Word's word's word's, there every where, and in the game of scrabble
that's a good thing. The more words you know and use the more points you accumulate, but sometimes in our christian life words are thrown around and we may not know the word or the value of the word...so lets spend a few moments together looking at a few of these "christian words" and discover together there great value:
As we grab a hand full of blocks with random letters printed on one side, we begin to sift through and find one of the sweetest christian words
Salvation:- But before we can lay these words out on the board and claim our points, we must make sure that it's even a word, or at the very least what it means.
- Salvation in general is being saved from a perilous situation, perhaps you are about to be devoured by a lion and some hero swings in and and slays the beast
- he has saved you, he has brought salvation from the dreaded lion.
- This is a general definition of what salvation is, but when applied to the sinner it is far deeper! lets explore:
- The word salvation doesn't mean much to someone who doesn't feel they need saving, when the lion is unseen the hero isn't needed.
- This is the sad state of man, the word brings no joy, only anger, how dare you call me a sinner what do I need saving from? I see no lion, I love my wife and family, I obey the law and pay my taxes.
- As commendable as these things are, the fact remains that men are absolutely filthy.
- Paul in Romans sums it up well, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." Romans 3:11
- Before the word salvation means anything, before we can enjoy its true value, we must see our need. A life jacket means nothing to me as I stroll along the beach on dry ground, but let me stand on the bow of a sinking ship in the Atlantic, then a life jacket is priceless.
So salvation is just another "Christian word" if you simply stroll along the beach of life unconcerned about the crashing waves just a few feet from your path, but one thing is certain, there is going to come a time when you will stand on the proverbial bow watching those waves once unnoticed perhaps even enjoyed, suddenly rising to crash over you ushering you into eternity.
When you look at it that way, this word isn't just another cliche, its priceless.
- Before we begin to take apart this "life vest" to see what its made of, we must first look at Who secured this salvation, this rescue.
- The author of our salvation is Jesus Christ, His finished work on the cross and Resurrection three days later satisfied the Fathers wrath, His atonement applied to us saves us from the wrath of God.
- He payed the price, He bought your life jacket, you couldn't afford it.
The word salvation is rich, it is pregnant with meaning; it's an event, it happens to the believer once if he or she is truly sincere, but there was a process that was happening far before the "event" ever happened, the life jacket was long in the making before you ever put it on.
- Let me explain what I mean, remember what Paul told us in Romans, "no one seeks for God", so if no one looks for God how is a man saved?
- John 6:44 says; "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
- What an amazing verse, it's in this drawing that we see the full picture of salvation.
The Spirit of God works out this salvation in a systematic, grace filled way.
- Here's the process:
- Here is a sinner in the need of Grace
- first there is Election, this is done by God the Father from eternity past. (Eph. 1:4)
- This calling is by His sovereign will.
- The Spirit enables this by His Effectual call, that "drawing" of a person. (2 Thess. 2:13-14)
- This is God drawing His People to Himself.
- This effectual call brings: *note this is a logical process, not chronological*
- Regeneration, New birth, being born again, (work of the Spirit)
- Repentance unto life, this comes as we are made alive to God (Human response to the divine work)
- Faith in Jesus, this work of the Spirit in our hearts normally wrought by the ministry of the word, the Gospel being presented. (Human response to divine work)
- Justification is declared because of the work of the savior. (Divine work)
- Sanctification the process of new life begins (Divine work)
- Adoption comes, we are sealed by the Spirit for eternity (Divine work)
- Perseverance in holiness, this is the evidence of the true work of salvation in a believers life. (divine keeping, human enduring)
- Glorification, this is that final state into which all believers enter together at the Resurrection, when being raised up in glory or transformed, they are openly acquitted in the Day of Judgement, and made perfectly blessed, as coheirs with Jesus, in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
So you see, as you lay these letters out across the board, and the points are tallied, you will find the value beyond comprehension.
