Salvation
SALVATION
· All
men are sinners and sin separates us from God.
· The majority however refuse to accept this verdict of God.
They say “ We are not sinners”. Some are sincere in stating that
they are not sinners for their understanding of sin or sinners
is of someone who have committed great sins and have gone behind
bars! Several live a good moral life and to them sin would mean
an ‘act’ which is bad or indecent. Scripture reveals that SIN IS
NOT SO MUCH A MATTER OF WHAT WE DO, BUT A MATTER OF WHAT WE ARE
(Isaiah 53:6).
· SIN IS Demanding our own way (AUTONOMY) Defying the will of
God (REBELLION) Drive to do that which is right in ones own eye.
· Sin has many manifestations but its essence is one. Sins may
multiply like sand in the seashore, but they are yet one. SINS
ARE BECAUSE SIN IS IN US.
What is a Christian?
· To be a Christian is not so much a matter of having Christian
parents or being good, or being christened or baptized as a baby
or being regular in the church. It is a person who has been BORN
AGAIN.
Why do I need to be born again?
· We need to be born again because of sin which came into the
world when Adam disobeyed God. It is not just by birth that we
are sinners but by our own REBELLION we are now dead in
trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1) and we need to be made ALIVE
again.
· The scripture in Matthew16:26 shows the possibility of losing
our soul. The soul of man is at stake and what a colossal
foolishness it would be to gain the whole world but lose the
soul. The soul is immortal but our possessions are temporal.
· The uncertainty of life is a fact of common observation. It
would be a tragic blunder to postpone the matter of salvation
and eternal destiny on the assumption that death is remote and
there is plenty of time.
· Nothing is so certain as death in this world. Neglect and
indifference to this reality will serve no purpose but hasten
one to eternal disaster (Hebrews2:3)
· No reason is more compelling to be a Christian than this, that
Jesus came into the world and by dying upon the cross, He became
a sacrifice to God taking all the punishment that we deserved.
He died and rose again and ascended to the right hand of God
making it possible for all those who accept salvation as a free
gift, to know God as their father.
REPENTANCE
·
Repentance implies a movement that is to turn from or to turn
around or to turn towards God. This is what repentance meant in
the Old Testament. It meant a RETURNING , FORSAKING .
· In the New Testament repentance means ‘CHANGE’:
o A change of mind, both in opinions and thoughts. It is
accepting God’s view of our lives.
o A change of heart, Jesus becomes the new object of our love
and loyalty and God's interest becomes our interest.
o A change of will, that is a change in decision and direction.
When our 'will' changes we will turn from the way of sin,
turning around and going God's way in obedience to His will.
o TO REPENT IS NOT JUST TO FEEL SORRY FOR SIN (COMMITTED) BUT TO
FORSAKE IT AND TURN TO GOD.
o The opportunity to repent is God's gift. Here convictions are
not enough. Judas Iscariot was convicted of his sin yet he could
not repent. God gives each one opportunities to repent and THEY
ARE NOT TO BE MISSED . WE CANNOT REPENT WHEN WE THINK WE CAN
REPENT.
o Repenting is not something God can do for us. It is what we do
towards God.
o Repentance is NOT AN OPTION but A COMMAND to be obeyed .God
winked at the times of our ignorance ‘but now COMMANDETH all men
every where to repent’.
o Unless one repents he shall perish. The scripture says ‘but
except ye repent ye shall all perish'. REPENTANCE TOWARDS GOD
AND FAITH TOWARDS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
o It is realizing what we are at present and what God intends us
to be and rising up to fulfill that gap as the prodigal son. It
is recognizing the holiness of God and sinfulness of our lives
as a personal insult to God and to confess it with a penitent
heart.
o It is a remorse feeling of shame at what we have done to His
name and reputation. However, OUTWARD PENITENCE IS ONLY REAL IF
OUR HEART IS INVOLVED.
o It is recognizing that God is wholly right and we are wholly
in the wrong. “It implies an intellectual and heart
justification of His law, of His moral and providential
government, and of all His works and ways” said Charles Finny on
repentance.
o WE REPENT NOT ONLY OF WHAT WE DID BUT ALSO FOR WHAT WE SAID
AND WHAT WE THOUGHT. If we have turned from God in any way (be
it in a lack of prayer, praise, true worship, or because of
unbelief or disobedience etc.,) repentance is the way back.
o Faith is not simply a matter of knowing certain facts and
believing them. It is the knowing of invisible, spiritual facts
by God working in our hearts as a result of that knowledge
action is taken and the direction of life change. It leads to
repentance and seeks to move under the Lordship of Christ.
REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE
· To repent is a positive act in which we turn to embrace the
life and forgiveness of the kingdom (Mark1:15) Merely feeling
'sorry' is not sufficient by itself as it merely brings despair
and death as we see in the example of Judas Iscariot
(Hebrews12:17)
· Repentance must be a godly grief (II Cor7:10) that springs
from sorrow at hurting God.
· It causes us to turn to the mercies and grace of god for
forgiveness and restorati.
· It sees that 'it is the goodness of God that leadeth thee to
repentance' (Romans2:4) and that his goodness is seen in His
patience towards us, which we must not despise (Nehemiah 9:17,
Joel 2:13, II Peter3:9)
· Repentance is that narrow way that leads to life.
REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD (I Thes1:9)
· To repent is a practical act. It means to cease from doing
certain things and to begin doing other things. 'Dead works'
mean activities without the life of God in them.
