Salvation Explained

Intro

Many who profess to be Christians, and very well may be Christians, cannot explain through Scripture, how they are saved.

It seems that the Bible is one of the most widely circulated, yet unread books of all time.

I’ve done a poor job as pastor, if members of WMBC don’t understand salvation.

Definitions: Christian, Believer, Saved, Disciple

at first in the book of Acts (after Jesus had risen and returned to heaven), those who followed Jesus were called believers, disciples, those of the way

at Antioch, these disciples were first called Christians

Christian = Believer = Saved = Disciple = going to heaven when they die = When Jesus comes back they will be resurrected . . . talking about the same people

This is with the understanding that when I say saved or Christian, I am talking about people who are really saved (Christians, disciples, believers)

not those who profess to be Christians but are not

sometimes when people complain about Christians, they are not really talking about Christians

Question: Is death really the end?

Answer: No

Hebrews 9:27 NLT

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

When you die, you will face judgment before God.

Question: Any possibility that God would look at what I’ve done and judge in my favor?

Answer: No

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

We have ALL done wrong and none of us measure up to what a holy and righteous God requires.

our actions will be judged, our words will be judged, our motives will be judged

and we will be found woefully lacking = won’t even be close

don’t be deceived by the standards of righteousness of the world

in fact the Bible says if you take our good deeds before God, they are like filthy rags

also, don’t compare yourself to your fellow man = judgment is not a comparison test

ALL HAVE SINNED

Question: Are there serious consequences for my sin?

Answer: Yes

Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Those who are saved = their names are in the book of life

those who are not saved = have to go by the books of what you have done, and they will come up short, and be thrown into the lake of fire

Question: Is there any hope for me?

Answer: Yes

Romans 6:23 NLT

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

the death referenced here is that eternal death,

But through Jesus Christ we can escape punishment and have eternal life.

Get our names written in the Book of Life

Question: So Jesus did something about my sins?

Answer: Yes

Romans 5:8 NLT

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Jesus paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross.

Question: So, my sins have been paid for, and everything is fine?

Answer: No

Romans 10:9 NLT

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

You have to believe that Jesus died and rose again, and openly declare that Jesus is the Lord of your life. (leader, master)

I believe in Jesus, and I am following Him

Question: This is available to anyone?

Answer: Yes

Romans 10:13 NLT

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Whoever calls on Jesus to save them will be saved.

Question: And then I just act good enough to get into heaven?

Answer: No

Titus 3:5 NLT

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Because of what Jesus did, when you call on Him, God has mercy on us, and sends His Holy spirit to make us new.

That’s what saves us.

Question: So, after I call on Jesus, am I free to do as I please?

Answer: No

Romans 6:1–2 NLT

1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

If you really have accepted Jesus (died to sin), you are not trying to stay in a sinful lifestyle

you are not saved by doing good, but you do good because you are saved.

you did not get a new car because you spoke to me, but because I bought you a new car, you speak to me

Luke 9:23 NASB95

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

If you truly accept Jesus, your salvation is assured permanently right then. However, if your faith in sincere, it will be demonstrated as you seek to live for Christ.

like getting married: ceremony and then live out the life (denying yourself)

like joining the army: sign the paper and then go to training and war

Example: first command after being saved, is to be baptized . . . will you do it

Jesus instructs his followers to come and learn of me . . . you will do it (church, Bible study, read the Bible)

Have you made the decision to follow Jesus?

Real Christianity is a decision because our beliefs affect our decisions

you decisions reveal what you believe

I believe the pandemic is serious = I wear a mask

I believe everyone has over hyped this pandemic, no serious threat = I don’t wear a mask

if you are not following Jesus, you really don’t believe that he came, lived, died on the cross for your sins, rose again, and is coming back

And Christians don’t follow him perfectly, but they do follow him

Just like I believed that Sherry Stein was the only one for me, so I made a decision to become Sherry Stein’s husband (she agreed)

I am far from a perfect husband, but I am Sherry Caver’s husband

our lives are tied together because of the decision I made based on belief that she was the one

children, home, finances, careers, ups and down

what we eat - what you want for dinner?

what we watch on TV

it has even affected the jewelry I wear

and I can’t speak for anyone else, but I decided to follow Jesus based on belief

I believe he love me . . . came for me . . lived for me . . . died for me . . . rose again for me . . . coming back for me

I believe that we will take care of me . . . because I believed when he said that he would never leave me nor forsake me

so I decided to follow him, and now my life is all wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in Jesus Christ!

my marriage, children, home, finances, purpose, ups and down

Do you belief enough to follow Jesus?