The Doctrine of Salvation

This is one of my outlines that I'll be preaching at the YWAM Discipleship Training School in the Philippines:

[b]THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION[/b]

“Behold, now is the day of salvation” 2Corinthians 6:2

[b]This message will answer:[/b]

- What salvation is
- The necessity of salvation
- The conditions of salvation
- The nature of salvation
- The marks of salvation
- What salvation is not
- How salvation is brought about
- When salvation occurs
- What keeps men back from salvation

[b]WHAT IS SALVATION?[/b]

Salvation is the reconciliation of sinful men with a holy God; saving man from wrath, sin, and this present world; bringing man into a right relationship with God.

Charles Finney defined salvation this way:

Salvation: to be saved from the power and penalty of sin by being in a present right relationship with God and our fellowmen. To be in a state of salvation is to be reconciled to God, to have a personal intimate relationship with Him; to love Him supremely and our fellowmen equally.

Reconcile: to restore to friendship, compatibility, or harmony, to adjust or settle differences; to restore to favor.

•\tSalvation is an intelligent choice to be reconciled unto God. (Ezekiel 18:28, Luke 15:17)

•\tSalvation is a voluntary choice to be reconciled unto God. (2Corinthians 5:20, Romans 6:17), requiring a decision of the will to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus (Matt 16:24, Mark 8:32, Luke 9:23), a radical decision to forsake all and follow him. (Luke 14:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:33)

[b]THE NECESSITY OF SALVATION[/b]

•\tGod has given good Laws to His Universe to keep His Universe safe from what is harmful, and to promote what is beneficial. (Deut 10:12-13)

•\tEach man, by his own voluntary choice, has chosen to rebel against God by sinning (Jeremiah 5:23, Luke 19:14, 1Peter 2:25), thereby they have “corrupted themselves” (Exo 32:7, Deut 9:12, Deut 32:5, Judges 2:19, Hosea 9:9)

•\tThis rebellion against the Laws of God creates enmity against God and man, making man the enemy of God. (Luke 19:27, Romans 5:10, Hebrews 10:27)

•\tGod holds each individual responsible for their personal transgressions of His Law. (Ezekiel 18:3-4, Ezekiel 18:19-28, 2Corinthians 5:10)

•\tMan justly deserves the wrath and anger of God, who is righteous and holy and must condemn all sin whenever, and in whomever, it is found. There is no partiality to the justice of God. Justice by nature must be impartial. (Romans 1:18, Romans 8:13, Hebrews 10:26-31)

•\tGod’s justice would be entirely satisfied if He let all men go to hell, but His love for men compels Him to find a way of reconciliation. (Ezekiel 18:32, Ezekiel 33:11, John 3:16, 2Peter 3:9)

•\tGod has a gracious disposition towards men and is ready to forgive and restore them whenever it is save for Him to do so. (Ps 86:5, 2Peter 3:9)

[b]SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL:[/b]

God will only pardon man’s rebellion upon specific terms which render the forgiveness of sins a safe and wise act for His universe. Since sin is rebellion against the Government of God, there are governmental obstacles which need to be overcome in order for God to pardon our debt.

1.\tThere must be a blood atonement: God will only set aside our punishment and forgive our sin if there is an atonement to substitute the place of our punishment. (Exodus 12:13, Hebrews 9:22)

2.\tThere must repentance from sin: Since sin is the root of the problem which causes the enmity between God and man, the barrier of sin must be removed for reconciliation to occur. (Matthew 9:13, Luke 13:3, Luke 24:47, Acts 17:30-31, 2Peter 3:9, 2Corinthians 7:10)

3.\tThere must be faith in Jesus Christ: a sinner must believe in the grace of God made possible through the atonement and must trust Jesus Christ in order to follow Jesus Christ. (John 3:18, John 6:29, Luke 8:12, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:43, Acts 15:11, Acts 16:31, Romans 9:10)

When these three conditions are met, reconciliation occurs between God and man, and they enter into a happy loving relationship with peace and harmony.

