SBS Sermon Notes
SBS     Sermon Notes     Note 01/06

Salvation

Hebrew - Yeshua = Salvation, safety, ease
Greek - soteria = salvation, safety, ease

1. Mankind's Need of Salvation

No one will doubt but that the human race is in serious trouble. In every field of human activity and endeavour there are problems, many of them impossible to solve. The seven prime areas of concern are: war, hunger, disease, natural disasters, freedom, falsehood and sin. These are the main problems facing humanity. There are others, of course, but there is no need to list them all. These are enough to make the bravest heart tremble. Mankind needs salvation from these problems: and that need is desperate.

It was with this picture in mind that the Master delivered his famous Olivet prophecy recorded in Matthew 24: That is how the Saviour saw events on earth just prior to his return: and how true his words have turned out to be. Our need for salvation, from these and other problems, is very real and only the fool will ignore these facts.

2. Where can we find Salvation?

Question: Where can we find salvation from these problems? We are obviously in need of salvation. But where is the One who can meet that need?
Answer: Salvation belongeth unto the LORD. (Psalm 3:8)
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. (Psalm 62:1)

Yes, even the Saviour's name Yeshua means salvation. He alone can meet your need, my need, our need.

3. The Personal Aspect of Salvation

It is not enough to know that salvation is available through God. To be sure that is the first step towards salvation - knowing where it is available. But the next, and far more important step, is to personally accept the salvation of God. from Him cometh MY salvation.
Exodus 15: 2: The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Job 13: 15: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16: He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Psalm 27: 1: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Isaiah 12: 2: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3: Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4: And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD...

4. Yeshua - the Salvation of God

Matthew 1:21 ...and thou shalt call his name JESUS for he shall save his people from their sins.
Yahweh's solution to every problem is Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah). He is the means and method of salvation for every son and daughter of Adam. Salvation comes through Yeshua. This is undoubtedly the greatest truth any preacher can present to any audience. To be sure it has already been repeated many, many times. But there are still billions of souls who have never really grasped its importance.

NOTE: Yeshua is the Messiah's Hebrew name. Jesus is the Greek form.
John 3: 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.
17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Briefly explain each phrase of this passage to your audience.
Acts 4: 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We repeat: The answer to man's myriad problems is Jesus Christ. Individuals and governments foolishly think that they can solve their personal and national problems without God; but sooner or later they will all recognise that they cannot, for every problem facing mankind is insoluble! Yes, there just isn't any answer but Yahweh's means of salvation - His Son! Only when God's Spirit is ruling in the heart, the home, the community and the world, will peace, happiness, prosperity and life be assured.

5. A Time Limit on Salvation

It is a grave mistake to suppose that you can safely put off for the morrow the important decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. Millions have done this to their eternal ruin. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that salvation will not be available forever. Now is the day of salvation! For many there is just not going to be a tomorrow. They will die today!
2 Corinthains 6: 2: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Oh what a terrible cry is this when many realise that it is too late for them. There will then be no escape. Here is one forecast of their terrible cry.
Jeremiah 8: 20: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

So take heed

Hebrews 2: 1: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2: For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3: 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.

6. Our Responsibility

Romans 13: 11: And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Lamentations 3: 26: It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord.

7. Messiah's Return is Near

Revelation 12:10-17 ... And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down ...

All heaven is expectantly waiting for the Most High to act. His patience is most admirable in that He wants everyone to be saved and therefore He controls His anger to unimaginable limits in order that all who want salvation may attain it. But when He is convinced that there is no longer any desire for salvation in the sinner's breast, then Yahweh will give the order for His Son to return to earth to finish the task he began many years ago.

Questions:

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Elder: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
Updated: May 1999