Salvation Made Simple

Introduction

Today, I want us to look at a message I’ve entitled “Salvation Made Simple.”

And the reason I want us to look at this today is because I fear many Christians don’t fully understand the process of salvation nor how to fully explain it to a lost person should they be asked to.

If you were to be engaged in conversation with a lost person and they were to ask you, “what does it mean to be saved?”, how many sitting here this morning would be able to answer that?

I believe most here could probably explain the basics, or at least I hope you could, but what if that lost person then began to dig deeper and ask per say, “why do I need to be saved? or how do I get saved? or why do I need Jesus? why am I not saved already?”

How many this morning could explain the process of salvation to a lost person and feel confident in the answers they were giving?

These are the types of things I hope to cover with you this morning and my prayer is, that when you leave this place, that you will feel more confident in your ability to engage a lost person next time you find yourself in that type of situation.

Because the reality is, I believe many Christians shy away from these types of conversations because they aren’t confident that they can explain salvation should they be asked.

And that’s not how God intended for it to be. He intended for us to engage the world with the gospel not for us to wait for the world to engage us about the gospel!

So, if you have your Bibles with you this morning, I would ask you to turn with me to the Book of Romans, Chapter 3 and we will be looking at Verses 19-31.

In order to explain Salvation more confidently, there are four things I hope to help you understand a little more clearly this morning.

The Problem of Humanity

The Provision of God

The Process of Salvation

The Pathway to Salvation

The Problem of Humanity — (Vs. 19-20,23)

I want to begin this morning by looking at The Problem of Humanity. And by understanding this, you will in turn be able to answer the lost person’s question of “Why do I need to be Saved?”

In order to understand The Problem of Humanity, we have to look no further than Verse 23 here before us which says...

Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

When the Bible says “all” here, it means every man, woman, boy and girl since the dawn of time, other than the Lord Jesus Christ, has sinned.

As the NLT reads in Vs. 19, “the entire world, has been found guilty before God.”

When a lost person asks you “Why do I need to be saved?” You need to understand and be able to first and foremost explain to them because we’ve all sinned.

Now, with that being said, naturally if they are unchurched or have never read a Bible or been around any Christians, the next question they will probably ask you is this… “what is sin?”

James 4:17 defines sin like this — Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Most times when you ask a Christian what sin is they say, “it’s doing something bad or wrong”, right?

But in all actuality, it’s not just doing something bad, but not doing something that is good or right!

To know to do good and do it not, that is sin.

You can know that you need to be doing something right and not do it without doing something wrong or bad.

And should you find yourself knowing that you need to be doing something right that your not, dear friend that is sin.

Perfect example is myself…give flat tire example.

I knew to do good but I wasn’t doing it therefore I had sinned.

You see, it’s not just about doing the wrong thing but equally about not doing the right thing when we know we ought to!

And therefore when that person asks you what sin is, you can say… “well, have you ever either done something you knew you weren’t supposed to do or not done something you were supposed to do?”

And the reality is, they are going to answer yes because we all at some point in our lives have done one or the other and therefore have sinned!

The word “sin” is the Greek word (hamartanō) and it means “to miss the mark” and that’s why Paul says here that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!

The mark is perfection. The mark is to be holy like God but because of our sin we have missed that mark and have all been found guilty and the Bible says in...

Romans 6:23a — “For the wages of sin is death”

The result of our sin, the penalty we must pay for missing the mark is death!

Romans 5:12 — Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Sin is The Problem of Humanity. Sin is the reason we are all in need of being saved!

Now, before moving on, I want to make sure we all understand one thing…being better than my neighbor isn’t the mark. Being better than Douglas Ervin isn’t the mark. Being better than Bro. Bobby isn’t the mark.

Because the reality is, you can better than your neighbor, you can be better than the Deacon at your Church, you can be better than your Pastor and still die lost in your sins and bust Hell wide open.

Man isn’t the mark. God is the mark and we’ve all fallen short of His glory which leads to us to His Provision as our next point.

