Saved By What?

2nd Timothy 1:8-9

INTRO: Good morning church.
I'd like for us to begin by imagining the following. Imagine you're on a ship in the ocean and a severe storm comes up. You're out on deck. You're trying to get to safety, but a strong gust of wind, a very strong gust of wind blows you off into the water.
A man on board sees you and throws you a life preserver. You grab it and swim back to the ship and climb to safety.

From this story ponder the question, what were you saved by? What were you saved by? Was it the ship? Of course, if the ship wasn't there you wouldn't have any place to climb back to. Were you saved by the man who threw the life preserver? If the man hadn't been there, you would not have been thrown the life preserver. Were you saved by the life preserver? If the man didn't have a life preserver to throw you, you wouldn't have one. Were you saved by the water? If the water wasn't there, then you couldn't have been floating or swimming. What if maybe you saved yourself? After all you had to grab the life preserver and you had to swim. Which of those five things were you saved by? Of course, the truth is you were saved by all of them. If you take any one of those away, you would be lost.

The Bible tells us that a person is saved by many, many things. What does that tell us? What are we to make of that? Jesus said that we're to be governed by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. Anything which God declares is necessary for salvation in one passage, must be implied, and be included in all other passages that speak about salvation. That's our theme this morning. We are going to look at all the different things the Bible says we are saved by when it speaks of our salvation. By the end of the lesson we'll see that whenever it says we're saved by this, all the things that we are saved by are included. This is something the religious world doesn't often follow or understand.

I. Saved by God – Obviously, the Bible says we're saved by God in 2nd Timothy chapter one. We're going to be reading many passages this morning. Again, this lesson is going to be looking at what God's word says we are saved by.

A. Read with me 2nd Timothy 1:8-9. “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me as prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling. Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” We are saved by God, the Godhead…the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We can't take God out of the picture and say that we're saved by anything else. We are saved by God.
B. Jesus - On top of that, Matthew 1:21 reveals to us specifically that one of the members of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, saves us. Verse 21, in talking about the birth of Christ, says “and she will, (referring to Mary), bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” There's one of the members of the Godhead that scripture says we are saved by. We're saved by Jesus.
C. Holy Spirit - Also the Bible says we're saved by the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit that gives us life. In John 3:5 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. “Jesus answered most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Later on in John 6:63 Jesus reveals this, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.” Both in John three and John six, we are told that spiritual life comes from the Holy Spirit, another member of the Godhead.
D. When we put all of that together, we see that we are saved by God. We're saved by Christ. We're saved by the Holy Spirit. That all means the same thing.
E. It's legitimate and it's perfectly scriptural when we tell somebody or when we're talking to someone, if they ask, “how are you saved” to say;

1. I'm saved by God. That is a biblical answer to say that you're saved by God.
2. I’m saved by Christ.
3. I’m saved by the Holy Spirit.
4. That's exactly true. You are.

II. Saved by the Blood of Christ - The Bible says we're also saved by the blood of Christ. In Romans 5:9, Paul tells us this about how the blood of Christ saves us. “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

A. Justified - We're justified by His blood which saves us. We shall be saved. We'll be pronounced justified. We'll be pronounced not guilty. We'll be pronounced innocent. How? By the blood of Christ.

1. Paul here described the blood of Christ as the instrument of man’s justification, but not in any unconditional sense. It will always be necessary for people to approach God in obedience.
2. It's perfectly scriptural and truthful to say when we're asked “what are you saved by” to say, I'm saved by the blood of Christ. Anybody that's saved is saved by the blood of Christ.

B. Redeemed - Further in 1st Peter 1:18-19, still referring to the blood of Christ, Peter says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
You were redeemed. You were bought with a price. That price is the blood of Christ, which is said to be precious. This scripture also says “not… from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers”. Here is the secret of most of the errors on earth. The errors of false religions, and even the errors in the true, are often what people have received from their fathers.
C. Purchased - Paul, talking to the elders, said in Acts 20:28 – “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
D. What do we know now? The Bible says that we're saved by God. The Bible also says we're saved by the blood of Christ. Which is it?

1. Are we saved by God or are we saved by the blood of Christ? Going back to our story about the life preserver, we're saved by both. You take either one of those away and we can't be saved. Both of those are critical in understanding how one is saved.
2. We're saved by God, the Godhead, which consists of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and we're saved by the blood of Christ. That's scriptural. It’s truthful to say we're saved by the blood of Christ.

