Three Questions We’re Going to Answer About Salvation: Three Questions We’re Going to Answer About Salvation: 1) Why do we need to be saved? 2) What must God do for us to be saved? 3) What must we do to be saved?

I. The Need (Our Predicament) I. The Need (Our Predicament) “… for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all “… for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, (3:9) under sin; as it is written, (3:9) ‘ There is none righteous, not even one; …’ (3:10) ‘ There is none righteous, not even one; …’ (3:10) ‘There is none who does good, there is not even one.’ (3:12) ‘There is none who does good, there is not even one.’ (3:12) The Law speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; …” may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; …” Rom 3:19 Rom 3:19

I. The Need (Our Predicament) I. The Need (Our Predicament) “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Rom 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, …” – Rom 6:23

I. The Need (Our Predicament) I. The Need (Our Predicament) The Bible attests & experience confirms that man is a sinner The Bible attests & experience confirms that man is a sinner Man’s condition & state without Christ leaves him: Man’s condition & state without Christ leaves him: Spiritually dead - separated from God (Eph 2:1) Spiritually dead - separated from God (Eph 2:1) Spiritually lost – unable to find God (Luke 15) Spiritually lost – unable to find God (Luke 15) Enslaved to sin – willful bondage (Rom 6:16-18) Enslaved to sin – willful bondage (Rom 6:16-18) Guilty before God – deserving eternal punishment (Rom 3:23) Guilty before God – deserving eternal punishment (Rom 3:23) Apart from Christ, he is spiritually destitute of any moral goodness that would vindicate himself before this holy and just God Apart from Christ, he is spiritually destitute of any moral goodness that would vindicate himself before this holy and just God

I. The Need (Our Predicament) I. The Need (Our Predicament) He is incapable of saving himself from the eternal consequences of his own sin He is incapable of saving himself from the eternal consequences of his own sin He suffers from the delusion that he is better and stronger than he is He suffers from the delusion that he is better and stronger than he is He is not good enough to absolve himself from the guilt of his sin and its just penalty He is not good enough to absolve himself from the guilt of his sin and its just penalty He is not strong enough to deliver himself from the power of his own sin, nor the course of life his sin has charted for him He is not strong enough to deliver himself from the power of his own sin, nor the course of life his sin has charted for him Apart from Christ, both the state of man & the fate of man are fixed Apart from Christ, both the state of man & the fate of man are fixed Man cannot save himself from this predicament; he needs a Savior! Man cannot save himself from this predicament; he needs a Savior!

II. The Basis (God’s Part) II. The Basis (God’s Part) “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, whom He poured out richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

II. The Basis (God’s Part) II. The Basis (God’s Part) “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” should boast.” Eph 2:8-9 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, …” in order that He might bring us to God, …” I Peter 3:18

II. The Basis (God’s Part) II. The Basis (God’s Part) Our salvation rests not on our own good deeds or works of righteousness, but on God’s grace and mercy Our salvation rests not on our own good deeds or works of righteousness, but on God’s grace and mercy God’s love is the fountain and Christ’s death on the cross is the means of our salvation God’s love is the fountain and Christ’s death on the cross is the means of our salvation This mercy & grace were realized through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, the just for the unjust This mercy & grace were realized through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, the just for the unjust Divine Dilemma: God resolved the tension between justice and mercy Divine Dilemma: God resolved the tension between justice and mercy

III. The Conditions (Man’s Part) “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Rom 10:9-10 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, … that the world should whoever believes in Him should not perish, … that the world should be saved through Him.” be saved through Him.” John 3:16, 17

III. The Conditions (Man’s Part) “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead on the third day; and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins on the third day; and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name …” should be proclaimed in His name …” Luke 24:46-47

III. The Conditions (Man’s Part) Although God has provided us a Savior through His Son Jesus Christ, Although God has provided us a Savior through His Son Jesus Christ, salvation is not automatic. salvation is not automatic. We must meet two conditions; faith & repentance We must meet two conditions; faith & repentance Faith is the confidence that the heart has in Jesus Christ as Savior, and is thus willing to entrust itself to Him as Lord. Faith is the confidence that the heart has in Jesus Christ as Savior, and is thus willing to entrust itself to Him as Lord. Repent means to change your mind, but it implies a change of action Repent means to change your mind, but it implies a change of action