Amazing Salvation Part 1
Through The Fire • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
It is crucial for us to remain focused on what we have rather than what we do not have during times of trial.
Helen Keller said: "So much has been given me that I have no time to think about what has been withheld."
It shouldn't surprise us that the devil wants us to focus on what we can't have.
The greatest example of this from the Bible is found with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We don’t know how many trees were in the garden, but we know that God told Adam: Gen. 2:16 “...Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:”
A perfect place for man had been created by God, and all of his needs had been met. God had given Adam the trees in the garden to provide for him. But Satan was able to get Adam and Eve's focus on what God said they couldn't have.
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
As a believer in God, it is essential to exercise self-discipline and have an unwavering focus on the gifts that He has bestowed upon us. The grace of salvation is invaluable, more precious than anything else in the world!
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Imagine that you possessed the whole world and all the riches in it. Imagine that you could do anything you wanted to do, be anything you wanted to be, or go anywhere you wanted to go. Imagine that you were the absolute ruler of all things material. Sounds like a dream come true doesn’t it?
Now, imagine at the end of that experience of having, being and doing as you please that you die. Now, imagine that after death you found yourself in Hell forever. Would those few years, or even decades, of pleasure be worth an eternity in Hell?
Salvation is worth more than anything on this earth, salvation is invaluable!
May we discover today, in a greater way, this amazing salvation!
There are four points in this message; I’m probably only make it through the first one tonight. 1 Peter is packed full of some really good stuff and I feel like over the past couple weeks, I may have been trying to cram too much into the message, so I’m going to try to not keep you as long on Wednesdays as we’re already tired when we get here, and some have to get up early the next morning for work, and I really want this to soak in and help you.
Let’s go ahead and dive in…I want you to notice, concerning this amazing salvation, that we have...
I-A Provided Salvation
I-A Provided Salvation
God didn't owe us a thing, but out of His own accord and generosity, He chose to save us. Nobody forced Him, He wasn't manipulated to do so. It was all because of His sheer goodwill that we've been blessed with redemption!
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God makes the first move!
We would have never loved god or desired a relationship with Him had He not loved us first!
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Think about it!
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I’m glad that we didn’t have to qualify for His love…He loves sinners, we are all sinners, so we are all eligible for His love!
When it comes to a provided salvation, I want to look at three things, first of all, let’s look at:
A Fatherly Design
A Fatherly Design
1 Peter 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father...
The sovereignty of God and the free will of man have been a source of puzzlement for centuries. As human beings, our minds cannot comprehend the complexities related to an infinite God. Nevertheless, it is possible for these two beliefs to coexist in harmony.
There are some things that we, as finite humans, just cannot understand about an infinite God. Deut. 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Here’s what we do, we focus on what’s been plainly revealed in God’s Word...
Scripture makes it plain that God wants all men to be saved.
It’s hard to argue from following Scripture that it’s not God’s will for someone to be saved.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Sadly, some argue that God has elected only certain people to be saved and thus Christ died only for those who are predestined to be saved…But, if these people are correct, how then do we explain the following Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:15 (KJV 1900)
15 And that he died for all...
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How could God say that He loved the entire world if He showed favoritism to a select few? That does not make any sense at all!
Choosing some to be saved and others to go to Hell would also leave man hopeless.
A person could conclude, “If the Lord won’t elect to save me, there is nothing else I can do to go to Heaven.” The Gospel is a message of hope, not hopelessness. We get enough “hopelessness” from this world already.
God knows from the foundation of this world who will accept His offer. This is beyond our comprehension because we don’t have that same capability.
This is why Paul refers to this as a “mystery.”
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
God created every single person.
God designed every person.
God loves every person.
Why would He not want every person to live with Him forever? The choice is ours. He knows not everyone will accept His free offer of eternal life, but nonetheless, He does offer it to everyone.
Concerning a provided salvation, we have a Fatherly Design…We also have:
A Forethought Destiny
A Forethought Destiny
1 Peter 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 ...through sanctification of the Spirit...
It's certain that when God saves us, He predestinates us to live for Him! His decision to redeem us is not only justified but also intentional - He wants to use our lives to bring glory to Him and point others towards Him.
The devil is good at convincing people that there is no reason to live, but every child of God has an eternal purpose for life.
God does not predestine people to Heaven or Hell. This is NOT taught in the Bible. How could God be merciful and loving toward those whom He has predestined to Hell? This would be a contradiction in His character.
We’ve already established that God does not want anyone to go to Hell!
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
No matter the trial we face, there’s always reason to live.
Never let Satan convince you that you are of no value or that life is worthless.
God really does love you, and really does have a wonderful purpose for your life.
So, we have a Fatherly Design and a Forethought Destiny…We also have:
A Finished Decree
A Finished Decree
1 Peter 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 ...unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Most of us have probably purchased something on credit.
While I know what Dave Ramsey says, it’s extremely hard to live in the U.S. and not use any credit at all. Dave Ramsey says the only thing a good credit score shows is that you’ve pain in a lot of interest.
Whether it be a small item at the store or a major purchase such as a house or vehicle, those monthly payments can be difficult to make.
Speaking of difficult to make payments, I just read today that the average car payment in America as of 3rd quarter 2022 is now $700/month for a new vehicle, and $525/month for a used vehicle.
When we have debt and are paying those payments every month, we begin to calculate how much longer we are going to have to pay and begin counting them down and what a happy day it is when we get the deed to the house or the title to the car!
When we accept the offer of eternal life, there are no monthly installments that need to be paid for as long as we live.
Salvation is a free gift paid for in full by Jesus Christ on the cross.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
When Jesus dies on the cross, He cried: John 19:30 “…It is finished...”
The provision for salvation was complete.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Did you notice what that verse says?
The work of Jesus on the cross is incomparable and irreplaceable. Any efforts that come after it are irrelevant and unnecessary when it comes to salvation. God's promise of salvation has been fulfilled, there is nothing more that needs to be done. It is a done deal!
It’s final! No change orders! No restrictions! No conditions!
No lemon law! When God saved you, He purchased you for eternity!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The conclusion tonight is this...God's love for us is so great that He freely provided us with salvation, a free gift that we did not earn or deserve.
It is a gift that He gave to us out of His love and mercy, without any expectation of anything in return. God's gift of salvation is an act of grace and mercy, and it is offered to all who believe in Him.
This free gift was given to us out of God's unconditional love and compassion for mankind, regardless of our past or present circumstances.
Next week, we’ll pick up with point two in this message on, “Amazing Salvation”