Sermon by Samaroo Sookraj
Salvation: the gift of God's love.
TEXT: Rom 6:23.
Intro: 1) The Bible is a cohesive book, not a compilation of several loosely related books. It has one theme, restoration of the relationship between God and man.
2) It is God's revelation of Himself, His creation and His requirements from His creation.
I) God's description of man
A) First in depth picture of man is of the sinful nature - Gen 3:1-6
B) Mankind has never changed from that poor beginning - Rom 3:10-23
C) We cannot deny our sinful nature today - 1 Jn 1:8,10 eg selfishness
D) Sin separates us from God - Gen 3:22-24; Isa 59:1-3Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
E) Being separate from God is a hopeless state - Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
11. God's plan for reconciliation "The act of reconciling parties at variance; renewal of friendship after disagreement or enmity."
Def: Reconcile To conciliate anew; to call back into union and friendship the affections, which have been alienated; to restore to friendship or favor after estrangement; as, to reconcile men or parties that have been at variance.
A. God is motivated by love for His Own - Jer 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
B. 1Jo 4:9, 10In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
B. God's's salvation depends upon absolute confidence - Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
C. We are saved by grace through faith and not works of law (merit) Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
D. We must have faith in the one whom God sent to save us - Rom 5:6,9,12,19 - salvation is through one man like death was introduced through the one.
E. We need to declare that faith by public confession. Rom 10: 9,10.
111. We are compelled to obey our faith Faith or belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a witness, or in what a historian narrates.
A. Faith (trust) compels us to repent Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
B. Faith compels us to confess our faith. Rom 10:10-11 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
C. Faith compels us to be baptized with scriptural Baptism. Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
D. Faith causes us to obey because we love - Jn 14:15; 1Jo 5:2,3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
E. A faith that does not compel us to serve is dead - Jam 2:17-19 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Conc. God reveals through the pages of His Bible the glorious message of salvation.
App: Can you see yourself for the wretched sinner that you are? I did in 1979.
Has the Lord granted to you the gift of faith and repentance?
Will you publicly confess Jesus as your Savior and your Lord through Scriptural Baptism and identification with His Blood-bought Church?