III. Saved by the Gospel - The Bible says we're saved by the Gospel.

A. In Romans 1:16, at the beginning of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, Paul reveals something else about salvation. He says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
B. It's the power of God to salvation. This is emphasized in 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The message of the cross, the Gospel, is the power of God.
C. In James 1:21 James says, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
D. It is truthful and scriptural to reply to the question “by what are you saved?” with the answer “I was saved by the Gospel”.

1. I'm saved by God, the Godhead. I'm saved by the blood of Christ. I'm saved by the Gospel. I'm saved by all three. Can I take any of those out and still be saved?
2. Up to this point many people might agree with you. Perhaps from this point on in the lesson, they won't.

IV. Saved by Grace, Faith, and Works - The Bible also says we are saved by grace, faith, and works. That will raise some eyebrows among people, but yet that's exactly what the Bible says. Let’s look.

A. Grace - Romans 3:23-24 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” We are saved through His Grace.

1. It's perfectly scriptural and truthful and right to respond to the question, what are you saved by, with the reply I am saved by God’s grace. It's not any more right to say you're saved by grace as opposed to saying you're saved by God, you're saved by the blood, or you're saved by the Gospel. None of those are more important or more truthful than the others in answering that question. Yes, we are saved by grace, and the Bible makes that clear.
2. In Luke's account chapter 17 verses 5-10 Jesus is talking about faith and duty. In response to the apostles saying to the Lord in verse 5 “Increase our faith,” Jesus gives a parable which is a lesson designed to teach humility, obedience, and a sense of lacking any merit in the sight of God. Luke 17:10, Jesus says about duty, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” In other words, this teaching was to show that no man can merit salvation. To put it as William J Russell expressed it in his book: "This rebukes the self-satisfied Christian who thinks that in obeying God they have done something especially meritorious."  Man can never repay God's daily blessings, much less those bestowed by grace. We didn't deserve it, we are saved by grace.

B. Faith – That's a proper response, but it is also proper to say that we're saved by faith. Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

1. The Bible says; we're justified by His blood, we're justified by grace, and we’re justified by faith. Which is it? Does the Bible contradict itself? Which of those three do I pick out?
2. We don't pick out any of them. When scripture says that we are saved or justified by one thing, everything else that the Bible says we're justified and saved by, is included. Yes, we are justified, saved by faith. Just like when Paul says in Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

C. Works - It's perfectly right and straightforward and truthful and scriptural to say that you're saved by faith, but I'm also saved by works. That'll raise an eyebrow, but it's scriptural to make that response if someone says how are you saved? I was saved by works.

1. Boy, that'll get people going, just say you're saved by works. The Bible says I am. Can't I say what the Bible says? Surely I can repeat what the Bible says I'm saved by.
2. We are currently studying the book of James in Sunday morning Bible study. James writes in chapter two, and this is just as inspired as any of those other places that we've read, James 2:14 – “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” Wait, I thought we were saved by faith. Didn’t we just read that?
3. Let's read on in verse 17. “Thus also faith by itself, (there is a key phrase), faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” It's dead. By itself, faith can not save. Just like being out in the middle of the ocean where I couldn't save myself, the life preserver didn't save me by itself. The man on the ship didn't save me by himself.

D. That's the point of this lesson. When we see all of these passages, and there are many, and we could have read and read, we will continue to find more of what the Bible says we're saved by.
E. In James 2:24 – “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” The same phrase that we've seen before, justified by His blood, justified by grace, justified by faith, justified by works, these are all the same phrase. What right do I have to say I can pick one of those four and say that's what's going to save me. No one has that right. I am saved by His blood. I'm saved by grace. I'm saved by faith. And I'm saved by works. All of those are legitimate answers to the question what are we saved by.

V. Saved by Belief, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism - Let's go on. I'm also saved by belief. I'm saved by repentance. I'm saved by confession. I'm saved by baptism. Let’s consider each of these. I’ll start with belief.

A. Belief - I am saved by Belief because John 3:16 says I am. We know that by heart, but let's read it anyway. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

1. The person that believes in Him is going to be saved. We believe that. It's legitimate and right and truthful and scriptural to answer the question, what are you saved by? By saying that I'm saved by believing in Jesus Christ, that's true, it is a Biblical fact.
2. In Acts 16:31 we find these words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you're going to be saved. That's the absolute truth, but it's not any truer than to say that you're saved by grace or you're saved by works, or you're saved by God, or you're saved by Christ, or you're saved by the blood. When the Bible says you're saved by something, it includes all of those things the Bible says you're saved by.

B. Repentance - The Bible says, I'm saved by repentance. Remember Jesus' words in Luke 13:3 – “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” The great truth uttered here, and repeated in the same words two verses later, was to remove the false security of His hearers, then and now. I'm saved by repentance. I must repent.