The Provision of God — (Vs. 21-22)

Since we’ve all sinned, missed the mark of perfection and God’s glory; since we are all doomed in and of our own devices, God had to make a way for sinful man to be able to dwell in His holy presence.

This is where the lost person is probably going to say something along the lines of…

“OK, now that I understand why I need to be saved and that my sin has separated me from a Holy God, how do I make it to Heaven? How do I hit that mark that my sin has caused me to miss? Am I doomed forever because I’ve missed the mark?”

This is where a little grin comes upon your face and you thank God for opening their eyes and reply with Paul’s famous words.... “God forbid!”

This is where we begin to tell them about our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, Amen!

As Anne Wilson would say… “let me tell you bout my Jesus!”

He makes a way where there ain't no way Rises up from an empty grave Ain't no sinner that He can't save Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

His love is strong and His grace is free And the good news is I know that He Can do for you what He's done for me Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus And let my Jesus change your life!

Amen! That’s who and what it’s all about! What Jesus has done for us!

Which is what Paul says next here in Verses 21-22.

Romans 3:21–22 NLT

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

The only way for sinful man to return into the presence of an almighty, holy and righteous God is through the provision of His one and only Son, Jesus!

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father but by Him!

He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a sinners death, and now sets at the right hand of the Father making intercession for all who will believe in Him!

Jesus is The Provision of God for the Problem of Humanity, Amen!

At this point, in all of your excitement, you would hope that lost person would simply believe and be saved but…but…just in case they go as far as to say…

“I need more! I need you to explain to me how me believing upon this man named Jesus is going to save me from my sins.”

Then you need to understand The Process of Salvation which is our next point.

The Process of Salvation — (Vs. 24-27)

Sanctification

Sanctification is the Greek word (hagiasmos) which in turn comes from the root work (hagiazo) which means “to make holy, to purify, to consecrate.”

This is what happens to a believer when they accept Jesus Christ as Lord. He takes your sin, and you take upon yourself His cloak of righteousness.

You are made holy in the eyes of an almighty God because of the righteousness of His Son.

Now, don’t get it wrong here, you have no righteousness of your own.

The Bible says our righteousness is as filthy rags therefore, if you try to stand in front of a Holy God in your own righteousness, you will get a one way ticket to the lake of fire and brimstone!

But, if you believe in His one and only Son, then the righteousness of Jesus is imputed unto you and then and only then will you be able to stand in the presence of God almighty for He will see the righteous of Jesus and not yours.

Notice multiple times here in Verses 21, 22, 25 & 26 the Bible speaks of “His” righteousness and not our own.

This is what it means to be Sanctified. Now, we are sanctified because we have been Justified which is our next point.

Justification

Justified is the Greek word (dikaioō) and it means “to make or declare someone or something righteous” but this declaration of righteousness comes by way of acquittal of guilt.

Justification means that I was at one time found guilty in the eyes of a Holy God because of my sin but now through His Son, I am found innocent.

Because Jesus, took upon Himself my sins and paid the price for those sins, if I but believe upon Him, His righteousness is now imputed to me and therefore through His blood I am innocent of my sin and righteous in the eyes of His Father!

Which leads us to the next Process of Salvation which is....

Redemption

Redemption is the Greek word (apolytrōsis) and it means "a releasing upon payment of a ransom."

It’s the price that was paid so that we who were dead in our trespasses and sins might be set free!

We all at some point in our lives were slaves to sin with no hope of being set free in and of ourselves but just when all hope seemed lost, when it seemed as if death, doom, and destruction would be our end, the Lord Jesus Christ stepped up to the auction block and annied up the price for our freedom!

And oh how steep a price it was for it cost Him His life!

Ephesians 1:7 — In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The price the Lord Jesus paid for us so that we might be made free from the bondage of sin was priceless!

The devil said if you want them back it’s going to cost you everything and Jesus said that’s fine take me! I’ll pay the price for their sins for they are mine!

He gave His life so that all who would call upon His name should find life and that is the price it cost for you to have eternal life this morning!

