A . Man's Sin.

B. God's Righteousness.

A. Through Christ.

B. To God's Satisfaction.

A. Repentance.

B. Belief.

C. Acceptance.

A. Past.

B. Present.

C. Future.

Gen. 6:5; Ex. 34:6,7; Is. 53:5,6; Jer. 17:9; Matt. 1:21; 9:12,13; Mark 7:20-23; 9:43-48; 10:45; Luke 13:3; 16:22-31; 19:10; John 1:12; 3:16,17; 5:24; 8:21,24; 10:11, 15-18,27-30; Acts 4:10-12; 5:31; 13:38; 17:31; 20:21; Rom. 1:21-32; 3:19-23; 4:5; 5:1,12,18,19; 6:1-16; 8:1,5-9; 10:9,10; 12:1,2; 1 Cor. 6:11,19; 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 4:3,4; 5:21; Eph. 2:1-3,8; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 1 Tim. 1:15; 2 Tim. 2:15; Tit. 2:11-15; Heb. 4:14-16; 9:28; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Pet. 1:3,4; 1 John 1:8,9; 2:12; 5:9,10,13; Jude 11-13; Rev. 20:11-15.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).

Salvation is a big word. It is big in the sense that it covers the meaning of many other words. To be saved means to be delivered, to be forgiven, to be pardoned, to be redeemed, to be restored, and much more. The word suggests that there are those who need to be saved. The Bible leaves no doubt who those people are. In 1 Tim. 1:15 we read, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . . . " Jesus came into the world to save, that is, to provide salvation for, sinful men.

I. ITS DEFINITION.

The word Salvation simply means deliverance. It is commonly used to describe the act by which a person is delivered from a danger that threatens him. We speak of a person being saved from drowning, or from a burning building, or from a sinking ship. In each case, three things are taken for granted: 1.) that the person to be saved was in danger; 2.) that someone saw his peril and went to his rescue; and 3.) that the rescuer was successful in his mission, delivered the person from his perilous plight, and thus saved him.

The words save, saved, Savior, and Salvation occur many times in the Bible and have exactly the same meaning in the spiritual sense. The name Jesus centers in the idea of salvation. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. Joshua means Jehovah saves. What a great name for the commander-in-chief of Israel's army to bear! It reminded him and his soldiers when they went into battle that Salvation is of the Lord. It was because of the meaning of this name that it was given to our Lord at His birth. "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Unless we know our Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, we do not really know Him, for His name reveals what He is. It is equally dear from this passage that Jesus did not come to save people from social injustice or governmental oppression. He came to save people from their sins. Man needs to be saved, because he is a sinner. Describing His own work, our Lord said, "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Those who are not saved are lost. This is the Bible usage of the word Salvation-saving lost sinners.

Man's sinful nature is a fact. In time, this nature makes itself evident through sinful thoughts, words, deeds, and an attitude of enmity to God. The Bible makes this clear in the following passages of Scripture: Rom. 5:12,18,19; 6:16; 8:5-8; Gen. 6:5; Eph. 2:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:3,4; Is. 53:6; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:21-32; 3:19-23. It will be evident to all from these passages that man is: 1.) a sinner, needing forgiveness; 2.) lost, needing to be found; 3.) doomed, needing deliverance; 4.) guilty, needing pardon; 5.) spiritually dead, needing life; 6.) blind, needing illumination; and 7.) a slave, needing liberation. Man is utterly helpless to save himself.

God is holy and must punish sin. He will "by no means clear the guilty" (Ex. 34:6,7). He has revealed His hatred of sin and His sentence against all who die in their sins-eternal banishment from His presence. Read John 8:21-24; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:22-31; Jude 11-13; Rev. 20:11-15. The conclusion is obvious. Since man is a sinner and God is righteous, the sinner needs to be delivered-or saved-from the penalty of his sins.