· We begin to do and produce 'deeds appropriate to repentance'.
· Restitution is a part of repentance.
· Repentance is not just a beginning but a fundamental attitude
of God's people (right through their lives).
A CHECK TO SEE IF A STRONG FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE IS LAID
· Am I sensitive or indifferent to sin as it affects God?
· Am I willing to change my attitude and behavior when show to
be wrong and to make restitution by word and deed?
· Am I willing to confess my sins and take responsibility for it
or am I always making excuses for the way I am?
· Do I desire to obey God at all times and to live for His
glory?
BORN AGAIN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.”
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God” (John3:7,4).
· No man can save himself, not even the good and law abiding
Nicodemus any more than man can give birth to himself!
· THE MAKING OF A CHRISTIAN IS NOT A MAN’S WORK BUT A
SUPERNATURAL MIRACLE OF GOD. ‘Ye must be born again’ expresses
the universal necessity of new birth.
WHAT IS IT TO “BE BORN AGAIN”?
· It is a supernatural miracle that happens, which is God’s
initiative and not ours. We are born again not of human will or
effort or decision but of the will, decision and effort of Jesus
Christ (John1:13) God’s Spirit gives us new life (John3:5) God’s
love produces us (I John3:1, 4:7,10,19). We are begotten by the
Word, by the agency of the Spirit (I Peter1:23;James1:21).
· It is God choice, according to His own purpose and grace
(Ephesian1:5,6).
· When men thought it impossible, God, produces something new
(Galatians 4:29), as in the case of Sarah and Abraham, Isaac was
‘born’ as a miracle, when it seemed impossible.
HOW DO I RECEIVE NEW BIRTH?
· Accept Christ as the Lord (Colossian
2:6;IICorinthians11:4;Galatians1:6)
· Believe and trust in all that His name describes Him as being
and doing for us.
· We hear, receive and believe and obey the ‘word of truth’
about Christ because the WORD IS THE METHOD THE SPIRIT USES TO
IMPART THE LIFE OF CHRIST (IPeter1:22; Ephesians1:13;
IThessalonian1:56)
· Mary received the Word and the Spirit of God brooding over her
life lead to the conception of Jesus in her womb. This is the
picture of new birth.
EVIDENCE OF NEW BIRTH
· Like the wind that blows, new birth is mysterious but can be
known by its effects (John3: 8)
· Clear confession with commitment of Christ as the Lord (I
Corinthians2: 3; John3: 3), so that the eyes are opened to “see
the kingdom of God”, that is, to start seeing God’s rule and
Christ’s Lordship operating in every area of our lives.
· Christ like character begins to show and grow in us
(Galatians5:18-23)
· A growing interest in spiritual things at the expense of
worldly or carnal pursuing (Romans8:5; I Peter2:2)
· A growing interest in brothers and sisters in the family of
God (I John3:14,4:7)
· A growing concern for the heavenly Father's name and glory and
the name and reputation of the family of God.
SAVING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
Saving
faith a need
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved..."
(Acts 16:30)
"…that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life" (John 3:16)
Many in the world stand condemned before God NOT FOR WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE BUT FOR WHAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE, not for the sins they
have committed, but for the unbelief in Christ.
o Without faith (belief) in the Lord Jesus Christ a man remains
unsaved – he will perish not having eternal life – he will
remain under the judgment and condemnation of God and is liable
to a full object of God’s wrath.
o SAVING FAITH IS HENCE A VITAL NEED.
Salvation through faith
"For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of
YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF God" (Eph 2:8)
How is it possible for someone to be saved through faith?
· He is justified before God because of his faith. Justification
means, " to pronounce the guilty ‘acquitted’ because the claim
and demand of the law have been met by another. It is also the
act where the guilty is reckoned by the righteousness of this
other Person (the Lord Jesus). So that justice being satisfied
(or met) the guilty one is now restored to the favor of God in a
righteous relationship with Him. Justification is the legal term
and a Biblical doctrine as mentioned above. It shows on what
basis a loving and Holy God who had decreed that " the soul that
sinneth it shall die" (Ezekiel 18: 4), justly and legally
pardons and forgives the guilty sinners and restores them to His
favor. Justification means, " to pronounce the guilty
‘acquitted’ because the claim and demand of the law have been
met by another. It is also the act where the guilty is reckoned
by the righteousness of this other Person (the Lord Jesus). So
that justice being satisfied (or met) the guilty one is now
restored to the favor of God in a righteous relationship with
Him. Justification is the legal term and a Biblical doctrine as
mentioned above. It shows on what basis a loving and Holy God
who had decreed that " the soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ez
18: 4), justly and legally pardons and forgives the guilty
sinners and restores them to His favor.
· One is justified by faith and the process of justification
involves:
o The grace of God (Romans 3:24): God leaning and moving and
acting on behalf of man and showing an undeserved favor.
o The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross as the
atonement (propitiation) for sin. (Romans 3:25): God has
appointed Christ as the means of propitiation, a propitiation
accomplished by the shedding of his blood and this propitiation
is to be received and made effective in ourselves by faith.
o The receiving of the forgiveness of sins and a right standing
with God (Col 1:14)
o The demonstration of God’s justice. (Romans 3:26): God has
acted lawfully in forgiving sinners because Jesus paid the
penalty for them.
Justification is a part of the amazing plan of God for our
salvation and shows that our faith does not rest upon man’s
wisdom but on God’s power (I Cor 2:5), in the atoning death of
Jesus Christ.