1. Have you ever heard anybody answer the question, “what are you saved by”, by saying repentance? Probably not, but that's the truth. It is the truth you must repent.
2. In Acts 17:30 – “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,” It is a command. Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” Repent and turn to God. Yes, repentance is essential, but so is confession.

C. Confession – In 1st John 4:2-3 the Bible says. “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God”

1. Are you saved by confession? The Bible says if you confess Jesus Christ you are of God, so it's perfectly right to say that you're saved by confession.
2. Of course, Romans 10:9-10 says the same thing, “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.”

D. Baptism – The Bible also says you're saved by baptism. If you want to start an argument with some folks, all you have to do is answer the question “what are you saved by?” by saying “by Baptism”. Saved by baptism is just as scriptural and just as truthful, and just as right to answer that question as is grace, faith, works, blood, God, and so on. It's just as true.

1. To answer that question Peter writes in 1st Peter 3:20f – “who formerly were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
2. Wait a minute. Baptism saves me? It saves you just as much as any of the other things we've talked about. Saved by the Godhead, saved by Jesus, saved by the Holy Spirit, saved by the blood, saved by the Gospel the word of God, saved by grace, saved by faith, saved by works, saved by belief, saved by repentance, saved by confession, saved by baptism.

CONCLUSION:
The question is who has the right to say in all of those things that one thing is the only thing that saves us? Yet, that's what the religious world does. It picks one of those things or maybe two of those things and says, that's what saves me. It seems to me that it is pretty arrogant to take all of those things the Bible talks about and say, I'm going to believe it's just these one or two things.

Going back again to our original analogy, you can't take any of those things away, the ship, the man, the life preserver, or yourself, and be saved. In similar manner, you cannot take any of those things we have read and say that some of those aren't necessary. It is the height of arrogance to say that.

When the Bible says that we're saved by God that means we're saved by grace, faith, works, belief, confession, baptism, His blood, and the gospel.

When it says we're saved by His blood, that means we're saved by God and grace and faith and works and the Bible, all of those things are included. The Bible teaches all of those things are the source of our salvation.

We simply cannot take any of those things out of the statement, the equation, and still be saved. That is not our prerogative. God saves me. He certainly does. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He surely did. I have to get spiritual life from the Holy Spirit. I sure do, as does anybody else.

The list goes on and we simply cannot take a single thing away and still expect to enter through those gates into heaven.

Scripture says we are to abide by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. Not just some of them. Not just this one or that one, but all the words that proceed from the mouth of God. The Bible says we're saved by all of those things.

This morning we have taken a look at some of the things that the Scriptures tell us are involved in our salvation. In a past issue of House to House, Heart to Heart was an article that listed 27 things from scripture we are saved by. (July 22, 2016) I suggest to you that as we grow as a Christian we note the various things in scripture to which salvation is ascribed. The question is not, which one of these will save us; all combined ensure us of salvation.

Hopefully, we have all thought deeply about salvation, and as Christians, we continue to grow in our understanding of God’s word.

INVITATION:

If there's anyone here in the assembly that is in need of responding to the gospel, in need of prayers, whatever your needs are we stand ready to assist you and we encourage you to come forward as Mark leads us in the invitation song. Please stand.

#480 Have You Counted The Cost?

Reference sermon by: Bobby Stafford

Appendix from July 22, 2016 of House to House, Heart to Heart:
1. Christ’s words (John 6:63).
2. The Holy Spirit (John 16:8; Titus 3:5).
3. Faith (Romans 10:10).
4. Repentance (Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9).
5. Baptism (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5).
6. God (John 3:16; Titus 2:11).
7. Christ’s works (John 20:30–31).
8. Calling on His name (Acts 2:21).
9. Christ’s name (Acts 4:12).
10. Christ’s resurrection (Romans 4:25).
11. Christ’s death (Romans 5:6).
12. Hope (Romans 8:24).
13. Confession of faith (Romans 10:10).
14. Hearing (Romans 10:15–17).
15. Preaching (1 Corinthians 1:18).
16. Fire (1 Corinthians 3:15).
17. The gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1–2).
18. Love (Galatians 5:6).
19. Grace (Ephesians 2:8).
20. Ourselves (Philippians 2:12).
21. The love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
22. Christ (1 Timothy 1:15).
23. Heeding and continuing in the doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16).
24. God’s mercy (Titus 3:5).
25. Obedience (Hebrews 5:9).
26. Christ’s blood (Hebrews 9:14).
27. Works of faith (James 2:24).