The gospel is the good news that God, in wondrous grace, has abundantly provided this Salvation through the person and work of His beloved Son. According to Matt. 1:21, He came to be the Savior of sinners. The Son of God, equal and eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, became the incarnate in order to provide Salvation. See John 3:16,17; 10:11,15-18; Mark 10:45; Matt. 9:12,13.

Through Christ's death and resurrection, this Salvation has been provided to God's complete satisfaction. As Christ willingly hung on the Cross, He assumed the full liability of our guilt and sin, bore our sins in His own body, and died as a substitutionary sacrifice on behalf of sinners. All God's judgment against sin fell on Him, and all God's righteous claims against the sinners were fully satisfied, on our behalf, by Christ's death. God indicated His complete acceptance of this sacrifice of Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand. Read 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24, Is. 53:5; Rom. 5:6-9; Acts 4:10-12; 5:31; 17:31.

Since Christ has accomplished, by sacrifice of Himself, all the work needed for the sinner's Salvation, what must the sinner do in order to experience this Salvation?

A. Repentance.

He must repent. Repentance is simply a change of mind which results in a change of attitude toward sin, self, the Savior, and Salvation. This change of mind is, in turn, evidenced by a change of action (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:31; 20:21). The sinner's indifference will be replaced by an earnest desire for Salvation. He will confess his helpless, hopeless, and hell deserving condition.

He must believe the gospel, or the testimony of God concerning the person and work of Christ (1 John 5:9,10). As a lost and guilty sinner, he must believe that Christ died for him, individually, that Christ bore his sins, took his place, and by His death accomplished all the work needed for his Salvation (Rom. 4:5).

C. Acceptance.

He must accept the Lord Jesus Christ, by a definite act of his will, as his own personal Savior, with the commitment to henceforth acknowledge Him as the supreme Lord of his life (John 1:12; Rom. 10:9,10).

How may one know for certain that he is saved? By the Word of God. God declares plainly and in black and white that every soul trusting in His Son is forgiven, saved, the possessor of eternal life, and secure forever. Read Acts 13:38; 1 John 2:12; Eph. 2:8; 1 Cor. 6:11, 1 John 5:13; Rom. 5:1; 8:1; John 10:27-30.

The past involves Salvation from sin's penalty or consequences. Since Christ has endured the full penalty which was due to our sins, the believer is delivered from its dread consequences (John 5:24, Rom. 8:1).

The present involves Salvation from sin's power or control. Because of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence, plus the impartation of a divine nature, the believer is now delivered from the dominion of sin in his life (1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Pet. 1:3,4; Rom. 6:1-14). This does not mean that the believer is incapable of sin. Far from it! For he still possesses the evil nature, the flesh. It does mean that to the extent to which he avails himself of the means God has provided, he will be free from sin as the dominating factor in his life. This present deliverance will depend on: 1.) the reading and study of and obedience to the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15); 2.) the keeping constantly in touch with God by prayer (Heb. 4:14-16); 3.) the yielding of one's body to God for both a righteous and useful life (Rom. 6:13; 12:1,2); and 4.) the prompt confession to God and the forsaking of all known sin (1 John 1:8,9; Tit. 2:11-15).

The future involves Salvation from sin's presence. This will take place at the coming of Christ, when He will raise the dead and change the living so that they will have bodies incapable of sin, decay, and death. This is the final aspect of Salvation (Heb. 9:28; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).

What will you do with Christ today? Have you accepted Christ as personal Savior? "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation" Heb 2:3.

Definition: Salvation means _______________________________________________ .

1. Man's ______________________ nature is a fact (Romans 3:10)

2. God is ___________________________ and must punish _______________________.

1. ____________________ came to be the ___________________of sinners (Matthew 1:21).

2. Christ's __________________and _________________completed God's ___________________.

1. Repentance is a change of ________________, ____________________, and __________________.

2. One must __________________________________ the gospel.

3. One must __________________________________ the Lord Jesus Christ.

Memory Verse: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).

Short Version: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.