Introduction:
The underlying theme pertaining to the Doctrine of Salvation is the relationship between the redemptive blood of Christ and the sins of mankind. Strong’s New Complete Dictionary of Bible Words’ meanings for sin are to transgress or to stray. God gave Adam specific instructions not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and He also gave Adam a clear warning that death will come to him on the same day that he disobeys His command (Genesis 2:17). Adam disobeyed God, and his action required justice, but God chose fit to create a redemption plan through salvation. This sermon will cover three topics. It will explain how the scriptures were fulfilled; it will describe the new birth, and it will discuss other important elements of salvation.
I. Fulfilling the scriptures
A Before Jesus was born, the scriptures foretold of savior who would be born and would die to redeem mankind and reconcile its relationship with God.
1 Jesus understood that if He did not fulfill His role in God’s plan for salvation, then mankind would forever be lost. He endured torturous beatings and continuous humiliation but did not waiver from His commitment to ensure that the scriptures were fulfilled. In Psalms 22:18, David provides a clear narrative illustrating how Christ would suffer and would be crucified. This passage reads, “They divided My garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.” Hundreds of years later, John 19: 23, 24 delivers a vivid account of the soldiers in action as they parted Jesus’ garment into four sections and passed the sections among themselves and then cast lots for ownership of the whole tunic rather than rip the garment.”
2 As Jesus hung on the cross, he knew that the hour was at hand. Verse 25 gives a description about the interactions he had with the criminals who was hung with him. Verses 26-28 provides details about Jesus making provisions for His mother once He passes from His flesh. It tells us that He told His mother to behold a disciple whom He loved as her son, and He told His beloved disciple to behold Mary as his mother.
3 After Jesus made provisions for His mother, with his strength dried up and tongue stuck to the palate of his mouth (Psalms 22:15), He says “I thirst” (Verse 28). In verse 29, they gave him sour wine, and in verse 30, Jesus proclaimed that “it is finished.” With those words, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The bible tells that the soldiers came back to the cross to break the legs of those who were crucified, which was a common practice to make malefactors or criminals, if you will, suffer. However, when they went to break Jesus’ legs, He was already dead (John 19:33). The scriptures were fulfilled.
B The depth of Jesus’ love: He bowed His head and gave up the spirit.
1 Jesus, the man whom we call Christ did several things to show his love as He hung on that old rugged cross. He showed the loving act of asking asked God to forgive His transgressors (Luke 23:34). He also showed love when he forgave one of the malefactors who hung next to Him on the Cross and promised him a place in the kingdom (Luke 23:43). In addition he showed love towards his mother by making provisions for her (John 19: 26, 27). In the ninth hour, humiliated and in enough pain to where he asked God “why have thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27: 46), he loved mankind enough to commit His spirit (Luke 23:46) and give up the ghost.
2 His actions forever changed the relationship between God and mankind. When Jesus died, the veil of the temple ripped in two (Matthew 27:51). Let’s stop and focus on the veil for a second. The veil, or curtain if you will, that the bible speaks of is the one in the temple. According to the Life Application Bible, the temple (identified in the King James’ version as the Covenant Tabernacle) consisted of the courts, the Holy Place where only the priest could enter and the Most Holy Place where only the high priest could enter. The high priest could only enter the Most Holy Place once a year in order to atone for his sins and the sins of the nation through blood offering. The courts, Holy Place and Most High Holy Place were separated by veils.
3 When Christ died, the second veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was removed, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and mankind. At this point, man had access to God rather than having to rely on priests for access. Jesus’ death in essence invalidated the old covenant that required yearly blood offering and replaced it with a new covenant in a more perfect tabernacle not made from hands. This covenant required the use of Christ blood as the redeeming or saving blood for mankind’s transgressions (Hebrews 9:1-15).
C Adam disobeyed God’s law and was therefore sentenced to death, but God saw fit to save mankind and therefore extended His grace and provided salvation to all mankind.
1 According to Strong, one definition for grace is benefit given. God gave mankind the benefit of salvation. The same dictionary also list several definitions for salvation which are makes safe, frees or deliverance. Salvation in Christ keeps us safe from sin’s penalties and spiritual death (Luke 7:50) so that those who believeth in our Lord Jesus Christ shall have everlasting life (John 6:47).
