvation is a Devine plan of God.

1). Salvation was conceived by God.

Matthew 13:34–35

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:3–14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Romans 8:28–30 (KJV 1900)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

1 Peter 1:18–25

18 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; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Revelation 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2). Salvation was purchased by God.

Acts 20:28

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Peter 1:18–25

18 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; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

* Listen to the very thought of Jesus as he hung upon the cross as he paid for our sins. These words were recorded by the prophet before they ever happened:

Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; And in the night season, and am not silent.

6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have compassed me: Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, As a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet.17 I may tell all my bones: They look and stare upon me.

18 They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture.

19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; My darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: For thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.23

.26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek him: Your heart shall live for ever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: And he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: And none can keep alive his own soul.

30 A seed shall serve him; It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

3). Salvation is initiated by God.

* From the very beginning men had tried to approach God, but God has ordained from the foundations of the world that sinful men cannot approach a Holy God.

* In the very beginning, in the book of Genesis, man tried to approach God, but God was displeased with their efforts.

11 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven;

and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

* God came down from heaven and scattered mankind all over the face of the earth until the time was right to initiate His plan to reach down to man.

Galatians 4:4–5 (KJV 1900)

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Ephesians 1:9–10 (KJV 1900)

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

* Even now, God has ordained in His Devine plan, only God can approach man for salvation.

John 6:44 (KJV 1900)

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65–66 (KJV 1900)

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

* My friend, God is seeking out a people to worship Him this morning and drawing them to Himself.

John 4:23 (KJV 1900)

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 12:32 (KJV 1900)

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

* No man, woman, boy or girl, will ever be able to approach almighty God- The Holy God! The creator of the entire universe and all it contains!

* My friend God has ordained before the world was ever created that He must initiate His Devine plan of salvation by reaching down to you.

* David, the beloved King of Israel, described this process of God reaching to him with the words of Psalm chapter 40:

Psalm 40:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

* Jesus taught his disciples of that first early church that no one reaches up to God, but that God reaches down to man and initiates salvation.

* How then does God draw a man unto Himself? God tells us plainly in the book of Romans how he has has ordained to draw men unto Himself:

1 Corinthians 1:18–21 (KJV 1900)

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Romans 10:14–18 (KJV 1900)

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

* In God’s great wisdom, He had ordained that He will only approach a man by one way, and that is by the preaching of the cross.

* Salvation is always initiated by the God reaching down to man by the preaching of the cross of Christ.

4). Salvation is guaranteed by God.

* Salvation is guaranteed to all them who respond to drawing of God to Himself.

Ephesians 1:11–14 (KJV 1900)

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,

* My friend this morning I want you to know that an inheritance is gurareteed!

being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

* We need to wake up and realized this morning that it has been pre-determined by God, (that is what predestinated means), from the foundations of the world, that everybody who responds to the drawing of God to Himself will be saved! It had already been decided by God! It’s a done deal!

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also

after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

* We need to realize that when we respond to the drawing of God our eternal soul had been sealed!

* The kings and rulers of the days of the Bible would write down a decree, a law, or a decision of judgment, then would use a ring that only the king possessed and affix a seal to the decree.

* As this seal was the guarantee that this ruling was real and official, so the king in heaven has affixed the seal of the Holy Spirit of God upon the soul of those who respond to His drawing!

* This seal is the seal of predestination! The guarantee that God has declared you saved, one of his children, pre-determined to make it to heaven!

* An because of this determination God has giving us a down payment. God deposits this down payment into the heart of every one who comes to Jesus for salvation. This deposit, or guarantee, or evidence of payment, comes in the form of the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us!

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

* You want to know why you can’t mess up God’s plan of salvation this morning? You want to know why that you cannot lose your salvation this morning?

* You cannot lose your salvation because you are a purchased possession! You have been bought and paid for by God! You now belong to God and you are His responsibility!

Romans 8:28–39

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 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.

5). Salvation is maintained by God.

1 Peter 1:3–5 (KJV 1900)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

B. Salvation is Devine act of God.

1). Salvation has a Devine time and a place.

2). Salvation has a Devine pattern.

Romans 10:8–10 (KJV 1900)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

* There must be a confession of Sin.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth

Acts 17:30–31 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness…

1 John 1:7–9

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

* There must be a believing in Christ alone.

the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

* There must be an asking.

Romans 10:12–13

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

3). Salvation has a Devine result.

Romans 6:4–7 (KJV 1900)

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

1 John 5:18 (KJV 1900)

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

1 John 3:9 (KJV 1900)

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

C. Salvation is a Devine calling of God.

1). Salvation is for whosoever will.

John 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV 1900)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

7:37–38 (KJV 1900)

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Romans 10:11–13 (KJV 1900)

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Revelation 22:17 (KJV 1900)

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

2). Salvation is for a limited time.

Isaiah 55:5–6 (KJV 1900)

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:

* My friend, if the Holy Spirit of God has revealed to you that you have not yet fully trusted in Christ for salvation this morning, respond right away to the drawing of the Holy Spirit persuading with you to trust in the blood of Christ alone to guarantee you a place in heaven.

* In 2 Corinthians the Apostle Paul said:

2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2 (KJV 1900)

we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) * Oh my friend, don’t let the gentle drawing of the grace of God be in vain this morning! Yield to the Spirit of God, calling you to be saved, while you are still able to hear the voice of God in our heart. * To you who resist the drawing of God I give the waning of Esau:

Hebrews 12:17 (KJV 1900)

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

* Don’t put brush the Spirit of God away until your heart becomes hard an is no longer able to feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit to come to Jesus and be saved. * I give you the same warning God gave concerning those people to whom Noah preached before the flood:

Genesis 6:3 (KJV 1900)

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man

Isaiah 55:5–6 (KJV 1900)

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: