## Can God Really Save My Soul?

## John 3:16-17

In this passage detailing the conversation between the Lord Jesus and Nicodemus, the Lord says, very plainly, that He came into the world to provide salvation for all men. The matter of salvation is of vital importance to every person throughout the entire world. What we do about our salvation will determine where we spend our eternity. Jesus tells us that He didn't come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be "saved." It is that word saved that I want to consider for a moment. We often use biblical terms as if everyone understands what they mean. We forget that those who are without Christ do not always know what we are talking about. So, to clear up any confusion, I want us to see exactly what that word means. The word "saved" literally means, "to save, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction." With this meaning, why do we use it in regard to the soul? Because, man in his natural state, is a sinner, Rom. 3:23.

When we come into this world, we arrive here already under a death sentence, Rom. 6:23. Unless a person is "saved" then they will die in their sins and they will spend eternity in Hell, forever separated from the presence and power of Almighty God. No right thinking person wants that to happen to them! But the question that many want to know is this, "Can God Really Save My Soul?" Is it really true? That is, if a person does what the Bible says and receive His plan of salvation, can God really save us and keep us out of Hell? That is the question I have been asked on a number of occasions, and I would like to answer it today. "Yes He can!" Let me give you three reasons why.

I. God's Promise To Save

A. It's An Old Promise

1. In the beginning, when God made man in His image and man decided to sin against the Lord, God made a promise to Eve in the Garden of Eden

(Gen 3:15) "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

2. God's promise to provide a means of salvation is even older than that. Rev. 13:8 tells us that Jesus is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

3. Peter takes it even farther, 1 Peter 1:20 says, "who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world."

4. These verses tell us that even before there was a sinner to save, before there was even a sin to cleanse, the Lord had already formulated a plan to save the lost.

5. God's promise to save is an old promise that shall never fail!

(Isa 45:22) "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."

(Isa 43:11) "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

6. God has always been and will always be a saving God.

7. His promise to save is as old as God Himself, yet it is as new as the day when you call on Him in believing faith.

B. It's An Ongoing Promise

1. While God's promise is older than the world it is as valid today as it has ever been.

(John 5:24) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

(Acts 16:31) "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

2. This promise has never and will never lose its great power.

3. God is a saving God and nothing will ever change that truth!

C. It's An Open Promise

1. God's promise of salvation is not limited to a selected few, but it's a promise that is offered to all.

(Rev 22:17b) "…And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

(Rom 10:13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

(John 6:47) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

2. It is clear that anyone who realizes their need for salvation can be saved by the grace of God.

3. The only requirement for receiving God's salvation is that we believe His promise!

4. If we're good we can't be saved.

5. If we're righteous, we can't be saved.

(Mark 2:17) "…They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

6. The real problem is that we aren't willing to our guilt before God. 7. Yet, the Bible tells us that we are in sad shape apart from God,

(Isa 53:6) "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

II. God's Power To Save

A. He Has The Power To Call The Sinner

1. No one can be saved when they feel like it!

2. The Bible says that the sinner apart from God is dead.

(Eph 2:1) "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:"

3. That is, they possess no spiritual life and are unable to approach God on their own.

(Rom 3:11) "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

4. The only way the sinner can be saved is for him to be called by God.

(John 6:44-45) "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. {45} It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

5. Salvation always originates with God…it never begins with man!

6. Never presume upon God…when He calls is the time for you to come to Him

(2 Cor 6:2) "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"

B. He Has The Power To Convert The Sinner

1. When a person places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, God does a marvelous work of grace in their life.

2. Things take place that are just amazing!

3. Listen to just a few things that take place in the life of someone when they trust Christ:

a. All sin is immediately and completely forgiven.

b. They become a child of God.

c. They become a joint heir with Christ.

d. They inherit a heavenly home.

e. The sinner becomes a saint.

f. When Jesus saves, He changes us forever.

(2 Cor 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

III. God's Provision To Save

A. He Provided A Perfect Substitute

(2 Cor 5:21) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

B. He Provided A Perfect Sacrifice

(John 1:29) "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

C. He Provided A Perfect Plan Of Salvation

(Rom 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

- "Can God really save my soul?"
- The answer is yes!
- He promised to save us;
- He alone has the power to save us; and
- He has made all the provision necessary for our salvation.

Maybe there is someone here this morning and you have been plagued with doubts about salvation. Maybe there are those who know that they are not saved. But, today, the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart and you are ready to come to the Lord. God is calling and you know what you need to do. Will you come today?