July 5, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
“Wesleyan Core Term”
What is Salvation?
John3:16 King James
Ephesians 2:4-5Common English Bible (CEB)
Romans 5:8Common English Bible (CEB)
Titus 3:5Common English Bible (CEB)
Acts 4:12Common English Bible (CEB)
1 Corinthians 1:18Common English Bible (CEB)
Mathew 1:21 Common English Bible
Hebrews 2:14-15 14Common English Bible
Romans 5:9Common English Bible
2 Thess. 2:13Common English Bible
“Just Say Jesus…”
Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me…
Salvation:
1. the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
2. the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
3. a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
4. Theology. deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.
Last week I talked about John Wesley and what he thought about faith. To John Wesley, faith was one of the most important theological concepts. Faith involved trust and confidence and that faith was the evidence of God’s love. He believed that as you grew in faith and assurance of God’s love it would show more and more until a person is completely filled with love in return.
The other part of the equation is salvation. It wasn’t just about going to heaven and being happy. John believed that it is “God’s justification for us through Jesus Christ and God’s sanctification in us through the Holy Spirit. God redeems us from the consequence of sin and, through the Holy Spirit, renews the image of God in us.” (Now this is the good part) “Salvation cannot be limited to a distant paradise on the other side of death but includes a present, tangible, reality of peace and joy in relationship with God now.” Our salvation affords us a present tangible reality of peace with God now…
The Bible tells us that there are several sources of salvation:
1. Grace: Ephesians 2:4-5Common English Bible (CEB)
4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace!
2. Love: Romans 5:8Common English Bible (CEB)
8 But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
3. Mercy: Titus 3:5Common English Bible (CEB)
5 he saved us because of his mercy, not because of righteous things we had done. He did it through the washing of new birth and the renewing by the Holy Spirit,
4. Christ Alone: Acts 4:12Common English Bible (CEB)
12 Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.”
5. The Cross: 1 Corinthians 1:18Common English Bible (CEB)
18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved.
Through salvation we receive the deliverance from/of:
1. Sin: Mathew 1:21She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
2. Satan’s power: Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. 15 He set free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death.
3. Wrath: Romans 5:9 So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.
And there are blessings that we receive through Salvation:
1. Chosen to: 2 Thess. 2:13 But we always must thank God for you, brothers and sisters who are loved by God. This is because he chose you from the beginning to be the first crop of the harvest. This brought salvation, through your dedication to God by the Spirit and through your belief in the truth.
The world is I need of a Savior. Not just your everyday type of savior but one that can save them even from themselves. The world looks at itself thinking it will be able to save itself. But we know, as Christ followers, that there is no other Savior than our Risen Lord, Jesus, and it is only by and in His name we are saved. This is the heart of the Bible…this is the Good News of the Gospel of Grace…we need a Savior and “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Now that’s what a call Saving Grace… Salvation…you can live with it…and you don’t want to live without it…
Amen…
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