Introduction - Next month we will start a series that will take through May. The series will focus on following Jesus as a disciple. I am really excited about the series as it will go well with our Rooted groups that will start in March.

But before we talk about being a Disciple of Jesus, I felt we should talk about Salvation.

Salvation is the first step in a life of discipleship to Jesus.

No use talking about discipleship if we don’t know what the Bible means by Salvation.

1 Timothy 1:15 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

What is salvation?

For some salvation is seen as a religious statement that simply means I live right, believe in Jesus and therefore I will go to heaven.

For others, it can mean that they prayed a prayer, asked Jesus to forgive them, and invited him into their heart. All my sins are washed away, and when I die I will go to heaven.

But are either of these what the apostles meant when they preached salvation through Jesus alone?

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What does it mean to be saved!

To be rescued -

Rescued from what?

Rescued to what?

How did Jesus accomplish this rescue?

Lastly how can I be rescued?

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Rescued From What?

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 NASB95

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

The wrath of God!

I know this sounds completely unattractive. But follow me and I think you will see how this is actually loving and beautiful.

Psalm 82:1–8 NASB95

God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers. How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah. Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. “Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes.” Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is You who possesses all the nations.

Old Testament looked forward to God judging the world as a way of judging the spiritual powers (sons of God).

Colossians 1:13–15 NASB95

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Scripture sees a Spiritual world that impacts the physical world - Culture, ideas of success, power, love, freedom etc.

We have become trapped and therefore have taken on lives that lead to death.

And Jesus has come to rescue humanity from the domain of these spiritual powers.

To rescue humanity from the wrath that is coming on the powers and those who are aligned with them.

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How Does Jesus Rescue Us From This Coming Wrath?

Through Jesus -

Jesus the sacrifice

He Redeems us through his blood -

Ephesians 1:7 NASB95

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

We are redeemed from the wrath of God by God taking on His own wrath in our place.

This is not divine child abuse as some say, this is God in love paying the debt we are unable to pay for us.

The debt of sin is death.

Sin is alliance with the spiritual powers and a rejection of God’s way of life.

2 Corinthians 5:19 NASB95

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The enemy is defeated because his tool of condemnation has been taken away through Jesus taking our condemnation on Himself.

God then gives those who place their hope in Jesus His righteousness.

Free from the wrath to come - Not guilty

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Jesus the victor

Romans 4:25 NASB95

He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Raised for our justification.

God the just judge declares through the resurrection of Jesus that this Jesus is the anointed one to reconcile the world to God.

Through this Jesus, God the just judge declares those in Jesus are forgiven of all sins and are members of the covenant family of God.

The resurrection of Jesus declares you innocent

And declares you to be a member of God’s family in contrast to being in allegiance with the spiritual, rebellious powers.

We are redeemed - set free from the guilt and condemnation of sin.

We are justified - made part of God’s family as sons and daughters through the resurrection.

Therefore we are rescued from the great day of the Lord when the powers and those in alliance with them will be judged.

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Biblical Salvation is cosmic -

God through Jesus has offered humanity salvation from the coming judgment that is coming against the spiritual powers and those who align their lives and give their known and unknown allegiance to these powers.

John 3:16 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God desires for all to come to Him through Jesus,

For all to respond to his rescue

For all to be set free from the powers and principalities.

However that choice is yours

He has opened the prison doors, he has judged the powers, and he has done all that was needed to rescue you.

Now it is up to you.

Call band up -

During this last song, if you desire to be free from condemnation and escape the wrath to come, will you come to the front and pray with our elders and prayer team.

Next week we will look at how God in Christ has rescued humanity from themselves and their self destructive ways.

Part 2 We Are Saved From Ourselves.

Our Example and The Power to Follow.

Jesus the Lord

1 John 2:1–6 NASB95

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Jesus is not only the savior he is also the Lord of creation.

How do I live a life that is pleasing to God?

Walk in the same manner as Jesus

How do I live a life free from the bondage of the evil in this world?

Walk in the manner of Jesus.

Jesus is the archetype of the humanity God intended.

Salvation is not just believing it is also living in the pattern Jesus set for us, in his life and teachings.

The life and teachings of Jesus, teach us how God designed humanity to live.

But how? I want to follow Jesus but I don’t. I can’t. It is like I have a power in me that pulls me away from Jesus.

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Jesus the baptizer

Romans 8:11 NASB95

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The Power to follow Jesus.

Romans 8:11–15 NASB95

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

The same Spirit of God that defeated death in the body of Jesus is working in those who place their faith in Jesus.

Working to set us free from the chains of bondage that lead to all kinds of death.

Philippians 2:12–13 NASB95

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

The Holy Spirit in a believer is at work in us giving us the power to over come our slavery to sin

Giving us power to live in a way that is pleasing to Him and good towards others.

A New Family Made of all kinds of people!

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 NASB95

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

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Salvation / rescue is all encompassing.

God through Jesus saves us from the wrath to come

He saves us to God; children of God who are loved

He saves us to eternal Life - a physical eternal life in a physical new heaven and earth.

He saves us now from living in bondage to the cultures of death in this world; free from the powers and principalities.

He pours out his Spirit to empower us and He has given us the person of Jesus to emulate and learn form.

We are saved to be a new kind of human - a human.

We are saved to participate with Him in His redeeming plans for humanity.

Salvation is a rescue and it is a commission to partner with Him in setting the world to right.

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How Can I Be Saved!