Salvation Is God’s Will For Us. He Wants To Save Us All.

Word Count: 2258

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 10th August 2014 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries).

Summary: Our Salvation is within us, if we only knew who to call. Read on!

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Psalm 105, 1-6, 16-22, 45b Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33

“Please join me in my prayer.” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. Amen. (Ps. 19:14)

Romans 10:5-15

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?

"The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart"

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Introduction:

Whenever I have been asked to do a sermon, I have gotten into the habit of going straight for the gospel reading, and expounding on that. My reasons for doing this are simple … most of us are more familiar with the Gospels … and they tend to make lighter sermons. Andrew however, has requested that today and next week at least, we focus on the New Testament readings that are from the book of Romans, which you know is much weightier, but I will do my best to keep it on the ground.

So we will start by relating to something we all know about, and that is on losing things. I mean, we have all done it … we have all searched frantically for something that was right beside us all the time – particularly our glasses that were there a minute ago … and we panic … and we feel foolish … and we upset everybody looking for them as Christine will tell you … as we are usually in some kind of hurry.

Yet there is another kind of frantic search that is much more extreme, and it can not only cause trauma, but it can end in tragedy … and that is the search for salvation.

What is salvation, you may ask? Salvation in this sense is the deliverance from danger or suffering, where the word here carries the idea of total victory, particularly concerning our eternal deliverance and acceptance with God.

From this salvation we are saved, we are saved from the “wrath of God” that is, from God’s judgment of our sin, where the consequences of our sin is death.

Many people search high and low for salvation never realising it is right there within them all the time. All they need to do is call on the name of Jesus … although we all know, we have to call on him quite hard, but many people do not know this, many people do not believe this is the way, and many do not want to admit that Jesus is the answer, particularly as many have experiences of church which leave a lot to be desired.

But many, many, people do spend years soul searching … they ask awkward questions … they read book after book … they compare other religions … they follow the latest gurus … and they even embark on costly pilgrimages to find the answers to life, and life after death.

Maybe that describes you at one time, it certainly described me … but if you are on a search for salvation the Apostle Paul has something to say to you … he would say that “Salvation is near us – it’s in His Word, God’s word, and it’s in our words”, as we speak.