2 Salvation in Christ also frees mankind from the reigning power of sin or our carnal nature. Roman 6:6 tells us that our old man, our old selves if you will, was crucified with Christ so that our body of sin might be destroyed and therefore we should not serve sin. Verse seven states that “he that is dead is free from sin,”and sin no longer has dominion over you (v14). C.I. Schofield’s editorial explains that the crucifiction of Christ intervened and freed mankind from the double bondage of sin as well as sets the believer free from the law as it relates to sin.
3 In addition, salvation in Christ gives us life provides the opportunity for believers to join Christ in heaven when He takes his throne in His new kingdom. The bible tells us that believers in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, including those asleep in Jesus, will be caught up in the clouds, which will take them into the air where they will forever be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
II. The New Birth
A Regeneration is an integral part of the new birth and of salvation because it marks the line of separation between eternal life and eternal death.
1 Adam infected all mankind with sin and caused a death sentence to himself and all generations. His action put mankind in a position where God sees their hearts as deceitful and ones that cannot be known (Jeremiah 17:9). Romans 3:10 tells us that no one is righteous. Therefore, since sin and righteousness cannot reside together, it was necessary to put a mechanism in place to clean mankind’s heart. This mechanism is regeneration or spiritual rebirth (as it is defined by Strong).
2 Why should we care about having a clean heart or even being reborn? We should care because Jesus said in his word (John 3:3) that no man can enter into the kingdom of God unless he is reborn. If our sinful nature is not regenerated or rebirthed into Christ, then we face eternal death. But no need to worry because God looks out for Mankind even when we fail to look out for ourselves. God with his glorious mercy extended His grace and granted those who believe in Christ the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). He sent Jesus to die on the cross to bear our sins (Romans 5:8). What greater love can there be?
3 What happens when regeneration occurs? Yes, we get a cleaner heart and a clean spirit, but what happens to the old nature? How do we become one with Jesus? Schofield explains in the King James Study bible that believers in Jesus Christ has two natures. They possess a hopelessly bad nature as well as a new spiritual good nature that is given by God. Regeneration quickens our spirit with Jesus. Strong’s Hebrew definition for quicken is to live, restore or revive. When we were revived in Christ, we were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:11). Once we were reestablished with Christ and anointed by God, the Holy spirit was given to us and sealed in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22).
B Repentance is the negative aspect of conversion as it deals with sin and is also part of the new birth.
1 God worked within the hearts of mankind so that salvation may occur. However, man must do his part in working out his own salvation. One of the things that man must do is repent. Strong’s definition for repent is to be sorry or turn back. Either definition is fitting since mankind can be sorry for his sinful ways or he may desire to turn back to Christ if they backslide. Scripturally, mankind must repent to prepare for the kingdom (Matthew 4:17). If our heart is not right in the sight of God, the bible tells us to repent of our wickedness and pray to God that thy heart be forgiven (Acts 8: 21, 22).
2 Emery H. Bancroft, a noted Baptist theologian, contends that repentance “is the first aspect of the believers initial experience of salvation, i.e. conversion.” It is the negative aspect of conversion as it primarily deals with sin. It involves two essential elements. One is hatred of sin and the other is sorrow for sin. The bible tells believers that he who love and fear the Lord hates evil (Psalms 97:10; Proverbs 8:13), for if you hate evil and love the good, the Lord God will be gracious to you just as He was to the remnants of Joseph Amos 5:15).
3 The other essential element that repentance involves is sorrow for sin. Bancroft points out that there is a difference between remorse and repentance as it relates to sorrow for sin. Remorse is sorrow for the consequence of sin and repentance condemns the sin which brought the consequence. The New Living Translation Bible tells us that “the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death (2 Corinthians 7:10).
C Faith is the positive aspect of true conversion and an intricate part of the new birth.
1 Hebrew 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Belief in Jesus Christ is the work of God (John 6:29) that enables believers to live for eternity (John 6:47). Believers who love the Lord, though they have not seen Him, will have unspeakable joy and full glory (1 Peter 1:8). Faith is our access to God’s grace (Romans 5:2).
