Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 2
The Way of Salvation

Introduction
Nothing in this world is more important, particularly to the serious Bible student, than to know perfectly the way of salvation.

Importance of this Lesson

• There are hundreds of church denominations and thousands of religions in this world all claiming to have the truth and to possess the way of salvation.
• On no subject is the Bible more clear. Yet, because of Satan’s efforts to blind men to the Gospel, (2 Corinthians 4:4), there is massive confusion on this subject. Thus, the importance of this lesson springs from the vast need for absolute clarity in this matter.
• To know the WAY OF SALVATION is to enjoy blessed assurance and to have the hope of heaven in our hearts. May God help you to grasp this lesson fully and firmly so that you too may have joy and peace in believing.

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The Lesson

IN THE WAY OF SALVATION THERE ARE SIX CLEAR STEPS. (BE SURE TO MEMORIZE ALL SIX FOR THE EXAM)

I. THE FIRST STEP IS THAT OF RECOGNITION

1. The WAY OF SALVATION begins by RECOGNIZING or seeing ourselves as God sees us and as we really are.
2. There is no hope of heaven or eternal life, until this occurs. For example:
   1. No one cares to be found, until he recognizes he is lost.
   2. No one wishes to be washed, until he sees himself unclean.
3. People refuse to see themselves as God sees them, saying:
   1. I’m as good as the next fellow.
   2. I’m good enough as I am.
   3. I’m doing all right. I don’t need anything.
   4. I do the best I can, and that’s good enough for me.
   5. I know people who are much worse than I am.
   6. I’m just not as bad as the Bible says I am.
   7. I try to keep the Golden Rule.
4. But, what does God say?
   1. We are all like an unclean thing (Isaiah 64:6).
   2. Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
   3. There is none righteous, none that does good, and all are unprofitable (Romans 3:10-12).
   4. All are lost (Luke 19:10); condemned (John 3:18); alienated (Ephesians 4:18).
   5. For ALL have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).
5. Furthermore, how did the Bible heroes see themselves?
   1. David – “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).
   2. Isaiah – “…I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips…” (Isaiah 6:5).
   3. Jeremiah – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” (Jeremiah 17:9).
   4. Paul – “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15); “For I know that in me…dwelleth no good thing…” (Romans 7:18).
   5. Peter – “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8).
6. Thus, THE WAY OF SALVATION begins with RECOGNITION; for only when we see ourselves as God sees us and accept what the Bible says about us, can we know the Lord and His great salvation. If the heroes of the Bible recognize themselves to be sinners, should not we be as humble and do the same?

