SALVATION FROM THE PENALTY OF

SIN

Knowing about what the Bible says of salvation is essential as;1. Personal salvation depends on it2. It is the one message committed by God to every believer to tell the world3. It alone discloses the full measure of God’s love

A. THE MEANING OF SALVATION

Salvation is its widest sense means the work of God in rescuing man from the eternal ruin and doom of sin and bestowing on him the riches of his grace inc. eternal life and eternal glory in heaven

Salvation is a work of God not of man

The details have differed through the ages but those who trust God have been spiritually reborn and made heirs of heaven’s glory.

Salvation includes all aspects of God’s work in man - regeneration, indwelling, sealing and baptism of HSp.

B. SALVATION AS GOD’S REMEDY FOR SIN

1. Sin is always equally sinful no matter who commits it - the judgment that goes with it is up to God to decide - Luke 12:47-48

2. Sin can only be cured by the shed blood of Jesus - the penalty is only removed because the payment for sin has been made - this was the same in the old covenant and is still in...

B. SALVATION AS GOD’S REMEDY FOR SIN

...still in Jesus - Lev 4:20, 26, 31 etc. - Col 1:14, Eph 1:7

Christ’s work on the cross is perfectly sufficient, giving eternal justification Rom 3:24 - the penalty is paid 1 Pet 2:24, 3:18

C. SALVATION BEFORE AND AFTER THE CROSS

1. God’s method before the cross was atonement, which biblically means “to cover”Bull and goats blood did not take away sin - Heb 10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

C. SALVATION BEFORE AND AFTER THE CROSS

The need for forgiveness was acknowledged - Lev 1:4 -He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.God anticipated the sacrifice of Christ - sins were covered until that time.

Atonement of the OT is explained in the NT,

a. Rom 3:25 - God had promised sufficient sacrificial payment and then fulfilled it in Christ.

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

b. Acts 17:30 - God “overlooked” sin - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

2. Since the cross God’s method of dealing with sin is that Christ died - Rom 3:26 - It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The promise is fulfilled, the price paid - anyone, regardless of the degree of guilt of their sin can be forgiven by believing in the work Christ did for them.

D. THE THREE SENSE OF SALVATION

1. Past tense - it is seen as totally past and fulfilled for those who believe - Lk 7:50, 1 Cor 1:18, Eph 2:5, 8

2. Present tense - of the present power to save us from the reigning power of sin - Rom 6:14, 8:2, 2 Cor 3:18 etc.

D. THE THREE SENSE OF SALVATION

3. Future tense - the believer will yet be saved into full conformity to Christ - Rom 8:29, 13:11 - this does not give reason for doubt as it is built on God’s faithfulness not man’s - Php 1:6

E. SALVATION AS THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST

2 aspects:

1. Finished work of Christ for all - which is finished to infinite perfection

2. The saving work of Christ for the individual - the moment they believe.

Jn 19:30 - it is finished - is not his whole life, service or suffering - but a special work given by the Father given at the cross and completed when he died - this was for the whole world Jn 3:16 - providing redemption 1 Tim 2:6 - reconciliation 2 Cor 5:19 - propitiation 1 Jn 2:2 - for every man

Christ's dying does not save men - but it gives God ground to save all men who believe - the blood of Jesus paid the ransom price for every sinner - Christ became the propitiation for the whole world.

F. SALVATION AS THE SAVING WORK OF GOD

The work done the moment one believe includes:

Redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, regeneration, imputation, justification, sanctification, glorification, perfection

F. SALVATION AS THE SAVING WORK OF GOD

Consider the truth of the following verses: Col 1:12, Eph 1:3, 6, 2:13, 19, 2 Cor 5:21, Jn 1:12, Phil 3:20, 2 Cor 5;17, Col 2:10, Col 1:13

Guilt and penalty of sin are removed, trespass forgiven justified forever, saved to the uttermost...

G. SALVATION AS RELATED TO THE SIN OF THE SAVED

The effect of sin upon God is a very serious matter - it is only removed through the blood of Jesus - Rom 8:34, Heb 9:24 - the blood is effective 1 Jn 2:1-2 - the sinner has a permanent advocate with the Father in case we sin

G. SALVATION AS RELATED TO THE SIN OF THE SAVED

1. Forgiveness is accomplished for the sinner as part of salvation - through believing on the work of Christ.

2. Sin is forgiven not on the basis of believing for salvation but upon confession of sin - confession of sin restores relationship with Father, Son and HSp.

H. SALVATION CONDITIONED ON FAITH ALONE

115 NT passages refer to the sinner believing and being saved - 35 passages speak of faith for salvation. In believing a person chooses to trust Christ - this is the whole man not just will or emotions.

This is more than an intellectual or emotional stirring - it is believing as an act in which the person wills to receive Christ by faith.

H. SALVATION CONDITIONED ON FAITH ALONE

God alone can save a soul - and he does it through the sacrifice of his son. The only thing man can do is to believe, turning from self works, to God’s gracious provision.

Note that scripture talks about believe and...

Pray

Confess sin

Confess Christ

Be baptised

Repent

And make restitution

But the basis is always believing in Christ - that is what guarantees salvation.

The word atonement meaning, passing over, overlooking, covering of sin occurs properly only in the OT - Christ did none of these - Jn 1:29

Takes away the sin of the world...

1 Pet 2:24 - bore our sins in his body...

There was nothing temporary or partial at the cross - the infinite holiness of God was satisfied, will man be satisfied to accept the sacrifice and accept Jesus’ payment?