What is Salvation?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: Psalm 51
I. The question seems almost ridiculously trivial, but in the years that I have talked with people about their salvation, I’ve come to realize that some of the misinformation out there is rooted in the fact that people don’t know what they are talking about.
A. There is a Problem for which God has provided a Solution. God has also given man Guidance to the solution as well as a Mechanism for gaining access to the solution.
B. The problem is Sin for which the Blood of Jesus is the solution. God then guides us through His Word to learn how to access that solution.
II. Yet there are many ways to view the same problem
A. Sin is a disease from which we must be healed.
1. God told the Israelites that He has turned away because of their wickedness, but He would heal them - Jeremiah 33:5-7
a. Not only would God bring healing, but notice that he would reveal to them peace and truth
2. The same was said through Isaiah - Isaiah 57:17-19
3. Jesus offered that healing, but people refused to listen - Matthew 13:15
4. Through Christ we are healed - I Peter 2:24
B. Sin is filth and a stain on the soul from which we must be cleansed, washed, purified, or sanctified
1. It effects our outlook on life - Titus 1:15
2. The world is polluted and from which we must escape - II Peter 2:20-22
3. We need to wash ourselves and make ourselves clean - Isaiah 1:16-18
4. Sin requires cleansing, it is a stain that needs blotting up - Psalm 51:1-3, 7-10
5. Jesus’s blood cleanses us from all sin - I John 1:7
6. He washed us with his own blood - Revelation 1:5-6
7. Made white by the blood of the lamb - Revelation 7:14
8. God’s word cleans - John 15:3
9. It sanctifies - John 17:17
10. Purified by obeying the word - I Peter 1:22-23
11. A washing of water by the word - Ephesians 5:25-27
12. Not an outward cleansing, but an inward one - I Peter 3:21
C. Sin is a taskmaster who weighs us down with burdens from which we need freedom that can only be purchased by our redemption
1. Sins are a heavy burden - Psalm 38:1-6
2. Sinners are slaves to sin - John 8:34
3. Offers of liberty while entrapped in sin - II Peter 2:19-20
4. We have redemption through Jesus’ blood - Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14
5. Jesus bought us to be zealous for good works - Titus 2:13-14
6. By obedience we are set free from sin - Romans 6:16-18
7. The truth sets us free - John 8:32
8. It is known as the law of liberty - James 1:25
D. Sin is a debt which must be remitted or forgiven
1. Hiding sin magnifies the problem - Psalm 32:1-5
2. If we confess, God will forgive our debt - I John 1:9
3. Jesus’ blood remits sin (or forgives the debt) - Matthew 26:28
4. Hebrews 9:22 - without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (or forgiveness) of sins
E. Sin condemns us from which condemnation we must be justified by an act of mercy or grace
1. From sin comes condemnation - Romans 5:16-18
2. Justified by His grace through the blood of Christ - Romans 3:23-26
3. God showed His love - Romans 5:8-9
4. Believing prevents condemnation - John 3:18
5. Unbelief will condemn - Mark 16:16
6. What we say will either justify or condemn us - Matthew 12:37
F. Sin separates us from God so that we need to be reconciled
1. Isaiah 59:1-2 - Our own sins separate us from our Father
2. Friendship with this world makes us enemies of God - James 4:4
3. Reconciled in the body of Christ - Colossians 1:19-23
4. Reconciled by Christ - Romans 5:10-11
5. Now there is a ministry of reconciliation - II Corinthians 5:18-20
G. Sin kills requiring God to make us alive by rebirth
1. The person who sins dies - Ezekiel 18:20
2. Sin earns death - Romans 6:23
3. We were born into this world, but sin kills us; hence, we need to be born again in order to live once again - John 3:3-5
