Sermon Tone Analysis

To Save: verb. to deliver from sin (and consequential judgment) or save from evil.

Salvation: noun. the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil.

NOTE: Even if it does not always use a formal salvific terminology, the Bible introduces on practically every page the theme of salvation (or it’s absence).

Hebrew Word: nasal (“deliver”), palat (“bring to safety”), padah (“redeem”) and malat (“deliverer).

The two major terms are ga’al (“redeem,” “buy back,” “vindicate,” or “deliver”) and yasa (“save,” “help in time of distress,” “rescue,” “deliver,” or “set free”).

The word yasa translated sozo (“save”) 138 times.

The Recipients: Identifying those who need to be saved and why they need to be saved.

Personal Needs: Individuals find help and deliverance in the face of very specific problems.

Barren women receive the gift of a son.

Jacob seeks and receives the blessing of his father.

The Psalms pray for deliverance from wicked people, victory for the king, and deliverance from personal enemies.

Groups: The Abraham cycle shows groups of people receiving saving blessings.

What do we mean when we ask someone if the are saved?

This is a common question that we ask when doing evangelism within the Church.

How do people respond to the question?

Some may say, yes I prayed a prayer to ask Jesus into my heart.

However, does this answer the question?

Are you saved?

Other people might answer, yes I go to Church and try to live my life as good as possible.

Does this satisfy the question?

The Bible is full of Salvation stories, from Josephs family escaping near extinction at the hand of a great famine in Egypt to God’s hand of deliverance of the Israelite people out of bondage in Egypt.

We see the Bible chalked bull of Salvation stories.

At times we see Salvation restricted to a Holy remnant.

Other prophetic voices attest to the Lord’s steadfast love for the people as a whole and desire to renew the saving covenant with Israel.

The idea of Salvation for all people makes its first appearance in the book from the prophet Isaiah.

The gentile people must turn towards Jerusalem from which their redeemer comes.

The Agents of Salvation: Self-Salvation is not typically a biblical perspective.

Deliverance comes through others.

1) Human Deliverers: The just man Abraham intercedes for the people of Sodom.

Through him Israel and all humanity will be blessed by God.

A Political leader and mystic of sorts, Moses delivers Israel from the Egyptian oppression.

The book of Judges Gideon, and Samson.

David saves Israel; Kings are given the task of saving the people; the everlasting dynasty promised to David will make him an agent of salvation for his people.

2) God the Savior: Whether or not human deliverers are portrayed, bod’s role is preeminent.

Moses may have been the tool that God used to save the people through the red see, however, it was the mighty hand of God.

Judges and kings had a task of delivering the Israelites, yet scripture makes it clear that it was God who took the initiative in raising up those deliverers.

The Nature of Salvation: material and national prosperity is prominent.

However, it would be wrong to contrast the OT, very earthly Salvation, withe NT, very spiritual and other-worldly Salvation.

1) The Earthly Dimension: Salvation involves being delivered from slavery, separation from one’s true family, and the threat of death.

It means victory in battle, the freedom to marry, the gift of descendants, a long life, and the protection needed to enjoy one’s rightful family.

In Isaiah’s terms, salvation means Israel enjoying earthly peace with other peoples.

2) The Spiritual Dimension: The other worldly elements involved in the making of the Sinai covenant, the giving of the law, the building of Solomon's temple, the role of the kings, and everything else in Israels long and sorted history.

Like the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel the people will be raised to life, brought back from Exile, and given a new beginning.

God cleanses the people from their sins, to give them a new heart and spirit.

3) Future Salvation: Hosea proclaimed a renewal that would allow the people to experience a fresh start(Hosea 2:6-7).

Isaiah announced the coming of a new Davidic King (Isa.9:2-7),

Jeremiah a new covenant that will be written on their hearts (Jer.

31:31-34), Ezekiel a new life for the people (Ezek.

37:1-14), and Isaiah proclaims a new Exodus as God comes to restore His people.

(Isa.

40:1-11)

The Mediation of Salvation: Over and over again the Hebrew Scriptures testify to the conviction that God’s saving self-communication was mediated through events that the people experienced, interpreted, remembered, and reenacted.

Various episodes effected salvation, above all the Exodus from Egypt.

