1 THESS 5:8-10 “BUT LET US, WHO ARE OF THE DAY, BE SOBER, PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE, AND AS A HELMET THE HOPE OF SALVATION. FOR GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO WRATH, BUT TO OBTAIN SALVATION THROUGH OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO DIED FOR US, THAT WHETHER WE WAKE OR SLEEP, WE SHOULD LIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM.”

WHAT DOES “OBTAIN” MEAN? “ TO COME IN POSSESSION OF; GET; ACQUIRE; OR PROCURE AS THROUGH AN EFFORT, OR BY REQUEST”

OBTAINING SALVATION

WHAT DOES GOD DESIRE? 1 TIM 2:4 – “WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.” 2 PET 3:9 - “THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME COUNT SLACKNESS, BUT IS LONGSUFFERING TOWARD US, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.”

BUT, WHAT DO MANY IN THE WORLD BELIEVE? WHAT IS THE REALITY? MATT 7: 13-14 - “ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE; FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND THERE ARE MANY WHO GO IN BY IT, BECAUSE NARROW IS THE GATE AND DIFFICULT IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND THERE ARE FEW WHO FIND IT.” BUT, WHAT DO MANY IN THE WORLD BELIEVE?

IF YOU WERE IN A DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE AND ABOUT TO LOSE YOUR (PHYSICAL) LIFE WHAT WOULD YOU DO? EVERYONE WANTS TO BE SAVED!

LOST – WHY? NEED OF A SAVIOR THERE IS ONLY ONE SAVIOR FOLLOW HIS PLAN BE FAITHFUL TO THE PLAN

LOST – WHY? SIN ROMANS 3:23 - “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD” ECCL 7:20 - “FOR THERE IS NOT A JUST MAN ON EARTH WHO DOES GOOD AND DOES NOT SIN.”

THE SERIOUS NATURE OF SIN ROMANS 6:23 - “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH...” 1 JOHN 5:17 - “ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN..” 1 JOHN 3:4 - “WHOEVER COMMITS SIN ALSO COMMITS LAWLESSNESS, AND SIN IS LAWLESSNESS” ISA 59:2 - “BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATEDYOU FROM YOUR GOD; AND YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU, SO THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.”

WE NEED A SAVIOR JOHN 8:24 – JESUS CHRIST IS OUR SAVIOR JOHN 14:6 – THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE JOHN 8:24 – JESUS SAID UNLESS WE BELIEVE IN HIM WE WILL DIE IN OUR SINS

ACTS 4:12 – PETER SAID THAT SALVATION IS ONLY FOUND IN JESUS' NAME 1 JOHN 2:23 – JOHN SAYS WHOEVER DENIES THE SON DOES NOT HAVE THE FATHER 2 THESS 1:7-8 – PAUL SAID THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WILL EXPERIENCE VENGEANCE WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN.

WHAT DOES SALVATION MEAN? HISTORICALLY OLD TESTAMENT – SALVATION MEANT DELIVERING YOU FROM YOUR ENEMIES THE GREEKS AND THE ROMANS KNEW THAT STORMS WERE QUITE COMMON AND THAT SALVATION MEANT TO BE SAVED FROM THE FEROCIOUS TEMPESTS AT SEA ALSO MEANT TO BE SAVED FROM DISEASES, EPIDEMICS, FAMINES, HUNGER AND ANY OTHER PHYSICAL PERIL.

WHT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT SALVATION? GREEK - “SOTERIA” - FREEDOM, PRESERVATION, SALVATION THAYER - “THAT WHICH IS CONDUCIVE TO THE SOUL'S SAFETY OR SALVATION JOHN 5:24 – DEATH TO LIFE MT 4:16 – DARKNESS TO LIFE *ROM 8:5-8 - CONDEMNATION TO FREEDOM COL1:13 - KINGDOM OF DARKNESS TO KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON

HEAR THE GOOD NEWS – THE GOSPEL THE PLAN HEAR THE GOOD NEWS – THE GOSPEL ROMANS 10:17 - “SO THEN FAITH COMES BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD” THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS A TAUGHT RELIGION

BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD GOD THE FATHER DESIGNED THE PLAN BY WHICH HE WOULD RECONCILE SINFUL MAN TO HIM (EPH 3: 10 -11). HE SENT HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, TO LIVE AS A MAN AND DIE ON THE CROSS TO MAKE IT EFFECTIVE (JOHN 3:16; MT 1:21; EPH 1:7; HEB 9:22). FOLLOWING HIS ASCENSION BACK TO HEAVEN JESUS SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REVEAL THE PLAN TO THE APOSTLES AND OTHER INSPIRED WRITERS. (CONT.)

THEY, IN THEIR WRITINGS, MADE KNOWN WHAT GOD REQUIRES MAN TO DO TO BE A RECIPIENT OF THE BLESSINGS THAT CHRIST'S SACRIFICIAL DEATH MADE POSSIBLE (JOHN 16:13; 1 COR 2: 10-16). SO, THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO SALVATION – THE ONE DIVINE, THE OTHER HUMAN. WHILE SALVATION IS THE GIFT OF GOD (EPH 2:8), THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THE LORD SETS FORTH IN HIS GOSPEL THAT WE MUST DO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THAT GIFT.

FAITH NECESSARY FOR SALVATION JOHN 3:16 - “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” HEB 11:6 - “BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.”