4. We were dead, but made alive through His son - Ephesians 2:1-7
5. God’s word gives life - Psalm 119:50
6. Jesus’ words are spirit and life - John 6:63
7. Begotten by the gospel - I Corinthians 4:15
8. Born again by the word of God - I Peter 1:22-23
9. By being united through baptism to the death of Christ, we are made alive - Romans 6:3-11
H. Sin leads us down the wrong path, causing us to be lost, from which state we must be saved
1. God sent Jesus to save the world - John 3:16-17
2. Saved by Jesus - Romans 5:9-10
3. Jesus came to save sinners - I Timothy 1:15
4. The gospel saves - Romans 1:16
5. But it only saves if we hold fast to its teachings - I Corinthians 15:1-2
6. By leaving the filth of sin through the word, our souls are saved - James 1:21-22
7. We must believe to be saved - Acts 16:30-31
8. But faith alone cannot save - James 2:14,17-20, 24
9. By belief and confession we will be saved - Romans 10:9-10
10. Baptism now saves - I Peter 3:21
III. Did you notice that in many of these passages the concepts and terms are intermingled?
A. There are not different types of sins which require different solutions, but sin which is displays a variety of effects requires a solution that addresses the problems introduced by sin.
B. The key is what was done by Jesus - Titus 3:3-7
C. Yet it is correct to state that God’s guidance for us, His Word, is involved in the solution.
1. We cannot be saved if we do not know we are lost. The Bible explains sin and why we are guilty of it.
2. We cannot be saved if we don’t know were to go for salvation. The Bible explains Jesus’ efforts on our behalf
3. We cannot be saved if we don’t know what we need to do. The Bible tells us what God expects from us.
D. Similarly, when talking about the things God expects from us, it rightly connects them to our salvation.
1. Christianity is not a passive religion. God doesn’t do all the work while we idly sit by.
2. None of those things earn salvation, but they are requirements for receiving salvation
Problem | Solution | Guidance | Response |
Sin is a disease. Jeremiah 33:5-7 Isaiah 57:17-19 | From which we need to be healed. Matthew 13:15 I Peter 2:24 | God would reveal peace and truth. Jeremiah 33:5-7 |
|
Sin is filth and a stain on the soul Titus 1:15 II Peter 2:20-22 | From which we must be cleansed, washed, purified, or sanctified Isaiah 1:16-18 Psalm 51:1-3, 7-10 I John 1:7 Revelation 1:5-6; 7:14 | God’s Word John 15:3 John 17:17 I Peter 1:22-23 Ephesians 5:25-27 | We must escape II Peter 2:20-22 Washing of water Ephesians 5:25-27 Not outward, but inward I Peter 3:21 |
Sin is a taskmaster who weighs us down with burdens Psalm 38:1-6 John 8:34 II Peter 2:19-20 | From which we need a freedom that can only be purchased by our redemption Ephesians 1:7 Colossians 1:13-14 | Truth sets us free John 8:32 Law of Liberty James 1:25 | Purchased for good works Titus 2:13-14 By obedience we are set free Romans 6:16-18 |
Sin is a debt Psalm 32:1-5 | It must be remitted or forgiven Matthew 26:28 Hebrews 9:22 |
| Confess I John 1:9 |
Sin condemns Romans 5:16-18 | From which we must be justified by an act of mercy or grace Romans 3:23-26 Romans 5:8-9 |
| Believe John 3:18 Mark 16:16 Our words Matthew 12:37 |
Sin separates us from God Isaiah 59:1-2 James 4:4 | We need to be reconciled Colossians 1:19-23 Romans 5:10-11 | Ministry of reconciliation II Corinthians 5:18-20 |
|
Sin kills Ezekiel 18:20 Romans 6:23 | Requiring God to make us alive by rebirth John 3:3-5 Ephesians 2:1-7 | God’s words give life Psalm 119:50 John 6:63 Begotten by the Gospel I Corinthians 4:15 I Peter 1:22-23 | United in baptism to the death of Christ, we are made alive Romans 6:3-11 |
Sin leads us down the wrong path, causing us to be lost | From which we must be saved John 3:16-17 Romans 5:9-10 I Timothy 1:15 | The gospel saves Romans 1:16 | Must hold fast to teachings I Corinthians 15:1-2 Must leave sin behind James 1:21-22 Believe Acts 16:30-31 Not faith alone James 2:14, 17-20, 24 Belief and confession Romans 10:9-10 Baptism now saves I Peter 3:21 |
There is one problem: SIN | There is one solution: THE BLOOD OF JESUS | The way to learn of the solution and God’s required response is in THE BIBLE | The only response is to OBEY GOD: Believe, Repent, Confess, and be Baptized |
