THE SIMPLICITY OF SALVATION
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, May 23, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
THE SIMPLICITY OF SALVATION
By Michael D. O’Neal……Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church ……Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:1-3
Text: 2 Corinthians 11:3
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Introduction: The devil endeavors to distract people from the simplicity that is in Christ. You do not have to be a great intellectual to be saved. You do not have to have a high IQ in order to know how to live for God.
Concerning salvation, it is so simple that Jesus said a person must become as a little child in order to receive it.
Here is the meat of the message of salvation that you need to hear and understand:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Christ’s dying for our sins means that He paid the price for them. He suffered for us, taking our sins upon Himself. In so doing, He purchased our salvation with His own blood. As a result of that great sacrifice, SALVATION IS SIMPLE. Although there is NO effort on your part required to be saved, the Bible gives some comparisons to show you just how easy it is. As a result of the fact that CHRIST has done the WORK required for salvation:
I. SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE AS GETTING A GIFT
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A. A gift shows concern, compassion, and charity – John 3:16
B. A gift shows a cause – someone is in need
C. A gift has a cost
* It cost Christ greatly
* It costs you nothing, because it is a GIFT to you.
D. A gift must be claimed
II. SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE AS GULPING A DRINK
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
A. The drink is prepared
B. The drink is poured
C. The drink is partaken of
III. SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE AS GOING THROUGH A DOOR
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
A. The door must be seen
B. The door must be selected
* God does not force you to be saved
* You must choose to come to Christ
C. The door must be stepped through
* Many were invited in Noah’s day to come into the ark for safety.
* Only eight people entered.
* When the door was shut, no one else could get in.
* Everyone who did not go through the door perished in the flood!
IV. SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE AS GAZING UPON A PERSON
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A. It is looking at sin – 2 Cor. 5:21
B. It is looking at a Sacrifice
C. It is looking for salvation
* In faith
* Acts 16:29-31
* Eph. 2:8-9
V. SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE AS GIVING UP EFFORT
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
It is much like a person drowning being willing to stop his own efforts and trust the ability of the lifeguard to save him.
A. Even an unwise person can do that
B. Even an unpopular person can do that
C. Even an unlovely person can do that
D. Even an unwealthy person can do that
The ones who have difficulty NOT working to be saved dare
A. The strong – or so they think
B. The smart – in their own eyes
C. The successful – in material things