II. THE SECOND STEP IS THAT OF REPENTANCE

1. The MEANING of Repentance:
   1. It is the translation of the Greek verb METANOEO which means to “see afterward” or, actually, to change one’s mind or purpose.
   2. The Greek noun is METANOIA, which again means “after-thought,” or “change of mind.”
   3. In either case, it is almost always used in the New Testament to mean a change for the better – a turning away from sin and evil.
2. This, logically then, is the second step in THE WAY OF SALVATION. First we must see ourselves as God sees us. Then we must confess that condition and turn from it.
3. God commands us to REPENT.
   1. Luke 13:3 – “…except ye repent…ye shall…perish.”
   2. Acts 17:30 – “…God commandeth all men…to repent.”
   3. Repentance, then, is not something that can be ignored, neglected, or by-passed. To fail to do so means to utterly perish in one’s sins.
4. God commands ALL men to repent.
1. Some people feel that they are more moral and upright than others are, and so believe themselves to be above the need for repentance.
2. But the BIBLE says:
   1. “I tell you, NAY: but, except YE repent, YE shall all LIKEWISE perish” (Luke 13:3). (Study the context.)
   2. “…but now God commandeth ALL MEN EVERYWHERE to repent” (Acts 17:30).
   3. “…that ALL should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
5. Both REPENTANCE and FAITH are required.
   While repentance alone does not save, and by itself does not merit forgiveness, it is, nevertheless, a definite part of true and saving faith and is surely required of God.
   1. Acts 2:41 – It results in the receiving of the Word whereby we are saved.
   2. Acts 3:19 – It results in conversion.
   3. Acts 20:21 – Paul preached repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. True repentance involves our MINDS, our EMOTIONS, and our WILLS.
   1. Illustrations of the mind or intellect:
      Acts 2:14-40 – When Peter called upon the Jews to repent, he was asking them to change their minds about Christ. They had looked upon Him as a blasphemer and an impostor. Now they were commanded to REPENT and accept Him as Messiah.
   2. Illustrations of the emotional involvement:
      1. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 – The Corinthians had changed their minds about the sin in the church they had covered up. This resulted in great sorrow.
      2. Matthew 11:20-21 – Repentance is associated with sack-cloth and ashes.
   3. Illustrations of the will:
      1. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 – It is a turning to God FROM idols to serve the living and true God, an act of the will.
      2. Acts 26:18 – It is a turning from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, an act of the will.
   4. Luke 15:17-20 – Here, in the story of the prodigal son, all three aspects of repentance can be seen.
      1. “He came to himself” – the INTELLECT.
      2. "I perish with hunger” – the EMOTIONS.
      3. “I will arise and go to my Father” – the WILL.
         • Repentance, then, is not simply a heart broken FOR sin, but a heart broken FROM sin.
7. Repentance is produced in us through a number of ways:
   1. The goodness of God (Romans 2:4).
   2. Gospel preaching (Acts 2:37-41).
   3. The grace of God (Acts 11:18).
   4. The long-suffering of God (2 Peter 3:9).
   5. The rebuke and chastening of God (Revelation 3:19).

III. THE THIRD STEP IN THE WAY OF SALVATION IS THE STEP OF REALIZATION

1. After one has RECOGNIZED himself to be what God says he is, and after he has REPENTED fully of his sins and has turned to God, he must now REALIZE two great facts:
   1. Man is not only a sinner, he is a HELPLESS sinner, totally unable to save himself.
   2. Christ ALONE can and does save us from our sins.
2. There is a great difference between what you RECOGNIZE and what you REALIZE.
   1. Illustration 1: One might RECOGNIZE certain symptoms of a disease without REALIZING how developed that disease may be in his body.
   2. Illustration 2: One might RECOGNIZE that a child looks neglected and hungry without REALIZING the deplorable conditions existing in the home from which he came.
   3. LIKEWISE: One can readily RECOGNIZE that he is indeed a sinner without REALIZING that he is a totally helpless sinner.
3. Thus, the third step in THE WAY OF SALVATION is the REALIZATION that:
   1. Man is helpless to save himself and is completely dependent upon the grace of God for his salvation.
      1. Ephesians 2:8-9 – “By grace…saved…and that not of yourselves…”
      2. Titus 3:5-6 – “Not by works of righteousness…”
      3. Romans 4:5 – “But to him that worketh not, but believeth…”
   2. Christ ALONE can and does completely SAVE.
      1. Hebrews 1:3 – “…when he had BY HIMSELF purged our sins.”
      2. Hebrews 9:26 – “…to put away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF.”
      3. 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he (God) hath made him to be SIN for us….”
      4. Isaiah 53:6 – “…(God) hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
         ¨ All religions, including Christianity, begin by admitting man’s need. BUT, other religions say, “Something in my hands I bring.” Christianity says, “Nothing in my hands I bring.” Religion alone is spelled “Do.” Christianity is spelled “Done.”

IV. THE FOURTH STEP IN THE WAY OF SALVATION IS THAT OF REVELATION
To all who are ever saved and who come to learn the way of salvation, there must come a REVELATION concerning Jesus Christ. WHAT REVELATION? That Christ is indeed the Lord of Glory, the Son of the Living God.

