10250 North Freeway @ West Road
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10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What
We Believe and Why
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
GOD'S THREEFOLD SALVATION
II COR. 1:1O
This chapter is designed to present a simple truth which every Christian should know well. Though it is central in the Scriptures, many Christians have never seen it. The understanding of this truth will shed light on a great many other Bible Truths and make many difficult passages easy to understand. In fact, a good understanding of this will do as much, if not more, to enhance a person's overall understanding of the Scriptures than any other single truth.
The infinitive word "to save" and its various derivities (saved, salvation, etc.) come from the Greek word "sos" which according to Strong's Greek Dictionary means "to save, to deliver or, to protect." Though when we read the word in the Bible or hear it in a sermon, we normally think of the word as a religious word, it is not correct to limit the word to a religious sense. As this lesson will show, though this word is used to express a mighty Bible truth, it is at the same time appropriately used in everyday situations. Any time anyone is delivered from any given peril, one can rightfully say he was saved. A child can be saved from an onrushing car, a man can be saved from a lynch mob, or a soul can be saved from eternal damnation.
There are three major senses in which the word is used in the Scriptures. Most people think the word in a Bible context always refers to deliverance from the enternal damnation of hell, (to miss hell and gain heaven). But, that is not true for it also refers to the deliverance we have from daily temptations and perils, which would ruin our testimonies and spiritual lives; and it also refers to a deliverance from sin's presence, which shall one day take place. The value of understanding the sense in which any given Bible text employs the word is seen by imagining a person using a text, that tells a man whose sins are already covered by Christ's blood how he can now be saved from a wrecked testimony, to tell a man on his way to hell how to be saved from that awful condemnation. Although, this very thing is regularly done by many well-meaning persons, as in the case of using Rom. 10:13, which tells those already redeemed how to obtain daily help from sins dominion, as a scripture to tell alien sinners how to be delivered from sin's penalty.You can imagine how misled those, who are so instructed, are.
We cannot overstress the importance of determining in which sense a given scripture uses the word save (or its derivatives), then using the word thereafter in its proper sense.
You can see that all three senses of the word saved, as it is commonly used in the Bible, are mentioned in our text, II Cor. 1:10. Now, let us consider each of these three senses, one at a time
I. Salvation from the penalty of sin:
A. The penalty of sin is eternal death or separation from God, (Rom. 5:12), and those who have experienced salvation in this first sense have been delivered from this death, which is sin's penalty:
1. It is thus that believers are said to have "passed from death unto life," John 5:24.
2. I John 3:14 says of us who have believed, "We know that we have passed from death unto life."
3. Jesus referred to this type of salvation or deliverance by saying, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, " John 11:25.
B. Notice that this salvation is always past tense for those who have experienced it:
1. That John 5:24 text says the believer "is passed" from death unto life. That would be a completed, finished work of the past.
2. Jesus spoke to a believer woman and said, "Thy faith hath (past tense) saved thee"' Luke 7:50.
3. Eph. 2:8 says we "have ... been saved through faith." (American Standard Version).
4. II Tim. 1:9 speaks of Jesus Christ, "Who hath saved us."
5. It is thus that I Cor. 1:18 can speak of us "which are saved". That is a completed work which "is"; not "is being," accomplished.
6. So, salvation from sin's penalty is not a progressive delivering, taking a lifetime to perform. It is a deliverance which occurs completely and finally at belief. The deliverance is finished then, and anytime thereafter, we are saved; and can look back to that event when we were delivered wholly and instantly from all of sin's penalty.
C. As the foregoing scriptures show, we experience this salvation at belief:
1. This is what Paul told the Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved", Acts 16:31.
2. John 3:36 says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.
3. Re-examine John 5:24 and John 11:25.
D. Salvation in this sense is accomplished by Christ's dying:
1. I Thes. 5:9-10 says, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or Sleep, we should live together with him." Note: Salvation obtained by His dying.
2. He delivered us from death by taking our death on Himself (Rom. 5:8), as our substitute; and by this death, reconciled us to God. Col. 1:21-22.
E. It was in His office of good shepherd that Christ performed this salvation (deliverance), for it is the good shepherd that "giveth his life for the sheep", John 10:11.
F. Deliverance or salvation in this sense is the saving grace of God, Eph. 2:8.
G. Now notice some of the facts of this salvation:
1. It is past tense.
2. It is a finished deliverance; not progressive.
3. It is from sin's penalty.
4. It is experienced at the point of belief.
5. It is accomplished by Christ's death.
6. Christ performs this salvation as a good shepherd.
7. This is God's work of saving grace.
II. Salvation from the dominion of sin:
A. Satan would cause us to backslide, ruin our testimony, rob us of joy and fruitfulness and happiness. But, God would deliver or save us from this peril or danger:
1. When Paul surveyed these dangers, knowing he could be robbed of fellowship with God and all the benefits that result from it(Rom. 7:15-23), he stated there is deliverance or salvation in Christ, Rom. 7:24-25.
