16. Three Salvations

SERMON 16 Three Salvations

Man's salvation from sin should be the leading thought of life.

In all ages, and in almost all countries, prophets, and preachers have been proclaiming salvation to fallen men. It is a subject that comes with like interest to the king on his throne and to the wanderer in the lower walk of life.

Then, as salvation is such a leading subject to man, it may be well to inquire in the word of God how many salvations are promised to man, and how may he obtain them all. In the word of God we find at least three salvations promised to man, located at different points, and given to man under different conditions:

• There is what we might term a temporal salvation, located in the kingdom of nature, coming to all alike.

• There is a salvation from sin, or spiritual salvation, located in the kingdom of grace, or kingdom of God's dear Son.

• There is an eternal salvation of soul, body, and spirit, located in the everlasting kingdom of God, given to the faithful who die in the Lord.

To each of these salvations we now call special attention:

1. Universal, or temporal salvation. Paul says, “We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men” (1 Timothy 4:10). Again, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). “Yes,” says one, “that is my doctrine exactly; I believe all will be saved.” Yes, but did you notice that it says in the next verse that every one is to be made alive after his own order? Then turn to John 5:29, and you will find the order in which they shall be made alive: “They that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.”

But in what sense is God the Savior of all men? In the temporal sense only can it be said that He is the Savior of all men. God sends His rain upon the unjust as well as upon the just. The wicked can raise just as much to eat upon the same area of land as the righteous can. Paul taught that in God we live, move, and have our being. In this sense only is God the Savior of all men. We enter this life by a birth. This is the natural law, God has ordained that where there is no birth there can be no life, Into this world we are all born naturally, and enjoy the universal salvation God promised to man.

2. But over and above that salvation we have another, which is located in the kingdom of God's dear Son (Colossians 1:13), and given to all by birth, who are born into that kingdom by water and by the Spirit (John 3:5). But how do I get into that kingdom where the salvation from my past sins is offered me? Calling attention to Matthew 7:13-14, you will find that Jesus recognized two ways. Referring to the diagram, you will see them marked as broad and narrow ways. When man reaches the years of accountability, he certainly is traveling one of these roads. One he walks by faith, the other by sight or feelings. If you will notice, there are five steps in the narrow way, leading into the kingdom of God's dear Son. (1) Hearing the sayings of Christ and doing them (Matthew 7:21). (2) Faith in Christ, that we might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Yet many people become forgetful hearers of the word, and not doers, and deceive themselves. Others stop at the second step, claiming justification by faithonly. But if you notice you will find on the same way (3) repentance unto life is required of those who would walk in the narrow way (Acts 11:18). No one can expect to enter into the holy place, or church of God, who has not repented of his sins. (4) The next step is to confess with the mouth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; for Christ taught that we must confess Him before men, that He may confess us before the Father and the angels (Matthew 10:32). (5) Born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5) . Thus we are delivered from Satan's kingdom into the kingdom of God's dear Son. In this kingdom we are children of God, called unto the liberty of the sons of God; servants of righteousness; freed from sin; born again; not of corruptible just but of incorruptible seed by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. Then we obtain the second salvation, the special salvation, given only to the believer (1 Timothy 4:10).

3. But above this special salvation there is an eternal salvation which Christ promised to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). This is called the salvation of our souls, reached at the end of our faith (1 Peter 1:9). It is that everlasting life which God has promised to give to His sheep, His children, where they shall never perish (John 10:28). It is that life eternal unto which the righteous go at judgment (Matthew 25:46). It is that life everlasting that Christ taught Peter he would receive in the world to come (Luke 18:30). Certainly the language of Christ is true in John 10:29, that His children should never perish when they get that eternal life, for we learn that in the paradise of God—in that eternal glorified kingdom—there is the river of life, and the tree of life where those who go into this life eternal can drink and eat and live forever.

But how do I get into this life eternal ? There is only one road leading there Isaiah 35:8 calls it a way of holiness— says no unclean thing shall pass over it, nor be found thereupon. This road passes through the spiritual kingdom— through the kingdom of God's dear Son. It is the road along which Jesus has promised to lead us, but along no other way do we find the hand of God directing. Are we walking in that way, or trying to climb up some other way?

In this way of holiness you will observe seven steps the child of God must take, which are well described by Peter (2 Peter 1:5-9). If we add these graces, Peter says we shall never fall. I must add to my faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. But suppose I fail to do these things, where will I fall? I have been born into the kingdom, and cannot be unborn, nor get out. This is true. When you once get into the kingdom, you can only die out, for there is only one way of getting in and one way of getting out. You are born into the kingdom (John 3:5). But suppose I become wicked in the kingdom. and live and die that way. What will become of me? Christ said the Father would send and gather out of His kingdom all who offend and do iniquity, and would cast them into a furnace of fire (Matthew 13:41-42). Peter taught that if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the sinner (outsider) and ungodly (wicked church-members) appear? (1 Peter 4:18).

But if at either step he falls off the way of holiness, how can he get back?

(1) By repentance, (2) confession, and (3) prayer. Following the way of holiness we enter the eternal salvation. Paul taught that man is a compound being, of soul, body, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). He also taught that we wait for the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). This is to be a triumph from the grave, when great and small shall hear the trump of God, and shall come to judgment; when all the sleeping nations of earth shall hear and obey; when the sea shall give up her dead; when two congregations shall come to judgment, where you and I shall be.

I ask you dear reader on which side will you stand? Only two roads. One leads to life, the other to death. Make your choice between the two. But will you not accept a home in the paradise of God? There you can have access to the tree of life; there you can meet with loved ones of earth after the battle is fought, after the work is done, after the victory is won. Will you not be there to obtain the crown, and forever rest in the city of God?