A LIST OF THINGS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION gospelway/salvation/things-save.php INTRODUCTION: The Bible teaches that all people need to have their sins forgiven so they can receive eternal salvation. 1 John 3:4 - Sin is transgression of (disobedience to) Gods law. Romans 3:23 - Everyone has committed sin. [1 John 1:8,10] Romans 6:23 - The consequence of sin is eternal death, unless the sins are forgiven. Without forgiveness there is no hope of eternal life. The question to be studied in this lesson is this: What does the Bible say is necessary for people to be forgiven and then receive eternal life at judgment? What has to happen in ones life in order for him to receive forgiveness and then continue in Gods favor. * SOME SAY: We are saved by the grace of God. Yes, but is that all? Is that the only thing we need? * SOME SAY: We are saved by the death and blood of Jesus. Yes, but is there nothing else that must take place? * SOME SAY: We are saved by faith. Yes, but is that all? If in your heart you have a faith in Jesus, will you necessarily be saved, or is something else needed? Let us consider a number of things the Bible says are essential in order for a man to be saved or forgiven. We will see then that many people hold mistaken ideas about salvation. We are especially concerned about people who take PART of Gods word, but omit other Divine requirements. Sadly, they believe they are saved, but their lives are missing many things the Bible says are necessary. I. A LIST OF THINGS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION A. GODS PROVISIONS The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all active in our salvation. They had to do certain things for us to be saved. Consider some things that were necessary on Gods part for us to be saved: [Rom. 8:33; Heb. 7:25; Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 6:11] 1. GRACE AND MERCY Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. [Titus 3:5; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8,9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 1:7; Acts 15:11] 2. DEATH AND BLOOD OF JESUS Romans 5:9,10 - We have been justified by His blood, reconciled by His death. Hebrews 10:10 - We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus. Ephesians 1:7 - We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. [1 Cor. 15:3; 1 John 1:7; Heb. 9:14,22; Rom. 3:25; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Rev. 1:5] 3. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS 1 Corinthians 15:17 - And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Without the resurrection, Jesus death would have been a victory for Satan! [Rom. 5:10; Heb. 7:25; 1 Peter 3:21] 4. THE GOSPEL, GODS WORD Romans 1:16 - The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. 1 Peter 1:23-25 - We are born again by the seed, which is Gods word. Acts 11:14 - Peter told Cornelius words whereby he would be saved. These verses do not state what the word does in our salvation or why it is essential, but surely it IS essential, just as Gods mercy and Jesus death are. [James 1:18,21; 1 Cor. 15:1,2; John 8:31,32] Gods blessings and provisions were essential in order to make salvation available to us. Without them, we could never have achieved salvation by our human ability. Some people, however, seem to believe that Gods provisions are all we need and nothing is required on mans part. However, note the following: B. MANS RESPONSE Some speak as though, if man must do anything to be saved, then that makes man, not God, the source of salvation. Philippians 2:12 - Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Gods provisions are freely offered to all men (Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:4,6; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 3:9; etc.). But not all people will ultimately be saved (Matthew 7:13,14; 25:31-46). So there must be something in the life of each individual that determines whether or not he will receive Gods forgiveness. What is it? 1. HEARING AND LEARNING GODS WORD John 6:44,45 - No man can come to Jesus without hearing, learning, and being taught. Romans 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing the word of God. This is the role the word plays in salvation. We cannot be saved until we learn from Gods word what He requires of us. The Spirit does not work directly on mans heart to lead to salvation, but works through the word (Ephesians 6:17). [1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; John 8:31,32; Matthew 13:23; Romans 1:16; 10:13,14; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:26,29,35; 9:6; 11:14; 18:8; Luke 6:46-49; 11:28; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Revelation 3:20] 2. FAITH Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Romans 5:1 - We are justified by faith. The Bible describes different kinds and degrees of faith. Some believe God exists and Jesus is the Savior, but will not obey Him. This is not saving faith (James 2:19; John 12:41,42). Saving faith is a conviction and trust in Jesus that leads one to obey Jesus in the other steps listed below (Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26; Hebrews 11). [Rom. 10:9,10; Gal. 3:26; John 3:16; 8:24; Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 10:39; Hope - Rom. 8:24; Love - 1 John 4:7,8; Gal. 5:6; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 16:22] 3. REPENTANCE 2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation. Acts 2:38 - Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. Repentance is a change of mind in which one determines to turn from sin and do what God says (Matt. 21:28,29). Without this decision, God will not save us. [Luke 13:3,5; 24:47; Acts 17:30; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 20:21; 2 Peter 3:9] 4. OBEDIENCE TO GODS COMMANDS To be forgiven, we must follow through on our repentance and do what God says. Many people will agree with everything to this point, but deny we must do anything. But note: Hebrews 5:9 - Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Romans 6:17,18 - When we obey from the heart the teaching delivered, we are then made free from sin. 1 Peter 1:22 - We purify our souls in obeying the truth. Acts 10:34,35 - Whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him. It is simply not true that nothing man does is necessary to salvation. [Matthew 7:21-27; 22:36-39; John 14:15,21-24; Acts 3:20-23; Romans 2:6-10; Hebrews 10:39; 11:8,30; Galatians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9; James 2:14-26; I John 5:3; 2:3-6] 5. CONFESSION OF CHRIST Romans 10:9,10 - With the heart man believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. Note that faith alone is not enough. Here is a physical act that must be done with the mouth to be saved - one must confess. To deny we must do anything to be saved is to deny confession is necessary. [Matthew 10:32; 16:15-18; John 1:49; 4:42; 9:35-38; 11:27: 12:42,43; Acts 8:36-38; I Timothy 6:12,13; I John 4:15] 6. FAITHFULNESS, ENDURANCE Matthew 10:22 - He who endures to the end will be saved. Revelation 2:10 - Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. [1 Cor 15:1,2,58; Matt. 28:20; Titus 2:11,12; 1 John 2:1-6] Again, some folks teach once saved, always saved, denying faithfulness is necessary. Yet these verses affirm it is just as essential as the other conditions. 7. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP Again people say, The church doesnt save you. Christ saves you. So they conclude we dont need to be members of the church to be saved. But the Bible says: Acts 2:47 - The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. The church does not save, but those who are saved are in the church. If we are not in the church, what is our condition? Acts 20:28 - Jesus purchased the church with His blood (that which saves us). Ephesians 5:23,25 - Jesus is Savior of the body (church), and gave Himself for the church. How can one be saved if He is not part of that which Jesus died to save? Clearly there are many things God did to make salvation available to man, and there are several things each person must do to receive the salvation God offers.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:37:04 +0000
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