The Way of Salvation                                                                             

Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
   How vast is the sum of them!

In the Psalm quoted above, Scripture assures each and every one of us that we are wonderfully made and that God has an amazing plan for our lives (our days are written in His book!). Now we don’t always see that plan and we don’t always feel like that plan is too wonderful. Sometimes our lives are filled with hardship and sorrow. Other times we have done things that we know are wrong. But you see that is the whole point of the Gospel. God did not send His Son into the world because we don’t need Him. God sent His Son into the world because we desperately need Him. Christ came to do for us what He knows we can not do for ourselves. Not only that the Gospel is ours for the asking. God will not turn one person away who comes to Him. John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

Below is outline of what the Bible says both about our need for salvation and how God responds to that need. As you read it, what I want you to notice is that behind every single detail is God’s amazing love for you and His desire to give you a new life in His Son, Jesus Christ.

It might just be that God has brought you here to this page for a reason. If so, I pray that He will make His love and salvation know to you. If you have any questions or if there is anyway our church can be of help to you, please use the contact button above to let us know.

May God richly bless you,

Fr. Charlie

I. The Need of Salvation- Why do I need salvation?

A] Scripture tells us that all men have sinned and therefore fall short of what God requires of man.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B] Not only that Scripture tells us that man is under God’s judgment and that unless something changes, man will receive the eternal punishment of Hell.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

C] Finally, Scripture tells us that we cannot fix ourselves. Instead, Scripture says there is but one way to salvation.

Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."

II. God’s Response to Sin- How does God respond to man’s sin and rebellion? God does not abandon man to His sin. Rather, God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, eternal God, the second person of the Trinity, to become man and to redeem us from our sin and brokenness.

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 eternal life.

A] Notice then, Jesus took our sins and paid for them on the cross. On the cross, Jesus died the death and suffered the judgment we deserve.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.

B] But that’s not all. Jesus also rose again from the dead. The resurrection is proof that Christ accomplished the whole of our salvation. How? The resurrection is the salvation and new life that Christ accomplished for His people. Notice then, Jesus not only paid the price for our sins, His life of perfect obedience also fulfilled all that God requires from us. Jesus took the death we deserve and gave us the new life of the Resurrection in its place.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.

III. How do I respond?

A] You are to turn to God in repentance for you sins and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior

Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as Prince and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

B] You are to walk according to your faith. That is, you are to live for Jesus. You are to stay in God’s word, you are to stay in prayer, and you are to stay in God’s house. Why? The grace that God gives really changes you

Acts 26:20 but I kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

IV. The assurance of salvation- What assurance do I have about salvation?

A] God will not turn one person away who calls upon Him (no matter what they have done)

Acts 2:21 'AND IT SHALL BE, THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.'

B] God’s presence and grace are with you and will not stop remaking you until you are complete

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

C] Finally, Scripture assures you that when salvation is truly received it can never be lost. We may backslide and stumble, but God never lets go of us. Rather, God gives us new and eternal life in His Son.

John 6:39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.