2. Paul referred to salvation in this sense when he said, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death, (Rom. 8:2).
3. Again he referred to it by saying, "For sin shall not have dominion over you, Rom. 6:14.
B. Salvation in this sense is present tense and progressive:
1. We need this kind of deliverance day by day, even moment by moment.
2. Paul needed this daily, ever present, deliverance,thus he asked the Philippian Christians to pray to this end saying, "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer." He said this salvation was equivalent to the fact "that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body Phil. 1:19-20.
3. It is in view of God's saving us in this sense that David said, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in tro u ble, " Ps. 46:1.
C. Salvation in this sense is the sustaining grace of God:
1. It is salvation in this sense that God speaks of in II Cor. 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
2. We are given the promise of this deliverance from the daily perils of life in I Cor. 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
D. Only the believer, whose life is submitted to the will of God that he walk according to truth, can expect to experience this salvation:
1. If a man will yield himself to God and walk according to truth, God will deliver or save him in this sense:
a. God's word says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed," Jam. 1:25.
b. It is in this sense that Paul speaks of salvation in Phil. 2:12-13, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Note that there is no work involved in salvation from sin's penalty,but salvation from sin's dominion requires much work.
c. This truth is further seen in II Tim. 2:21, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
d. It is in this sense that I Pet. 3:21 says, "baptism doth also now save us. . . "
2. On the other hand, the believer, who will stiffen himself against God's will and will not walk according to the truth, will find he is not delivered or saved from the things which would ruin his life:
a. The Lord is only "nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that caU upon Him in truth," Ps. 145:18.
b. Listen to how Isaiah put it in Isa. 59:1-2, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
E. The way a believer, who has so lived as to lose this salvation or deliverance (Gal.5:4), regains it is through prayer:
1. We have this promise in I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2. This is what Rom. 10:13 is talking about, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
3. Ananias told Paul to wash away his sins by "calling on the name of the Lord," Acts 22:16.
4. And, Peter told Simon, whose heart was not right (Acts 8:23), to "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God. . . " Acts 8:22.
F. Salvation in this sense is accomplished by Christ's living:
1. It is thus that Heb. 7:25 says, "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."
2. As one who lives and is passed into the heavens (Heb. 4:14), he acts there as our Living High Priest (Heb. 4:15), inviting us to come for all the daily salvation or deliverance we need, Heb. 4:16.
G. It is in His office of great shepherd that Christ performs this deliverance (salvation), for it is the great shepherd who lives and regularly tends the sheep. Heb. 13:20-21 thus says, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus That great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen."
H. Notice Particularly these facts of this salvation:
1. It is present tense.
2. It is continuous; progressive.
3. It is from sin's dominion.
4. It can be lost.
5. It is regained by prayer from a repentant heart.
6. It is accomplished by Christ's life.
7. Christ performs this salvation as great shepherd.
8. This is God's work of sustaining grace.
III. Salvation from the presence of sin:
A. One day the believer shall be taken to be with the Lord where there'll be no more sin; and in this place, he shall miss or be delivered from all of God's wrath which shall ultimately be poured out on sin and unconverted sinners:
1. Rom. 5:9 speaks of this deliverance by saying, "we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
2. Rom. 13:11 speaks of this coming deliverance and says, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
3. Peter says that believers are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time," I Pet. 1:5.
B. You will notice that this salvation is future tense:
1 We "shall be saved" which speaks of something yet future. Rom. 5:9.
2. It is not yet a reality, but it will come, as the foregoing verses show.
C. Salvation in this sense will be accomplished by Christ's returning:
1. It is then that the old bodies will be made new (I Cor. 15:51-55).
2. We shall then all be changed and be ever with the Lord where sin can not enter and we'll be safe from all wrath. I Thes. 4:13-17.
D. We can only wait for this salvation to materialize. Titus 2:13, teaches us to look, "for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. "
E. Salvation in this sense is the glorifying grace of God:
1. Paul spoke of this grace by saying, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing," II Tim. 4:7-8.
2. Peter said there's a tremendous inheritance "reserved in heaven" for the saints of God. I Pet. 1:4-5.
3. The Lord will glorify his children. Rom. 8:17, 30. it is called final grace. I Pet. 1:13.
F. It will be in His office of chief shepherd that Christ will perform this salvation (deliverance). Peter says, "And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away, I Pet. 5:4.
G. Now, notice some of the outstanding facts of this salvation:
1. It is future tense.
2. It is from sin's presence.
3. It will be experienced when the Lord returns.
4. It will be accomplished by Christ's returning.
5. Christ performs this salvation as chief shepherd.
6. This is God's work of glorifying grace.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"