2 Bancroft describes two types of faith. He describes natural faith that is possessed in varying degrees by all and is based on material testimony as well as trustworthy evidence. This type of faith does not meet the spiritual or moral needs of man and is therefore not sanctioned by God. The other type of faith that Bancroft describes is spiritual faith. This type of faith is possessed only by regenerated believers. Spiritual faith, according to Bancroft, rest upon the knowledge of God and His will as ordained through revelation as well as personal experience.
3 God does not require mankind to have a lot of faith. He only requires faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6). That small amount of faith gives mankind the power to achieve endless possibilities (Mark 9:23). Woe unto non-believers for they are condemned (John 3:18) to death as well as to the wrath of God (John 3:36).
III. Other important elements of salvation
A Justification is an element of salvation that serves as a divine judicial act by God.
1 Man is justified, not by character or conduct, but by the grace of God as a judicial act on the provided ground of Christ’s redemption, as shown by his resurrection; it is appropriated by faith and manifested by works.
2 According to the topical study of the King James Study Bible, justification is the act of divine grace that restores the sinner to full relationship with God as if he had not sinned. There are several reasons why mankind need justification. The bible tells us that all mankind has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God but we are justified freely by grace through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24, 25). The believing sinner was justified because Christ absorbed our sins on the cross and replaced it with righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).
3 Think of justification as a divine judicial review that takes place in a divine court that is has God as the Judge. Man goes to court and acknowledge his guilt by confessing himself as a sinner and confessing his belief in Jesus Christ. God judges and determines that man is guilty of sin. However, He forgives the believer's sin because the blood of the lamb was shed in exchange for the sin.
B Sanctification is also important element to mankind’s salvation.
1 Sanctification, which is important in mankind’s salvation, is the state of purity (Strong). If we are justified and saved by faith, then what is the purpose of sanctification? Sanctification is the process of being set apart for God whereas justification is what God does for us (Bancroft). There are a couple of reasons why sanctification is important to believers. One reason is that those with pure hearts are blessed and will see God (Matthew 5:8). Another reason is that if one’s heart is good, then he will bring forth good rather than evil for the mouth speaks from the heart (Luke 6:45).
2 Sanctification is accomplished by twofold ways. One is on the divine side and the other is on the human side. On the divine side God sanctifies the whole body, soul and spirit so that they may be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God sanctifies through His truth and His word is truth (John 17:17). Jesus sanctified himself so that believers may be sanctified through truth.
3 On the human side man must open their eyes and turn from the darkness of Satan to the wonderful light of God so that they may receive forgiveness of their sin as well as the inheritance of those who were sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18). Man must also engage in reasonable service by presenting their bodies as a living sacrifice, one which is holy and acceptable in the sight of God (Roman 12:1). In addition, man must renunciate sin in the pursuit of holiness (Bancroft).
C. Prayer is an essential part of salvation.
1 Prayer has several objects. One is salvation. Psalms 85:7 , which read, “shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” is an example of a prayer for salvation. Other objects of prayer include spiritual establishment, spiritual revival and divine vindication. Preservation as well as support, prosperity and for the sinful are other objects of prayer.
2 Prayer is a communication tool for God. Although He knows all of your needs, He wants us to pray to Him. However, He does not want us to pray as hypocrites wanting to be seen by man (Matthew 6:5). Instead, He wants us to use a format similar to the one outlined in Matthew 6:9-16). If you notice, even in the Lords prayer, there is a request for God to forgive our sin.
3. God answers prayers. However, if there in iniquity in your heart, God will not hear
your prayer (Psalms 66:1), but if you have faith, He will supply your needs (Matthew
9:29). People tend to underestimate the power of prayer. Matthew 7:8 tells us that
you should “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you.” God has made it clear that he supplies our needs, but it is up to
us to make the request.
Conclusion:
In closing, I would like to share this brief story with you. A wealthy American made a trip to London. He was fascinated with the Buckingham Palace, where the king lived. So one morning he went to the gates, expecting to go right in, but two soldiers stuck out their bayonets and stopped him. They said, "Where do you think you’re going?" So he took out a $1,000 bill and said to them, "Take this money; I can pay my way in." But they said, "You can’t buy your way into the king’s palace. You have to be invited. If the king invites you, you can go in free!"
Appeal:
The same is true with God’s kingdom. You do not need money or any other type of riches to enter His Kingdom. The only thing you need is your faith, and your faith grants you free access to the Kingdom of Heaven. The doors of the church are now open.