Several covenants, in particular the Sinai Covenant, promised Salvation.

Note: it is important that we remember that there were certain points about means, signs, places, and conditions of human deliverance.

1)The Means for Salvation: At a crucial point in the Exodus story, theophanies reveal God’s saving presence.

(the burning bush, speaking to Moses out of the rock) There is still a strong earthly dimension to divine deliverance, however, the means of saving God’s people are never to be reduced to mere ordinary military might.

God controls the destinies of the nations whose deliverance is not to be found in armies, great heroes, and war horses.

Salvation comes through the gift of wisdom.

It is mediated through the new covenant written on the human heart.

2) Signs and Places:Visible signs and places are repeatedly given to convey the promise of power of divine salvation.

Signs taking on a living form, like the rainbow in the story of the universal covenant after the flood, the three visitors who appeared to Abraham at the noontime siesta, the child in the Immanuel sign, and the food which is provided day by day in the wilderness.

The Temple in Jerusalem above all was seen as the place par excellence for receiving God’s help and blessing.

After the Babylonian captivity the prophet Haggai, assisted Zechariah, encouraging the building of the new temple, the place where God will give full and final prosperity to His people.

3) The Conditions for Salvation: On the Human side certain conditions are required.

God responds to those who exhibit a trusting faith.

He delivers those who fear him and hope in the steadfast love.

The Deuteronomic Code stresses the peoples responsibility toward the legally helpless, the object of God’s special concern: “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Micah sums up the appropriate human response to God’s offer and gift of Salvation:

Note: Now that we have the context for God’s Salvation plan we come to our text today in Ephesians 2 that speaks about what it means to be saved.

Now let’s come back to the question that we have heard asked many times:

“Are You Saved”

Note: Paul’s prayer in Eph.

1:15-23

God call to them, the wealth of His inheritance which awaits them in heaven and above all the surpassing greatness of his power which is available for them all.

God has demonstrated his supreme power by raising Christ from the dead and exalting him over all the powers of evil.

But God has further demonstrated this by raising and exalting us in Christ, delivering us from the bondage of death and evil.

This whole paragraph is written so that we might know how powerful God’s saving grace is.

Notice that there is no main verb providing the action until verse 5 where He made us alive together in Christ.

Note: The sequence of thought here is clear: ‘Jesus Christ was dead, but God raise and exalted him.

And you also were dead, but God raised and exalted you with Christ.’

[I have been asked the question many times “how do I know if someone is saved?”

This seems like a simple question, however, many times we make it more difficult that it needs to be.]

BIG IDEA: God’s Salvation is enough when our identity in Him is enough.

Just in case you're unaware, identity theft occurs when someone steals your name and other personal information for fraudulent use.

Most of us are dismayed by this new cyber-age crime, and we wouldn't assume that the theft of another person's identity is acceptable behavior.

The surprising reality, however, is that Christian's are, by definition, people who have someone else's identity.

They're called "Christians" because they've taken the identity of someone else: the Christ.

Not only have you been given an identity that you weren't born with or that you didn't earn the right to use, but you're invited to empty the checking account and use all the benefits this identity brings!

This is so much better than identity theft—it's an identity gift!

1.

A person is never free and independent but always follows someone - Satan or Christ.

*Man by nature of the human condition

v.1-3

Note: Paul is highlighting the devastating results of the fall of the human condition apart from God, we need to be clear that this description is of everybody.

This is a Biblical diagnostic print out of fallen man in fallen society everywhere.

Paul does begin with the 1st person singular “you” indicating those Gentile readers in Asia Minor, but he quickly in verse 3a switches to “we” therefore, adding himself and his fellow Jews, and concludes in 3b to the rest of mankind.

We Were Dead

The death that Paul refers to here is that of the prodigal Son, ‘This my son was dead’; it is a statement of fact that everybody’s spiritual condition outside of Christ are dead men walking.

When someone enters death row in the penitentiary they have a term for these type of inmates, “Dead Men Walking”.

They are still alive physically but they are headed towards an eventual execution unless something drastic happens to change their circumstances.

This is the same as the condition of humanity from the fall in the garden of eden.

We are dead people walking towards an eventual eternal death unless something miraculous changes in our lives.