The Bible, a Twofold Record of God’s Great Works:
- Creation (Gen 1-2)
- Redemption (Gen 3-Rev 22)
God’s Salvific Plan (aka Redemption)
- God the Father planned it.
- God the Son accomplished it.
- God the Holy Spirit applies it.
Salvation by Grace
God does all the work in sanctification (Php 1:6 - something He doesn’t do for unbelievers). He also never starts something He doesn’t finish (Is 55:8-11).
Ro 1:1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2 Implications of Salvation
- There’s a need for salvation (Gen 2:17; Ps 19:1; 69:1-2; Ecc 7:20; Is 1:6; Jer 17:9; Mt 9:1-2; 14:25-30; Mk 7:20-23; Lk 19:10; Jn 8:44; Ac 8:30-31; 14:17; Ro 1:19-20; 2:14-16; 3:19; 5:12; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2,12; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16; 3:10; 5:12; Jud 1:19)
- There’s a willing/able party that saves (Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; Eph 3:20; 1Ti 2:3-4; 2Ti 1:12; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:18; 5:9; 7:25; 2Pe 3:9; Jud 1:24)
God is Willing to Save
(Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; 1Ti 2:3-4; Tit 2:11; Heb 5:9; 2Pe 3:9).
Zec 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you [it is prophesied]; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Mat 8:2-3
And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Tit 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people [“all” w/out distinction, not “all” w/out exception – to imply the latter is to imply God’s Word may, indeed, come back “empty”, in contrast to Is 55:11],
God is Willing to Save
(Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; 1Ti 2:3-4; Tit 2:11; Heb 5:9; 2Pe 3:9).
God is Able to Save
(Eph 3:20; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 2:18; 7:25; Jud 1:24).
Eph 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [ref: God’s power] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Heb 7:25
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
God is Able to Save
(Eph 3:20; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 2:18; 7:25; Jud 1:24).
What is salvation?
- Hebrew yesha (root for Joshua & Jesus) – refers to freedom from something binding/restricting deliverance
- Greek soteria – means deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation; to cure, to rescue
2 Implications of Salvation
- There’s a need for salvation (Gen 2:17; Ps 19:1; 69:1-2; Ecc 7:20; Is 1:6; Jer 17:9; Mt 9:1-2; 14:25-30; Mk 7:20-23; Lk 19:10; Jn 8:44; Ac 8:30-31; 14:17; Ro 1:19-20; 2:14-16; 3:19; 5:12; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2,12; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16; 3:10; 5:12; Jud 1:19)
- There’s a willing/able party that saves (Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; Eph 3:20; 1Ti 2:3-4; 2Ti 1:12; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:18; 5:9; 7:25; 2Pe 3:9; Jud 1:24)
One Gospel
All believers throughout human history have been and will be saved in the exact same way. Never buy the lie that there are different gospels or methods of salvation (e.g., based on so-called “dispensationalism”).
The Threefold Method of Salvation
- By innocent (Heb 9:14), shed (Mt 26:28), applied (Rev 1:5) blood (Heb 9:22).
- Through a person (Jon 2:9; Ac 4:12; 1Th 5:9; Heb 5:9).
- By grace (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 2:11).
The Succinct Gospel
The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ and His work.
Jas 2:19
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
The Threefold Method of Salvation
- By innocent (Heb 9:14), shed (Mt 26:28), applied (Rev 1:5) blood (Heb 9:22).
- Through a person (Jon 2:9; Ac 4:12; 1Th 5:9; Heb 5:9).
- By grace (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 2:11).
Jas 2:17
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Ac 26:20
but [I, Paul] declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
Which is More Gracious…
1. God supplies His elect with the ability to repent, believe, and receive saving faith which justifies?
2. God saves, but it is up to man in his fallen state to conjure up the power to repent, believe, and have saving faith?
The Threefold Method of Salvation
- By innocent (Heb 9:14), shed (Mt 26:28), applied (Rev 1:5) blood (Heb 9:22).
- Through a person (Jon 2:9; Ac 4:12; 1Th 5:9; Heb 5:9).
- By grace (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 2:11).
