SALVATION by steve finnell

SALVATION       by steve finnell

There are  two things involved in the salvation of mankind.  What God provides and man's responsibility.

WHAT DOES GOD PROVIDE.

God provides grace: Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. (All men have the opportunity to accept God's grace)

Titus 3:4-5 But when the kindness of of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds  which we have done in righteousness. but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  

God provided a Savior: 1 John 4:9-10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God provides the means for men to hear the gospel: Romans 10:13-15....14...And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent?...(God provides preachers of the gospel).

John 20:30-31 .....31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

God has provided us with His written word, the Bible, so that we may believe and have life.

-----God provides grace, a Savior, preachers of the gospel, and the Bible----

WHAT IS MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY?     

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Men need to believe and be baptized.

 Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Whoever calls on Jehovah God will be saved. Calling on false Gods cannot save anyone. 

Acts 22:16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name!

Saul was told to be baptized and call on the name on the Lord to have his sins washed away. Saul had already believed in Jesus and repented, while on the road to Damascus, three days prior.

Saul responsibilities were to believe in Jesus, repent (turn from sin and turn toward God), be baptized in water, and call on the name of the Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 that if confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Men must confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and believe in a resurrected Savior.

Acts 8:27-38.....35 Then Philip open his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said . "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37 [ And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

The eunuch believed in Jesus, he repented, he confessed Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of God. He was baptized in water. The eunuch fulfilled his responsibilities for salvation.

On the Day of Pentecost Peter preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and proclaimed Him Lord and Christ(Acts 2:22-37). When the 3000 believed Peter's sermon, they asked what they should do?(Acts 2:37) Peter told them what do (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized  in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)

Acts 2:40-41 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there added about three thousand souls.( Peter said be saved, future tense, after they believed and were baptized, they were saved, JUST LIKE JESUS SAID IN Mark 16:16) 

What was the responsibilities of the 3000? 1. To believe in the resurrected Jesus. 2. To believe that Jesus was Lord and Christ. 3. To repent (to repent means to make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God) 4. To be baptized (immersed in water).

Noticed, Peter told them to be saved after they already believed in Jesus. They were still in their sins until they repented and were baptized.

SALVATION?

God provides: 1. Grace. 2. The Savior. 3. Preachers of the gospel and the Bible.

Man's responsibilities: 1. Hear the gospel. 2. Believe the gospel. 3. Confess Jesus as Lord, the Christ, and God's only Son. 4. Believe that God resurrect Jesus from the grave. 5. Repent (make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God). 6. Be baptized. 

What are man's responsibilities in order to have sins forgiven?
Faith is for the forgiveness sins.
Confession is for the forgiveness of sins.
Repentance is for the forgiveness of sins.
Water baptism is for the forgiveness of sins.

Men can be saved in two hours more of less. No work, no good deeds, and no law keeping is required.---- Then remain faithful until the end. (Matthew 10:22)

(All Scriptures quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)