It took not the blood of bulls and goats but the precious, undefiled, untainted, incorruptible blood of Jesus to set us free and purchase us off of that slave block of sin which leads us to the last point you need to understand this morning in The Process of Salvation which is...

Propitiation

Propitiation is the Greek word (hilastērion) and it means “the act of appeasing, making amends or reparation for guilt or wrong doing; the act of atonement.”

You see, the Bible says, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”

In the Old Testament the priest would atone for the sins of man through the blood of bulls and goats but Jesus being our great high priest, gave His life on a cross at Calvary, spilling His precious blood for the sins of the whole world!

His blood, precious and perfect alone, could appease a Holy God for the wrong that we have done.

Only His blood, pure and undefiled, could repair and mend the damage, the separation that our sins had caused!

Hebrews 9:11-28 says this...

Hebrews 9:11–28 KJV 1900

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

This is the act of Propitiation. John said this in

1 John 2:1-2

1 John 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

We are Sanctified through the act of Justification. We are Justified through the act of Redemption. We are Redeemed through the act of Propitiation.

Now that we have a little clearer understanding of The Process of Salvation, let’s finish it out by looking at The Pathway to Salvation.

The Pathway to Salvation — (Vs. 28-31)

This final section will help you to understand how to answer when the lost person says...

“OK, you’ve told me why I need to be saved which is my sin. You’ve told me who died for my sins which is Jesus. You explained to me the process of salvation as to why it had to be Him died for me. Now, what must I do to be saved?”

Look at Verses 28-31.

Paul told the Romans in Chapter 1:17… “the just shall live by faith!”

The Pathway to Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone through grace alone.

Many in the Old Testament, the New Testament and even today are relying upon their following of the works of the law to save them but the reality is, the law cannot save, the law can simply show you your need for salvation!

New Living Translation (Romans 3:19-20)

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

And the Bible says if you have offended the law in one thing you have offended the whole law!

What that means is, just one mistake and you will miss Heaven on your own!

And seeing as how there has only ever been one who was perfect and the fact that He was God tells me you better not bank your hopes on getting there on your own, Amen!

You better believe this morning that the one and only Son of God died for your sins and you better place your trust in Him to see you through!

Now, when you do this, when you put your faith in Jesus, the Bible says in...

Romans 6...

God says that the wages of sin is death. This word "wages" is a military term. It is the Greek word opsonian.

It was used for a soldiers wages or money to by food rations. If we got the pay we earned, it would be death. This word shows that neutrality is impossible when it comes to the Lord or Satan. You do have a master, and it is one of these two. Each master pays with his own currency. Satan or sin pays in death. Jesus pays with life that is eternal and blessed here on earth.

God's gift is eternal life. The word "gift" is the Greek word charisma.

This word was also a military word. When an emperor came to the throne, or when he was celebrating his birthday, he gave his troops a charisma, a free gift, which was a free grant of money. It was given to them out of the goodness of the emperor's heart. Eternal life is not earned, it is given freely to us by the grace of God when we believe in Him. — Rod Mattoon

Dr.. G. Campbell Morgan was trying to explain "free salvation" to a coal miner one time, but the man was unable to understand it.

"I have to pay for it," he kept arguing. With a flash of divine insight, Dr. Morgan asked, "How did you get down into the mine this morning?" "Why, it was easy," the man replied. "I just got on the elevator and went down."

Then Morgan asked, "Wasn't that too easy? Didn't it cost you something?"

The man laughed. "No, it didn't cost me anything; but it must have cost the company plenty to install that elevator."

It was in this moment that the man finally understood the truth: "It doesn't cost me anything to be saved, but it cost God the life of His Son."

This morning, my prayer is that you now have a deeper understanding of what salvation is and how to explain it to someone who’s sitting in the darkness of this world.

And I pray that you will take what you have learned here today and try to put it into practice as soon as possible.

Now, if you find yourself here this morning and you are that lost person we’ve been talking about, then I hope you now understand your need for this great salvation that comes only through the Lord Jesus Christ and I pray as we give the invitation here in just a moment that you would simply come and put your faith in Him, for the just shall live by faith!