Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Jan. 12, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
BIBLE-BELIEVING FUNDAMENTALISTS BELIEVE IN SALVATION BY THE GRACE OF GOD
Pastor Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30) – Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road) – Albany, Georgia 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-16
Text: Romans 1:16
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Introduction: our church is a Bible-believing, fundamental church. What does that mean? Well, first that we are Bible-believers. After that, we are fundamentalists. We BELIEVE ALL of the Bible, but we make the great teachings of the Bible, the fundamentals, issues of fellowship. We contend about the fundamentals.
What are these fundamentals of the faith? One of them is that
SALVATION IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD
This is NON-NEGOTIABLE. It is not an incidental; the issue of SALVATION is a FUNDAMENTAL. If we don’t agree on salvation, we don’t have much of anything in common on which to build fellowship.
God’s Salvation is
GREAT
BY GRACE
GUARANTEED
GLORIOUS
I. SALVATION WAS PLANNED IN ETERNITY PAST
1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
A. God foresaw man’s ruin
B. God foreordained man’s redemption
II. SALVATION WAS PROPHESIED THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT
Romans 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures)
A. The seed of the woman
B. The supplied lamb promised by Abraham
C. The suffering Savior in Psalms 22
D. The substitute of Isaiah 53:6
III. SALVATION WAS PERFORMED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
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:
A. He bore our sins in His body
B. He buried our shame
C. He brought up our salvation with His resurrection
IV. SALVATION IS PRESENTED TO THE LOST SINNER AS 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. It is paid for in full
- Salvation is free, but not cheap! It cost our Savior His own blood!
B. It is personalized
- By the Spirit
- By the soul-winner
- By the scriptures
V. SALVATION IS POSSESSED THROUGH FAITH
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
A. In the Person of Christ
B. In the payment by Christ
VI. SALVATION IS PRESERVED BY GOD’S POWER
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We know we are saved FOREVER because of
A. The seated Savior
B. The seal of the Spirit
C. The statements of the scriptures
VII. SALVATION IS PORTRAYED BY A HOLY LIFE OF SERVICE
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.