The Saving Work of Christ

Intro

Series - The Foundation Of Our Faith Series

Today’s Topic - The Saving Work Of Christ

Text - 1 Timothy 1.15; Luke 5.31

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Luke 5:29–31 NKJV

29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

The Essence of Salvation

Definition: Salvation

Salvation is deliverance from present or impending harm

Salvation as work of God. Salvation is the work of God whereby God delivers a sinner from the penalties of sin through Jesus Christ.

Salvation as human experience. Salvation is deliverance which a sinner experiences through repentance of sin and faith in the saving work of Christ.

Salvation as a state or condition. Salvation is the state or condition in which a sinnr is declared righteous, set free from condemnation of sin, and kept by the power of God through faith in Christ.

References

Romans 5:8–9 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Matthew 1:21 NKJV

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

2 Timothy 1:8–9 NKJV

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Titus 3:4–5 NKJV

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Wrong Ideas on Salvation

1.) savation is gained through faith in Christ, PLUS good works

RCC belief

that the work of Christ must be supplemented by man’s good works

misunderstands James 2.24 (a man is justified by works, and not by faith only)

2.) salvation is gained by becoming a member of the church

INC, ADD, and others

says, it was the church that was redeemed/purchased by the blood of Jesus

misunderstands Acts 20.28 - the church of God which He purchased with His own blood

3.) salvation is gained through faith alone

common among evangelicals

just believe - no need for baptism, no need for commandments, no need for church membership, etc.

no need for repentance

a misunderstanding of Ephesians 2.8

4.) salvation can be gained by other means besides faith in Christ

Liberal christians

Salvation is a work of God

God is Savior

If God is THE Savior, then salvation is HIS work alone.

God saved through His Son

the Son was appointed from the beginning

Key elements of Salvation

Election and Predestination

2 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

election is the sovereign act of God whereby He appointed men and women to Hs purpose

God sent the Savior to save the elect who were appointed to be part of God’s eternal plans

Redemption

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

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

1 Peter 1:18–20 NKJV

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

to redeem means to “buy back”

God redeems His people back to Himself, by providing the ransom price for their sins

Grace

Ephesians 2:5 NKJV

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

grace is the kindness of God for which the sinner is undeserving

God saves those who He has appointed to glory

Romans 9:23–24 NKJV

23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Calling

2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV

9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Calling is connected to the purpose of God

the call of God happens at the time we hear the gospel preached

Repentance and Faith

Acts 20:20–21 NKJV

20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

repentance toward God

faith toward our Lord

Hebrews 6:1 NKJV

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

repentance from dead works and faith toward God

salvation

Water Baptism

Mark 16:15–16 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

faith and baptism

Acts 2:38 NKJV

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

repentance and baptism

water baptism means 2 things

an act of repentance

an act of faith in the Savior

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38 NKJV

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:4–6 NKJV

4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

the gift of the Holy Spirit is an acknowledgment of the believer’s faith

Acts 15:8 NKJV

8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Questions for Clarifications

Why “faith alone” is not right?

the text (Eph 2.8-10) does not actually say faith “ALONE”

clearly, there is also repentance, and water baptism

one’s claim to “believe” requires validation

Is not water baptism human action?

No, because it is a command of Christ

the “works” mean human efforts to be acceptable before God like - being good, fulfilling the commandments as human achievement, etc

How does one know whether he/she is saved?

only God can confirm one’s salvation

God confirms salvation by giving the Holy Spirit

Why is being a member of the church NOT a guarantee of salvation?

it is not taught in the Scripture

it is not the means of salvation

not everyone in the church has the Holy Spirit

the giving of the Holy Spirit is personal not corporate

How does one know whether he/she has the Holy Spirit?

we will answer this next time

Conclusion

Quotations

300 Quotations for Preachers Not Faith that Saves, but Christ through Faith

It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith. The saving power resides exclusively, not in the act of faith or the attitude of faith or the nature of faith, but in the object of faith; and in this the whole biblical representation centres, so that we could not more radically misconceive it than by transferring to faith even the smallest fraction of that saving energy which is attributed in the Scriptures solely to Christ Himself.

Salvation is wholly a work of God. Our part is to respond to the saving work of God By faith.

Genuine faith is faith that believes and acts on the word of God.

God will vindicate and confirm genuine faith with the seal of the Holy Spirit.