## Articles IX, X, XI & XII: Salvation and the Lost

## John 3:1-7

Over the past several Sunday evenings we have been studying the articles of faith of our church. I want to continue this study. In articles IX - XII , we have a summation of what we believe about salvation of the lost. Today we want to cover briefly each of these articles pointing out our Scriptural position on them. We need to realize that others may use the same terminology that we do, but they often do not define it the same way.

For example: the term 'born again' has been applied to all sorts of situations and individuals. From presidents to pornographers, from rock stars to IU's basketball team, and yet the truth of the Word of God does not always square up with many who claim the experience.

According to the religious world in which we live, there are thousands of ways of getting to heaven. The vast majority of these, although different in many ways in particular, all promote salvation through working, doing, or achieving in the efforts of the flesh. Tonight, we want to consider what we believe about salvation, and why we believe it.

I. Salvation Necessitates a New Birth.

A. Note: John 3:1-7

1. Nicodemus was a Pharisee; a ruler of the Jews.

2. He was, without a doubt, a very religious man.

3. Still Jesus told him not to marvel, or be amazed, at this truth: 'Ye Must Be Born Again .

B. How does this take place?

1. It happens by the Word of God. cf. I Peter 1:23

2. It happens after conviction by the Holy Spirit. cf. John 16:8-11

3. It happens by a voluntary change of the will. cf John 1:12

C. Why should you be born again?

1. It is necessary for all who expect to enter heaven. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?' cf. 1 Co. 6:9a

2. It is necessary to please God and be accepted of Him.

a. Jesus did not offer this as simply a suggestion to Nicodemus.

b. He told him that he MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

c. There are many things that people do that are good, but they will not bring eternal life!

III. Salvation: past, present, and future is all of Grace. cf Ephesians 2:8

A. Gods Riches At Christ's Expense.

1. Salvation is free to all who will accept it, but it isn't cheap.

2. It is free to men, but it cost God dearly.

3. The price of salvation is seen in Jn. 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

B. Two great sins plague mankind:

1. Self-dependence and self-exaltation.

2. In salvation some people look to themselves rather than to God.

3. Every group that promotes a works salvation is guilty of relying on self rather than God.

4. Salvation is free! It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

5. Some would have us believe that the 'Glory to me for what I have done, yes Jesus died, but I am the one I He shed His blood on Calvary, but it wasn't enough ... He depended on me!

6. The Word of God tells us that the song of the redeemed will be sung unto Jesus Christ saying, "Thou art worthy" cf Re. 5:9

III. Salvation Brings Justification.

A. What is justification?

1. It is the act by which God declares a sinner just and righteous, as if he had never sinned.

2. It is more than a pardon; a pardon merely from the penalty of sin, but not from the guilt of sin.

3. When a sinful soul comes in faith to Jesus Christ, God declares him righteous as if he had never sinned.

B. Listen to the Scripture on Justification

1. "...A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ...' cf. Galatians 2:16

2. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." cf. Ro 3:24

3. '...Being now justified by His blood...' cf. Romans 5:9

4. 'Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.' cf. Romans 3:28

5. "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." cf Ro. 5:1

C. Justification is an instantaneous act, an irreversible act, and an unpurchaseable act.

IV. There Can Be No Salvation Without Repentance and Faith.

A. The two terms are inseparable.

1. There can be no saving faith without repentance.

2. Nor can one truly repent of sin without exercising faith in Jesus Christ.

3. Repentance is the change of mind and heart produced under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the hearing of the Word of God.

4. Saving faith is the sincere decision to accept Christ and His finished work on Calvary, and in Him and Him alone for salvation.

B. The Message of Repentance and Faith.

1. It is not just for the Jews, but is for all men

2. Jesus preached repentance: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." cf. Mk. 2:17b

3. The apostles preached repentance: "And they went out and preached that men should repent. cf. Mk 6:12

4. In Luke's account of the Great Commission Jesus said, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." cf Lk. 24:47

5. Peter wrote that God is not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. cf 2 Peter 3:9

6. The apostle Paul preached on Mars Hill that God "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." cf. Acts 17:30

Salvation is such an important subject that I do not want anyone to misunderstand what the Bible teaches about it. God's Word teaches us that everyone of us must be born again, that salvation is all of grace, that one who accepts Christ is justified before God and that we must exercise repentance and faith toward Christ.

Do you know Christ as your Savior? Have you turned from sin and placed your faith in Christ? Have you accepted God's free gift to you? You can today! "...Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." cf. 2 Co. 6:2b

If you have a need, I invite you to come to this altar and meet with God. Are you concerned about your spiritual relationship with God? What about your family and friends, do they understand Biblical salvation? Come today.