Salvation The Gift of God

 Salvation as
The Gift of God
 God’s perfect gift
 James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation …
• Good = physical(sunshine, rain)
• Perfect = spiritual(salvation)
 The Gift of Salvation
 John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ..
 Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
 The Gift of Salvation
 Romans 5:8 While still sinners Christ died for us..
 Romans 5:15-21 through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
 Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 Two extreme views
 Saved by good works
 If we could earn salvation, why the death of Christ?
 Titus 3:5-7 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us …
 Man has nothing to do
 Universalists teach that every person will be saved
 Matthew 7:13-14 " for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it…narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
 Gospel of inclusion?
 “The whole world is saved, but they just don’t know it.” – Carlton Pearson
 Unconditional ?
 Calvinism teaches unconditional election
 Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no par-tiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
 Nothing we can do?
 “Salvation is a gift from God that is from nothing we do ourselves” (Schlemper,1998)
 “Salvation is a gift from God – we do nothing to get it” (Macphail)
 “We do nothing to become righteous – God did all that was necessary in His Son” (“The Godhead”)
 Man must be careful not to do too much …
 Accept Christ into your heart through prayer and he’ll receive you. It doesn’t matter what church you belong to or if you ever do good works. You’ll be born again at the moment you receive Christ… Just trust Christ as Savior. (Staten, 2001)
 “when you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege oftalking to Him in prayer at any time about anything”(Billy Graham, “How to Become a Christian,” n.d.).
 Conversions in Acts
 Day of Pentecost –
• Acts 2:36-38"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 Conversions in Acts
 Philip in Samaria –
• Acts 8:5-12 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
 Conversions in Acts
 Paul’s preaching on his journeys..
• Lydia and the Jailer in Philippi – Acts 16
• To the Corinthians – Acts 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
 Receiving the gift
 Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
 John 8:24 – Except you believe that I am He…
 Acts 17:30-31 – God commands all men to repent
 Romans 10:9-10 – With the mouth confession ..
 Acts 2:38 – Repent and be baptized everyone ..
 Objections ..
 Is man in sin incapable of doing anything?
• Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
• Revelation 3:1-2 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
 Man is told what he must do ..
 Matthew 7:21-27 – Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, but he who does the will of my Father … whoever hears these words of mine and does them, is like a wise man…
 James 4:17 – to him who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin…
 Acts 22:16 – Why do you tarry? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins..
 Salvation as
The Gift of God