THINGS
THAT SAVE US
Hebrews 2:1-3
Introduction
1. There
are a number of things that the New Testament associates with our salvation.
2. As we
look at many of the different things
linked to being saved, we find much to help us understand our “great
salvation.”
I. Things
That Save Us.
A. Jesus
(Jn. 3:17).
B. Jesus’
death (II Cor. 5:14-15).
C. Jesus’
blood (Rom. 5:9).
D. Jesus’
life (Rom. 5:10).
E. The
name of Jesus (Acts 4:12).
F. Calling
on the name of the Lord (Acts 2:21; 22:16; Rom. 10:13).
G. The
Gospel (I Cor. 15:1-4; 1:21).
H. Grace
(Eph. 2:8-9).
I. Belief
(Jn. 3:16; Acts 16:31).
J. Repentance
(Lk. 24:46-47).
K. Confession
(Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32).
L. Baptism
(I Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38).
M. Love of
the truth (II Thess. 2:10).
N. Remaining
faithful until death (Matt. 24:13; Rev. 2:10; II Tim. 4:7-8).
O. A
working faith (Jas. 2:14, 24).
P. Hope
(Rom. 8:24).
Q. Losing
our life to find it (Matt. 16:25).
R. Accommodating
others in opinions (I Cor. 9:19-23).
II. What
Does It All Mean (How Does It Fit Together)?
A. Jesus’
atonement and God’s grace (Rom. 3:21-26).
1. Jesus
is the basis for our salvation, He paid the price.
2. Because
of Jesus’ atonement , God can express grace and yet remain just.
3. These
are the things that God alone can do.
4. Jesus’
death, His present triumphant life, His blood, and His name (representing His
character), are, therefore, all fundamental to our salvation.
B. Belief
(faith) is the first and most fundamental level of our personal response to
Jesus (Jn. 1:12; 3:16).
1. Apart
from a conviction of the truth concerning Jesus and His work of atonement, we
would have no hope of salvation.
2. This
explains why baptism is not mentioned in the second part of Mark 16:16.
a. One
cannot be baptized unless one believes.
b. Thus,
disbelief stops the process and brings condemnation before baptism would even
come up for discussion.
3. Belief
stands as a bridge between the actions of God relating to salvation and the
actions of men and women relating to salvation.
C. The
necessity of a responsive faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26; Jas. 2:14-26).
1. Faith
must lead to actions (Heb. 11).
2. Repentance,
confession, and baptism are all responses of faith that are associated with
becoming a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27).
3. In
these things, culminating in baptism, we “call upon the name of the Lord” and
have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16).
4. We are
then introduced into the life of the saved, which is to be faithfully lived out
until death (Matt. 28:20; Rom. 6:1-23; Rev. 2:10).
5. We are
thus “saved in hope” (Rom. 8:24) as those who have a confident expectation in
God’s grace through a faith that is active (I Jn. 1:7).
D. The
theology of salvation put in practical terms.
1. Primary
and secondary necessities.
a. A car
cannot run without fuel, the fuel is the power that makes the automobile run.
b. Nevertheless,
without a person to turn the ignition, the fuel cannot do its work.
c. Both
are necessary, one to power the vehicle (the most basic necessity), the other
to access the power and let it do its work.
d. Without
fuel, ignition turning cannot produce the desired effects.
e. Thus,
while our works are necessary, they cannot account for God’s grace so as to
bring salvation in themselves.
f. God’s
grace is primary, our works are but secondary and without any power in
themselves, therefore, we cannot boast (Rom. 3:27).
g. Jesus
paid it all with respect to the cost of our salvation, our works can make no
contribution to the gift fully purchased at the cross (I Jn. 2:1-2).
2. Faithfulness
and sinlessness.
a. We
are secure in our salvation through Christ’s merit and our faithful response.
b. We
cannot be sinlessly perfect, but we can be faithful.
c. This
understanding allows us to see how the “secondary” things of our salvation are
necessary, yet not in perfect measure.
d. We
must lose our life to find life in Jesus (Matt. 16:25).
e. The
new life of faithfulness (remember, not sinlessness) is putting to death old
things and giving life to new behaviors (Eph. 4:17-32).
f. We
find continued salvation in Christ as we walk in the light and have our sins
forgiven through His blood (I Jn. 1:7).
Conclusion
1. There
are many things linked to our salvation.
2. The
things that only God can do are primary, they account for the power and merit
of how we are saved.
3. Our
first response is to put our trust in the working of God in Jesus.
4. From
this trust, we respond to enter into Christ and become Christians.
5. As
Christians we continue to express our faith until death so we might receive a
crown of life.
6. In
this way we come to understand the many things that “save” us and the
differences in their priority.
7. In
this understanding we are humbled and give praise to God for His “great
salvation”!
ESJ
1/23/00
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