Salvation Series : Lesson 1
Introduction
In this series we are going to be discussing the subject of Salvation. This will include many of the doctrines that are associated with Salvation such as spiritual circumcision, eternal security, baptism of the Holy Spirit, redemption and sanctification just to name a few. The goal of this series is to give someone a better understanding of how a person is saved as well as what really takes place within them when they are saved.
Many people today who are saved really do not have a good understanding of what happened to them as a result of salvation. Therefore they struggle in their Christian lives and also many times fall prey to those who are teaching false doctrines. Every saved person should know why he is saved and be able to back up scripturally what he believes from the word of God.
In this introduction lesson we are going to deal with the Need of Salvation, the way of Salvation, and the knowledge of Salvation. This would be a good lesson for someone who is not sure of their salvation or someone who is sure that they are saved and wants to lead someone to the Lord who is lost.
The need of salvation :
The first thing that a person has to see in regards to salvation is that they need to be saved. If you don’t ever see the need you will never get saved.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;”
This verse clearly gives us the need for salvation. All means everyone. To come short of the glory of God can best be explained by the illustration of shooting at a target with a gun. It doesn’t matter whether you miss by a foot or by an inch a miss is a miss. To miss by an inch is just as good as missing by a mile. Some will argue that they are a good person or have done many good works, but as the verse says all have come short of the glory of God. No matter how good you are you have still missed. (Romans 3:10-12)
Another good verse that can be used to show someone that even though they have never done any really bad sins that they are still a sinner and need to be saved is Revelation 21:8. According to this verse liars end up in the same place as whoremongers and murderers. Everyone has told a lie at some point therefore this reinforces the fact that all have sinned.
Next you want to show them that the end result for sin is death. Here are a few good verses for showing a person that the reason for death is sin. (Romans 6:23 ; James 1:14-15)
It is also good to see that this death is not just physical death but will one day be the Lake of Fire where they will spend eternity if they do not get saved. Revelation 20:11-15
The way of Salvation :
Many people will not argue that there is a need for salvation, but they will insist that there is more than one way to get to heaven. But as we will see this is not scriptural.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
This verse is very specific on the fact that there is only one way to heaven. Jesus said no one can come to the father but by him. Therefore Jesus is the only way for a person to be saved. He said it himself.
Why is Jesus Christ the only way to get saved?
- He was the son of God and had God’s blood in his veins (Acts 20:28)
- He lived a perfect life without sin (Matthew 5:17; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
- He died on the cross, was buried, and arose the 3rd day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
- The bible says that when he was on the cross he bore our sins in his own body (1 Peter 2:24)
- By being the perfect sacrifice for our sins he hath obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12)
- Because of this he is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5)
So if Jesus Christ is the only way to get saved, then just how does a person get saved? Well it is real simple. We come to God as a sinner and ask him to forgive us and saved us trusting in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are no works it is just simple faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ; Romans 10:9-13 ; Acts 16:31
The knowledge of salvation :
Now many will say that you cannot know for sure whether you are saved or not, but once again this is not scriptural.
1 John 5:13 “These things have I Written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
This verse tells us that salvation and eternal life is something that you can know for sure that you have. It is not a hope so or a maybe so it is a know so. We will discuss this in more detail under the lesson of eternal security in this series, but here are some verses that show it is not up to you to keep your salvation. God keeps you saved and you cannot lose it. (Philippians 1:6 ; 1 Peter 1:5)
Salvation Series : Lesson 1 Handout
Introduction
1) What is the main verse for showing that man needs to be saved?
2) What does it mean to come short of the glory of God?
3) What is a good verse for showing someone who thinks that they are pretty good that they still need to get saved?
4) List 2 verses for showing that the result of sin is death.
5) What is the final result for people who die without getting saved? Give a reference.
6) List a verse for showing that Jesus is the only way to get saved.
7) Why is Jesus Christ the only way to get saved?
8) List a good verse for showing that we can know for sure that we are saved.
9) List two verses for showing that we are not responsible for keeping ourselves saved.