1. Peter’s Confession – Matthew 16:16, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
   Note Christ’s reply – Matthew 16:17, “flesh and blood has not REVEALED it unto thee but my Father.” God gave Peter a REVELATION of Jesus Christ.
2. Illustrations of Bible Conversions:
   1. Saul of Tarsus – Acts 9:5, He cried, “Who art thou, Lord?” Note the answer: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” What a REVELATION!!! This devout Jew, this champion of the Pharisees, suddenly had REVEALED to him that the Jesus he hated was THE LORD, his own MESSIAH!
   2. The dying thief on the cross: At the beginning he too, blasphemed Christ (Matthew 27:44). But a REVELATION came and he cried, “LORD, remember me…” (Luke 23:42).
   3. The woman at the well (John 4:10, 25-26), “I that speak unto thee AM HE” (a tremendous revelation).
   4. Zaccheus – Luke 19:1-10, “…he sought to see Jesus WHO HE WAS” (verse 3).
3. Scriptural evidence of this need:
   1. John 20:31 – “But these are written…believe that Jesus IS THE CHRIST, the SON OF GOD, and that believing (this) ye might have life through his name.”
   2. Acts 16:31 – “…Believe on THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST and (then) thou shalt be saved….”
   3. Romans 10:9-10 – “That if thou shalt confess…the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead (then), thou shalt be saved.”

V. THE FIFTH STEP IN THE WAY OF SALVATION IS THAT OF RECEPTION

1. Remember that salvation is a GIFT. A gift cannot be earned, paid for, or deserved. It can ONLY be RECEIVED (Romans 6:23; John 10:28).
2. There are two things I must RECEIVE to be saved:
   1. The WORD of the Bible, or the message of the good news concerning Christ.
      1. When it is preached (1 Corinthians 1:21; Acts 2:41).
      2. When it is revealed (Mark 4:20; Romans 10:17).
         ¨ We are born again through the WORD (1 Peter 1:22-23). We have everlasting life through hearing the Word and believing (John 5:24).
   2. The Living Word, or Christ Himself (John 1:1; John 1:12).
3. When we RECEIVE the message of the WORD by faith, the One who is the LIVING WORD comes into our hearts. Revelation 3:20 – “…IF any…hear my voice (the Word), and open the door (faith), I will come in…” (The Living Word or Christ comes in.)

VI. THE FINAL STEP IN THE WAY OF SALVATION IS THE STEP OF RELIANCE

1. Your religion is not greater than your RELIANCE. On what are you relying or depending to get you to heaven?
2. What some people are relying upon: baptism, good works, church membership, morality, sincerity, and many other things, but the Bible nowhere teaches that any of these can save a person. It is not something we do, but what Christ has done for us.
3. To be assured of our salvation we must come to utterly rely on two mighty pillars of truth.
   Just as most of us have two strong legs upon which to stand, so God has given to us two firm legs or pillars upon which we can rely.
   1. The Finality of the Bible!!!
      The promises of God are firm and amen, and you can stand upon them! If God said it, believe it, and let that settle it!!!

      “’ Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
      Just to take Him at His Word,
      Just to REST upon His promise,
      Just to KNOW, thus saith the Lord.”

   2. The Finished Work of Christ.
      In John 19:30, Jesus cried, “IT IS FINISHED.” The law had been kept and magnified; Satan’s power had been crushed; sin was paid for, purged and put away. God’s justice had been satisfied, and His holiness vindicated. OUR REDEMPTION WAS COMPLETE!
      NOW COME AND REST IN AND RELY UPON THAT MIGHTY WORK (Matthew 11:28).

      “My hope is built on NOTHING LESS
      Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness.

Conclusion:
The WAY OF SALVATION, then, is to see ourselves as we really are in the sight of a holy God, to repent of our sins turning to God, to realize our utter helplessness to save ourselves and that Christ alone can save, to let the Holy Spirit reveal to us the Deity and Lordship of Christ, to receive by faith the Word or message concerning Christ, letting Christ Himself come into our hearts and then to come to rely wholly upon the finality of God’s promises and the finished work of Christ on our behalf.

If you have not yet done so, now is the time to REPENT, COME, BELIEVE, RECEIVE and CONFESS Christ as Lord and Savior of you life.

Examination

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