"The Salvation Of
Your Soul"
I Peter 1:9
What is salvation? What
does it take to save a sinner? How do men and women get saved? Men talk about
"the plan of salvation", "the decision of salvation",
"the prayer of salvation", "the
experience of salvation", and even "the water of salvation". But
according to the words of Peter, given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the
salvation of your soul involves six things.
1. SALVATION BEGINS WITH GOD'S SOVEREIGN ELECTION (v. 2).
Everything begins with God. Nothing begins with man. The cause of election was
the foreknowledge (foreordination) of God the Father. The immutable security of
election is the seal of God the Holy Spirit. And the singular condition of
election was the obedience of God the Son as the Substitute for God's elect.
2. THE FIRST EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION IS A MERCIFUL REGENERATION
(v. 3). The cause of the new birth is God's abundant mercy. The result of the
new birth is a living hope. The power of the new birth is the resurrection of
Christ.
3. WE ARE KEPT ALIVE, KEPT IN GRACE, KEPT IN SALVATION, BY GOD'S
POWERFUL PRESERVING GRACE (vv. 4-7). Christ has reserved an inheritance for us
in heaven. And Christ our God preserves us in the earth until we obtain our
heavenly inheritance. He even preserves us in the midst of our fiery trials,
making even the trial of our faith a precious means of preserving faith.
4. THIS SALVATION ALSO INVOLVES A BLESSED ANTICIPATION. We live
upon the tiptoe of expectation, looking for "praise and honor and glory at
the appearing of Jesus Christ."
5. THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL INVOLVES A DELIGHTFUL CONSECRATION
TOO (v. 8). God's saints are men and women who consecrate themselves to Christ
in sincere love. Though we see him not, believing him, we love him and rejoice
in him.
6. THIS SALVATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY FAITH (v. 9). This gift was
bought by Christ. It belongs to him. You cannot earn it. But it is a gift which
Christ delights to bestow upon needy sinners.Trust him,and
it is yours.
Don Fortner