How Can We Be Saved? Ephesians 2:8-9

Question: How can we be saved?

Introduction:

Matthew 18:23-35

There is a true story that I want to share with you today. There was a king who decided that he would check on his servants to see how they were doing with the king’s business. Unfortunately, the king found one servant that was not doing very well. This servant owed the king millions and millions of dollars. So, the king decided to punish the servant by separating himself from the servant. The king would have the servant sold to another master. This sale would include selling off the wife and the children of the servant too. Hopefully, the cost of the sale would make up for what the servant had done to the king’s money.

Summary: (1) The servant is the one who had sinned against the king and (2) the king had the right to punish the servant.

Well, when the servant found out the punishment, he fell down before his king and begged for more time to make the money and get the king his money back.

This king was so moved with love in his own heart that he decided to free the servant and forgiven the servant all of the debt. The servant did not have to pay anything now because the king was so kind and loving and forgave him.

The story does not end there. This forgiven servant went out and found a another servant who owed him a little bit of money, and this forgiven servant took this other servant by the throat and demanded that this servant pay up.

The fellow servant fell down and begged for forgiveness from the forgiven servant; but the forgiven servant would not listen and he would not forgive; so, the forgiven servant took the man that owed him a little bit of money and threw him into prison.

Summary: So, the forgiven servant owed millions and millions of dollars but the king had compassion on him and forgave him, even though he could not pay. The fellow servant owed the forgiven servant very little money but the forgiven servant would not forgive his fellow servant.

What is wrong with the response of the forgiven servant?

(1) GRACE: The forgiven servant received kindness that he did not deserve - that is grace

Application: In much like the same way, boys and girls we are separated from God, and we are ruled by evil hearts - Ephesians 2:1-2 We do not deserve God to be nice to us.

Parents Application: Teach your children what the Bible teaches about God and your children.

It is not, “They have good hearts”. It is “They are children of wrath who are offenders against God”.

Grace is meaningless to a person who does not know why they need it.

Question: How can we be saved?

We are saved by grace.

(2) SUBSTITUTION: The forgiven servant was delivered from punishment - who paid? [Answer: the King]

Application: Ephesians 2:4-5

We deserve God’s punishment fully because of our sin. We have broken God’s law, and we deserve punishment. We were born as breakers of God’s law, and we deserve God’s wrath; but God is love. God is compassionate. God sent his Son to perfectly keep the Law for you. Even though he perfectly kept the law for you, he died for your sins; and, then, he rose from the judgment of death on the 3rd day.

The only way to be delivered from the punishment of God is to believe on Jesus Christ as your Lord.

Parent’s Application: Parents, telling your children to “ask Jesus into their hearts” is not a biblical means. It is better to teach them to believe who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, and to (a) invite your children to ask God to save them because of Jesus or (b) to invite them to give their lives fully to Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth 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.

Question: How can we be saved?

We are saved by faith in Jesus — our Substitute.

Conclusion:

(3) FAITH: The forgiven servant did not treat the fellow servant like he had been treated.

Application: People who have this salvation will work to get along with other Christians.

Parent Applications: Your subconscious bias leads to division rather than unity.

Sometimes we do not work to get along with others for superficial reasons: fashion, image, looks…etc

Sometimes we feel like others should try to get along with me — like I am owed something.

Sometimes we are too distracted [with notifications] to be intentional about anything.

Consider carefully the grace that you have received in Jesus, and offer that kind of grace to others intentionally.

Question: How can we be saved?

By grace through a faith that is real.

Rest of the story of the forgiven servant?

The only way to be saved is by grace. God has offered salvation to people who are sinful and do not deserve this. Jesus is the Substitute. Only by truly trusting in Jesus can we be forgiven of our sins and have the power to live the life he wants us to live.