Basic Discipleship Phase 3 Session 14

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

SALVATION

Few, if any, truths can enlighten the mind of a Bible student so quickly and dramatically as the one considered in this exercise. The truth of God's three-fold salvation is a true key to understanding. With this truth, the great work of Christ as (1) prophet, (2) priest and (3) king begins to emerge and that work is scattered throughout the Bible. Answers to questions regarding justification, sanctification and glorification spring to the surface. Specific passages that seemed to contradict other passages on the matter of salvation clear up with an understanding of this truth.

The comparison chart that is included here is important. It is by no means the final word on the subject, but it is a start. Even the data that is included in this chart requires serious study and it is doubtful that any student is going to fully grasp it quickly. Encourage your disciple to spend time with this chart. Be as sure as you can that he gets a firm grasp on the truth of salvation from sin's (1) penalty, (2) power and (3) presence. Be sure, too, that he understands the basic definition of salvation, what it means to be delivered from a peril.

The last part of this session is about the eternal security of salvation from sin's penalty. This great truth is rejected by so very many who name the precious name of Jesus Christ. In this Basic Discipleship study, the eternal security of the believer had to be presented. Again, the exercise dealing with this concept is not exhaustive. It is sufficient to cause your disciple to see the truth for himself right there in the Bible. A variety of Bible arguments in the very words of scripture are presented for his consideration. Remember that this course is from the approach that it is far better for the student to discover the truth for himself than for one of us to simply tell him.

Thank you, Discipleship Minister, for what you are doing. Only eternity will reveal the merit of your investment in the life of another person. Tonight, as I finalize this session, I am praying in advance for you. My prayer is that you will be faithful and fruitful. I want you to hear our Master say, "Well done."

Stay in the heart of your disciple. After this session, there are only three more in Phase 3. This is the doctrinal section of our course. Help your student to become truly grounded in the faith. We're playing for keeps.

Salvation! You've been hearing that term. It's bigger than it might first appear and a good understanding of it will greatly enhance your understanding. A clear definition of the infinitive verb "to save" and a correct view of how it is applied in the scriptures is most enlightening and can keep you from serious error.

A great addition to the library of serious Christians is a dictionary. Correct definitions are always helpful and clear many misunderstandings. A Bible dictionary like Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words and the Strong's dictionaries mentioned earlier are especially good to learn how a word was used in Bible days.

Look up the word "save" in a dictionary. You will find that one of the definitions is to rescue or keep from harm or danger. The word is used hundreds of times in the Bible in this sense.

Do not confuse the definition of the word "save" with the application. To save and its various derivatives means to deliver from a peril, harm or danger. Several perils or dangers are mentioned in the Bible. One could be saved from any one of them and by different means. The Bible particularly emphasizes three grave perils or dangers of a spiritual nature. They are (1) sin's penalty which is death in the sense of eternal separation from God, (2) sin's power which is the wrecking of one's daily life by Satan and (3) the wrath of God that is to come because of sin's presence in this world. Sometimes people think of being saved as simply missing hell and going to heaven which is salvation from sin's penalty. God also saves from sin's power and He will ultimately save believers from sin's presence. You will get very confused and off into error if you only think of the word save in one application such as from sin's penalty. You might even find yourself using scriptures about salvation from sin's power in a sincere effort to help one who is lost and in need of salvation from sin's penalty. That can be eternally disastrous. As you go through the scriptures and encounter the word save, always consider how it is being used or applied. Ask yourself, "Saved from what peril or danger?"

To help you gain a broader understanding of the word save please complete these multiple choice questions.

A. This verse lists three distinct ways in which believers are delivered or saved.

B. This verse says believers (1) have been delivered, (2) are being delivered and (3) shall be delivered.

4. Jonah 2:9. In the Bible sense of the word, salvation or deliverance is always ultimately by:

Study carefully the following chart, then answer the questions that follow. Keep this chart around and study it often. It will take you a long time to absorb its gravity.

FROM SIN�S	FROM SIN�S	FROM SIN�S
*PENALTY*	*POWER*	*PRESENCE*
Spirit *John 5:24*	Soul Matthew 16:26	Body *Phil. 3:21*
Justification *Romans 5:1*	Sanctification *John 17:17*	Glorification *Romans 8:18*
Saving grace *Acts 16:30-31*	Sustaining grace *1 Cor. 10:13*	Glorifying grace Romans 5:21
The cross *Matthew 27:35*	Right hand of Father *Heb. 8:1*	The throne *Matthew 25:31*
Christ's death *1 Thes. 5:9-10*	Christ's life *Heb. 7:25*	Christ's return *Acts 1:11*
Christ as prophet *Matthew 21:11*	Christ as priest *Heb. 4:14-15*	Christ as king *1 Tim. 1:17*
Past *Ephesians 2:8*	Present *Phil. 1:19-20*	Future *Romans 5:9*
Finished *John 19:30*	Progressive *1 Timothy 2:5*	Eternal *2 Timothy 2:10*
Good shepherd *John 10:11*	Great shepherd *Heb. 13:20-21*	Chief shepherd *1 Pet. 5:4*
Saved *1 Corinthians 1:18*	Being saved *Psalms 34:17*	Shall be saved *Mat. 24:13*
Belief of the gospel *1 Cor. 15:14*	Truth applied *Phil. 2:12*	Predestined *Rom. 8:29-30*

1. Now that you have taken a more in-depth look at these three aspects of God's great salvation, meditate on what God has done as compared to what He is doing as compared to what He is going to do.

2. In your own words explain why there is no tension or contradiction in a believer's claim that he is saved, that he is being saved and that he shall be saved.

3. Why is it so wrong to use scriptures about how to have salvation from sin's power when instructing a lost person about how to be saved from sin's penalty?

7. According to 1 Peter 5:8, what is the big current peril from which believers need daily salvation or deliverance? The devil.

8. According to 1 Corinthians 10:13 is there anything from which God cannot deliver or save a believer? No.

9. Read the great shepherd Psalm, Psalm 23, and locate references to all three aspects of salvation.

10. Read Psalms 22, 23 and 24. Each of these Psalms lays particular emphasis on each of the three great aspects or applications of salvation. Find the applications as you read.

11. In view of what you are seeing here, meditate on the phrase "so great salvation" that is found in Hebrews 2:3.

12. As a student of God's word, do you believe one should always be honest in applying scriptures in the sense in which they are used in the scriptures?

The most common recognition of salvation is from sin's penalty. Look up Romans 6:23. What does this verse say the penalty of sin is? Death. What does Revelation 20:14-15 say this death ultimately means for unbelievers? Eternity in the lake of fire.

When one is saved from sin's penalty, he is saved or delivered from death. There is major debate over just how permanent or secure this salvation is. The following matching exercise will allow you to see the answer for yourself. Match the teaching of scripture with the correct reference. Each of these references relates to salvation from sin's penalty.

4. The saved are "kept by the power of God," not their own. ( 3) John 6:47

9. Nothing can "separate" the saved from "the love of God" (10) Titus 3:5

10. Salvation is "not by works of righteousness" which we do ( 5) John 6:39-40