Necessity and Basis of Salvation

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Thesis/ Central Idea:

Scripture stresses that fallen human beings are cut off from God on account of their sin. All need to be saved, if they are to enter into a new relationship with God as their Creator and Redeemer. Salvation is not the result of human achievement, privilege or wisdom, but depends totally upon the graciousness of a loving God, supremely expressed in the cross of Jesus Christ. People must respond in repentance and faith if they are to benefit from God’s offer of salvation in Christ.

The necessity of salvation

Everybody sins

Is 64:6; Ro 3:19–23; Ro 5:12–18; Ro 7:24; Eph 2:3

Romans 5:12 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Sin separates us off from God

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

See also Ge 3:22–24; Eph 2:1–5; Eph 4:18

Sin is our first nature

Je 13:23; Ho 5:4; Zec 7:11–12; Ro 7:14–20; 2 Pe 2:13–19

Jeremiah 13:23 ESV

23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.

Hosea 5:4 ESV

4 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord.

Romans 7:18 ESV

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Salvation is grounded in the love of God

Salvation is not based on human achievement

Ro 3:28; Eph 2:8–9

Romans 3:28 ESV

28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

See also Ac 15:7–11; Ro 4:1–3; Ro 5:1–2; Ga 2:16; Ga 2:21; 2 Ti 1:9

Salvation is the result of God’s love and mercy

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

See also Dt 7:1–8; Jn 3:16–17; Ro 5:8; 2 Th 2:16; 1 Jn 4:9–19

Salvation is because of God’s grace

Romans 3:22–24 ESV

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

See also Jn 1:16; Ac 15:11; Ro 5:15–17; 2 Co 6:1–2; Eph 1:5–8; Eph 2:4–10; 1 Ti 1:14–15; Tt 2:11; Tt 3:4–7; Heb 2:9

Salvation and the work of Jesus Christ

Salvation is grounded in the work of Jesus Christ

Ac 5:30–31; 1 Ti 1:15

Acts 5:30–31 ESV

30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

See also Jn 4:42; Ac 4:10–12; Ro 5:9–10; Php 3:20–21; 2 Ti 1:9–10; Tt 3:5–7; Heb 7:24–25; 1 Jn 4:14

Jesus Christ’s death was totally sufficient for salvation

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

See also Jn 17:1–4; Ac 4:10–12; Ga 1:3–4; Eph 1:5–10; 1 Ti 2:5–6; 2 Ti 1:9–10; Heb 10:10; 1 Jn 4:9–10; Re 7:9–10

Salvation demands a human decision

Jn 3:36; Ac 3:19

John 3:36 ESV

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Acts 3:19 ESV

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

See also Mk 1:15; Lk 8:50; Jn 3:17–18; Ac 2:37–39; Heb 12:25; 1 Pe 2:4–8; 1 Jn 5:10