GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #531
SEVEN BIBLE DESCRIPTIONS OF
SALVATION
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
This is the doctrine of Holy
Scripture - Salvation is the work of God alone, a gracious work of God wrought
for and in chosen sinners, without their aid or assistance, through the
mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gracious, irresistible operations
of the Holy Spirit. Here are seven Bible descriptions of salvation. I ask only
that you read them carefully and honestly, comparing Scripture with Scripture.
If you will do so, you will see clearly that “Salvation is of the Lord!”
1. “Thy Salvation”
"I have waited for thy
salvation, O LORD" (Gen. 49:18). Salvation belongs to God. It is his prerogative and his
work alone. He gives it and withholds it according to his own sovereign will.
2. “Eternal Salvation”
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey him"
(Heb. 5:9). , salvation is an eternal work of God. It was devised and secured,
predestinated and purposed, and, in the mind of God, it was performed,
finished, and perfected in the covenant of grace before the world began. Read
your Bible and you will see that this is so (Rom. 8:29-30; Rev. 13:8).
3. “Common Salvation”
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me
to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). When Jude speaks
of “the
common salvation,” he is simply telling us that all God’s elect receive,
experience, and possess the same salvation. The blessings and benefits of grace
belong equally and fully to all who are in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
4. “Your Own Salvation”
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2:12). I like that!
If you are saved, the salvation you have is “your
own salvation”. God devised it for you. Christ purchased it for you. The
Holy Spirit brought it to you and wrought it in you. It is yours forever! If
you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, all that is included in that word “salvation”
is your personal property and possession forever! It belongs to you by the gift
of the grace of God!
5. “So Great Salvation”
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Heb. 2:3). It comes from
the great God, through the merits of our great Substitute, by the power of
God’s great, Holy Spirit, to great sinners, and brings the great bounty of
great grace!
6. “Everlasting Salvation”
"But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be
ashamed nor confounded world without end" (Isa. 45:17). God’s
salvation is eternal both ways. It is from everlasting to everlasting.
7. “Salvation To Our God”
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9-12). That
salvation which belongs to God and comes from God shall return to God in
everlasting praise. AMEN.