JOHN 8:24 - “FOR IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM HE YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS.” SUCH A FAITH DOES NOT COME BY A VISION OR A SPECIAL REVELATION. ONE DOES NOT GET IT BY A DIRECT OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

IN ADDITION TO HAVING FAITH, IF ONE IS GOING TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, HE MUST OBEY ALL THAT GOD COMMANDS IN THE GOSPEL FOR THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL. MT 7:21 - “NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME LORD, LORD SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.”

FAITH IS PRODUCED IN THE HEART (MIND) OF THE BELIEVER WHEN HE HEARS WHAT GOD'S WORD, THE BIBLE, REVEALS ABOUT GOD AND CHRIST AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR MAN.

REPENTANCE THOSE SEEKING SALVATION ARE ALSO COMMANDED TO REPENT. ACTS 17:30 - “TRULY, THESE TIMES OF IGNORANCE GOD OVERLOOKED, BUT NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT.” VINE - “IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE SUBJECT CHIEFLY HAS REFERENCE TO REPENTANCE FROM SIN, AND THIS CHANGE OF MIND INVOLVES A TURNING FROM SIN AND A TURNING TO GOD.”

LUKE 3:8 - “THEREFORE BEAR FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE” A PENITNENT PERSON IS REPULSED BY SIN AND DETERMINED TO BE A SERVANT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. ROM 6:17–18 - “BUT GOD BE THANKED THAT THOUGH YOU WERE SLAVES OF SIN, YOU OBEYED FROM THE HEART THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE TO WHICH YOU WERE DELIVERED. AND HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN,YOU BECAME SLAVES OF RIGHTOUSNESS.”

ONE DECIDES TO LIVE FOR GOD, SEEKING HIM AND HIS WILL FIRST IN ALL THINGS. YOU ARE GOING TO BE A SERVANT IN THIS LIFE. SERVE THE LORD!

CONFESSION ROMANS 10:10 - “FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.” IN THE ACT OF CONFESSION, ONE SIMPLY STATES BEFORE MEN HIS FIRM CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD. WHILE ONE'S MIND ACCEPTS ALL THE FACTS AND TESTIMONY OF THE DIVINITY OF JESUS, HIS MOUTH TELLS MEN OF THAT FAITH.

MATT 10: 32-33 - “THEREFORE WHOEVER CONFESSES ME BEFORE MEN, HIM I WILL ALSO CONFESS BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. BUT WHOEVER DENIES ME BEFORE MEN, HIM I WILL ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.” ACTS 8:37 - “... I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD” ONE WHO TRULY BELIEVES WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT JESUS AND COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD, MUST ALLOW THAT BELIEF TO MOTIVATE HIM TO MAKE THAT SAME CONFESSION.

BAPTISM JESUS MATT 28:18-20 - “...GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT” MK 16: 15-16 - “..HE THAT BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED” PETER ACTS 2:38 - “...REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS..”

IN EACH PASSAGE BAPTISM IS STATED AS BEING ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION! BAPTISM: A BURIAL IN WATER AN IMMERSION OR BURIAL IN WATER. BOTH ROM 6:3-4 AND COL 2:12 SPEAK OF BEING BURIED WITH CHRIST IN BAPTISM. JOHN 3:23 - MUCH WATER ACTS 8:39 – GOING DOWN INTO WATER AND COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER.

PURPOSE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS – ACTS 2:38 ACTS 22:16 – ANANIAS TOLD PAUL “ARISE AND BE BAPTIZED AND WASH AWAY YOUR SINS, CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.”

GAL 3:27 – “FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST” 1 COR 12:13 - “FOR BY ONE SPIRIT WE HAVE ALL BEEN BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY..” ACTS 2:47 - “..AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED.”

REMEMBER, ROMANS 6: 3-4 STATES THAT IN BAPTISM ONE IS BAPTIZED INTO THE LIKENESS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THEN RAISED TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. WHAT MAKES ONE NEW? IT IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST (EPH 1:7). HIS BLOOD FLOWED AT HIS DEATH. WHEN ONE IS BAPTIZED IN THE LIKENESS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST, HE COMES IN CONTACT WITH HIS CLEANSING BLOOD, HIS SINS ARE REMITTED AND HE'S SAVED. WITHOUT BAPTISM THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS NEVER APPLIED, HENCE THAT PERSON'S SINS WOULD STILL BE RETAINED AND WOULD BE LOST BECAUSE OF THEM.

LIFE AFTER BAPTISM ONE IS NOW A BABE IN CHRIST AND IS TO LONG FOR THE SPIRITUAL MILK SO THAT HE CAN GROW SPIRITUALLY (1 PET 2:1-2). WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT? THE WORD OF GOD (ACTS 20:32) THE CHRISTIAN MUST ABIDE IN IT IF HE WANTS TO REMAIN A DISCIPLE OFJESUS. (JOHN 8:31)

ONE'S KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WORD, IF APPLIED, WILL KEEP HIM FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND REWARD HIM WITH A CROWN OF LIFE. (REV 2:10) ONE MUST COMMIT HIMSELF AS A “LIVING SACRIFICE” (ROM 12:2), ALLOWING CHRIST AND HIS WORD TO LIVE AND REIGN WITH HIM (GAL 2:20).

WHAT WILL YOU DO? “BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION” (2 COR 6:2)