[b]SALVATION IS THREE-FOLD[/b]

1.\tSaved from the wrath of God - justification. (Romans 5:9)

Salvation saves a man from the wrath of God, bringing him under the grace of God.

2.\tSaved from sin – regeneration. (Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:18, Romans 6:22, Romans 8:2)

Salvation saves man from the power of sin, bringing him under the power of God.

3.\tSaved from this generation/world – sanctification. (Acts 2:40, Ephesians 2:1-2, Galatians 1:4)

Salvation saves a man from the course of this world, from serving the devil, so that he starts living for the world to come, serving God and seeking to please Him supremely.

[b]MARKS OF TRUE CONVERSION:[/b]

[image][img]http://openairoutreach.com/albums/adobe/ConversionCharacteristics3.jpg[/img]

[b]WHAT SALVATION IS NOT:[/b]

•\tSalvation is not unconditional, but conditional. (Exodus 12:13, Hebrews 9:22, Matthew 9:13, Luke 13:3, Luke 24:47, 2Peter 3:9, 2Corinthians 7:10, John 3:18, John 6:29, Luke 8:12, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:43, Acts 15:11, Acts 16:31, Romans 9:10)

Likewise, condemnation is not unconditional, but conditional. (Ezekiel 18:4, 18:20, John 3:18, Romans 6:23)

•\tSalvation is not a license to sin (Romans 6:1-2, Jude 1:4), but freedom from sin. (John 8:36, Romans 6:18, Romans 6:22, Romans 8:2)

•\tSalvation is not fire insurance, but it is a love relationship. (John 17:3, Romans 2:4, 1John 4:19)

[b]HOW SALVATION IS BROUGHT ABOUT[/b]

•\tSalvation is brought about by the drawing of the Father. (Isaiah 65:2, John 6:37, John 6:44)

•\tThe Spirit uses the instrument of truth to convert souls (John 8:32, 1Tim 2:4, 2Peter 1:2, Titus 2:11-12)

•\tThe Spirit reasons and persuades men to surrender unto God. (Isaiah 1:18, John 16:8)

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•\tGod uses men in the salvation of sinners (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 15:12, Acts 16:17, 1Corinthians 3:6, 1Corinthians 3:9, 2Corinthians 5:18-20, James 5:20)

•\tMen are to preach the truth for salvation of sinners. (Romans 10:13-15)

•\tMen are to reason and persuade men to surrender unto God. (Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4, Acts 18:19, Acts 24:25)

•\tGod uses Holy Spirit filled men to reconcile sinners unto God. (Luke 24:47-49)

[b]WHEN SALVATION OCCURS[/b]

•\tWhen men voluntarily respond to the call of the gospel (2Chron 7:14, Romans 10:13, 2Thess 1:8) by repenting of his sins (Matthew 9:13, Luke 13:3, Luke 24:47, Acts 17:30-31, 2Peter 3:9, 2Corinthians 7:10) and trusting in Jesus Christ (John 3:18, John 6:29, Luke 8:12, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:43, Acts 15:11, Acts 16:31, Romans 9:10).

•\tThe call of the gospel is to forsake everything and follow Christ (Matt 16:24, Mark 8:32, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:33

•\tThe moment a sinner surrenders everything to God is the moment that God forgives him of all His past sins. (Luke 17:3-4, Romans 3:25, Acts 2:37-38,)

[b]WHAT KEEPS MEN BACK FROM SALVATION[/b]

•\tGod is ready to forgive all men their sin. (Ps 86:5, 2Peter 3:9)

•\tThe atonement has been made for the whole world. (John 3:16, 1John 2:2)

•\tThe only thing that keeps men from salvation, once they hear the gospel, is:

•\ttheir own unwillingness to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ (Matt 23:37, Luke 13:34, Luke 19:14, Luke 19:27, John 5:40, Revelations 2:21, ).

•\tMen voluntarily resist and grieve the Holy Spirit. (Matt 12:31, Acts 7:51, Ephesians 4:30)

•\tMen voluntary choose to disobey the gospel. (Romans 10:13, 2Thess 1:8)

[image][img]http://openairoutreach.com/albums/adobe/Grace_Repentance.sized.jpg[/img]