THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

(Lesson 13 on Bible Doctrines) 

 

Text: HEBREWS 2:1-4



INTRODUCTION:

  1. This morning we are going to consider the greatest doctrine in the Bible – the doctrine of salvation.
  2. It is vitally important because it affects each and every one of us.   Salvation is the theme of both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  And this theme centers on the Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. Salvation has three aspects, or three tenses – past, present and future.

    ·        We have been saved (II Cor. 6:2; Eph. 2:8, 9) – from the penalty of sin.

    ·        We are being saved (Phil. 2:12, 13) – from the power of sin.

    ·        We shall be saved (Romans 13:11-14) – from the very presence of sin.

  4. No Biblical theme is more deserving of prayerful and careful study than that of salvation.  When a repentant sinner puts his trust in Jesus Christ he is saved from the penalty of sin (hell); he is saved from the power of sin – “sin shall not have dominion over you” (Rom. 6:14); and he is saved from the very presence of sin – eternity in heaven.
  5. When a man gets saved he is delivered from Satanic bondage (Greg’s friend shaking and walking out during song service), from false doctrine, from alcohol, drugs, gambling, and all the worldly sins that were dragging him down to hell.
  6. Hebrews 2:3 says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”  God has provided for us a “great salvation.”

 

I. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ITS DIVINE AUTHOR

II. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE PRICE PAID TO PROCURE IT

III. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ITS UNIVERSALITY

IV. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS IT BESTOWS

 

I. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ITS DIVINE AUTHOR

  1. Salvation was conceived in the mind of God way back in eternity past, before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4; II Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2; I Peter 1:18-20; Rev. 13:8).
  2. God did not look down into the Garden of Eden and say, “Oh no!  Adam and Eve have sinned?  Let me come up with a plan of salvation.”
  3. God’s wonderful plan of salvation was no immediate, unpremeditated plan to meet a sudden emergency; it was not an afterthought on God’s part.
  4. Salvation is all according to God’s “purpose and grace” (II Tim. 1:9).
  5. Let us always remember that salvation is not in a church, not in a ritual, not in a priest, not in a vision, not in baptism, not in some emotional experience – salvation is in a PERSON! And that Person is God (Isaiah 12:2).
  6. David said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1; cf. Ps. 62:1, 2).
  7. Salvation demonstrates God’s love. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
  8. Salvation demonstrates God’s grace. Ephesians 2:7 says, “That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace…” Salvation is great because of its Divine Author.

 

II. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE PRICE PAID TO PROCURE IT (I COR. 6:20; 7:23).

  1. By His sacrificial death on the cross, our Lord secured a perfect salvation for sinners. It is therefore a precious salvation, because we have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:19).
  2. The Lord Jesus Christ had to give His life as a ransom in order to save us (Matt. 20:28).
  3. Salvation is great because of the price paid to procure it (Acts 20:28).

 

III. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ITS UNIVERSALITY

  1. Jude writes in verse 3 of his little epistle, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation…” The word “common” here means “something for all; universal.”
  2. The provision for sin is as extensive as the extent of sin.
  3. None are excluded.  God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).
  4. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world…” Irrespective of nationality, position, age, or religious background, God’s salvation is for all (I Tim. 2:4-6; 4:10; I John 2:2; 4:14).
  5. Christ is “the Saviour of the world” (I John 4:14).  This does not mean that all men will be saved, but it does mean that God has provided a Saviour for all men.
  6. Richard De Haan (Dr. M.R. De Haan’s son) told a true story about a discouraged old sinner by the name of Kline. One Sunday night Mr. Kline went out for a walk, feeling very discouraged and defeated.  He felt no one cared about him and that life wasn’t worth living.  But as he walked past a church he could hear the congregation singing an old hymn.

    “Saved by grace alone, this is all my plea.

    Jesus died for all mankind, and Jesus died for me.”

    Mr. Kline was a bit hard of hearing and so when the congregation sang, “Jesus died for all mankind,” he thought they were singing, “Jesus died for old man Kline.”  “Well, what do you know?” he thought to himself. “That’s me!” He walked into the church and stayed for the rest of the service. The pastor preached the Gospel and Mr. Kline was gloriously saved!

  7. When we speak of the universality of salvation we are not saying all men will be saved.  The Bible teaches that those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ are condemned and will go to hell (John 3:16-18, 36).
  8. I heard a sad story about when the French tore down the Bastille.  The Bastille was a medieval fortress in Paris that had become a notorious prison-house. The people stormed the Bastille, yelling, “Down with the Bastille!”  Finally the doors were broke open and the prisoners released. But they found one man who was in his dark, lonely cell for 40 years. They told him he was free but he refused to leave. He actually stood in the doorway and fought with those who tried to drag him out into the bright sunlight and fresh air.  The account I read said, “He resisted them with the ferocity of a tiger.”  And so it is with sinners who refuse salvation.

 

IV. SALVATION IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS IT BESTOWS

  1. When we speak of these wonderful blessings we are referring to deliverance from the bondage of sin, and from the curse of sin, and from the condemnation of sin, which is eternal torment in hell.
  2. When we speak of the wonderful blessings that accompany salvation we are talking about the peace of God, fellowship with Jesus, joy unspeakable and full of glory.
  3. What a blessing it is to know that our salvation is for all eternity (cf. Isa. 51:6).
  4. How wonderful it is to know that we are safe in the arms of Jesus (John 10:27-30).

 

CONCLUSION:

  1. We have barely scratched the surface of this great doctrine of salvation.  Salvation is great because of its simplicity (John 3:16; Acts 16:30, 31; Rom. 10:9, 13).
  2. I have read many interesting stories about the Titanic, but I think the best is the one concerning a preacher named John Harper.  One of the men that survived the Titanic testified later that he was drifting out on the ocean on a piece of wood from the ship when John Harper drifted by.
  3. John Harper called out, “Man are you saved?” and the man replied, “No, I am not.” John Harper yelled out, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
  4. The waves pushed John Harper away but a little later on the waves brought him back. Again he called out, “Man are you saved now?” and once again the man had to answer no, he was not. And John Harper said again, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
  5. Shortly afterwards the man saw John Harper go down, and there in the middle of the night this man called on the Lord and asked Him to save him. He eventually was rescued and everywhere he went he told people that he was John Harper’s last convert.

Pastor James Barker
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