The Bible, a Twofold Record of God’s Great Works:
- Creation (Gen 1-2)
- Redemption (Gen 3-Rev 22)
God’s Salvific Plan (aka Redemption)
- God the Father planned it.
- God the Son accomplished it.
- God the Holy Spirit applies it.
Salvation by Grace
God does all the work in sanctification (Php 1:6 - something He doesn’t do for unbelievers). He also never starts something He doesn’t finish (Is 55:8-11).
The Succinct Gospel
The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ and His work.
God’s Power, Not Man’s
Without God’s direct intervention, man will never believe the Gospel. This is precisely why those who remain dependent on their natural powers (especially for salvation) remain unsaved (e.g., Mt 7:21-23).
2 Implications of Salvation
- There’s a need for salvation (Gen 2:17; Ps 19:1; 69:1-2; Ecc 7:20; Is 1:6; Jer 17:9; Mt 9:1-2; 14:25-30; Mk 7:20-23; Lk 19:10; Jn 8:44; Ac 8:30-31; 14:17; Ro 1:19-20; 2:14-16; 3:19; 5:12; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2,12; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16; 3:10; 5:12; Jud 1:19)
- There’s a willing/able party that saves (Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; Eph 3:20; 1Ti 2:3-4; 2Ti 1:12; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:18; 5:9; 7:25; 2Pe 3:9; Jud 1:24)
Fallen Man
A self-professing sovereign will never perceive the NEED to look anywhere else but to itself for salvation! This is an abomination to the TRUE Sovereign, namely God, man’s Creator.
Why are people lost?
Because they reject the Bible and what it reveals as Truth (as the Word of God). (Ps 19:1-14; Ac 14:17; Ro 1:19-20)
Ac 14:17
Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Ro 1:19-20
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Why are people lost?
Because they reject the Bible and what it reveals as Truth (as the Word of God). (Ps 19:1-14; Ac 14:17; Ro 1:19-20)
Why are people lost?
Because they disobey their own God-given conscience regarding right and wrong (even unbelievers are given an internal law). (Ro 2:14-16)
Ro 2:15
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.
Why are people lost?
Because they disobey their own God-given conscience regarding right and wrong (even unbelievers are given an internal law). (Ro 2:14-16)
Why are people lost?
Because they prefer the world over Christ (Eph 2:2; Jam 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16)
Eph 2:2
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
Jas 4:4
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
1Jn 2:15-16
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Why are people lost?
Because they prefer the world over Christ (Eph 2:2; Jam 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16)
Why are people lost?
Because they prefer Satan over Christ (Jn 8:44; 2Co 4:4; 1Jn 3:10)
Joh 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2Co 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1Jn 3:10
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Why are people lost?
Because they prefer Satan over Christ (Jn 8:44; 2Co 4:4; 1Jn 3:10)
Why are people lost?
Because they prefer sin over righteousness (darkness over light). (Gen 2:17; Ecc 7:20; Jer 17:9; Mk 7:20-23; Jn 3:19-21; Ro 5:12)
Gen 2:17
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Rom 5:12
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Ecc 7:20
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Jer 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Mar 7:23
All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Joh 3:19
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Why are people lost?
Because they prefer sin over righteousness (darkness over light). (Gen 2:17; Ecc 7:20; Jer 17:9; Mk 7:20-23; Jn 3:19-21; Ro 5:12)
Why are people lost?
Because they reject God (1Jn 5:12; Jud 1:19)
1Jn 5:12
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Jud 1:19
It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
SUMMARY: Why are people lost?
- Rejection of Biblical revelation.
- Rejection of their own conscience.
- Preference for the world over Christ.
- Preference for Satan over Christ.
- Preference for sin over righteousness.
- Rejection of God.
2 Implications of Salvation
- There’s a need for salvation (Gen 2:17; Ps 19:1; 69:1-2; Ecc 7:20; Is 1:6; Jer 17:9; Mt 9:1-2; 14:25-30; Mk 7:20-23; Lk 19:10; Jn 8:44; Ac 8:30-31; 14:17; Ro 1:19-20; 2:14-16; 3:19; 5:12; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2,12; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16; 3:10; 5:12; Jud 1:19)
- There’s a willing/able party that saves (Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; Eph 3:20; 1Ti 2:3-4; 2Ti 1:12; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:18; 5:9; 7:25; 2Pe 3:9; Jud 1:24)
The Need for a Savior
- A sick person needs a doctor.
- An accused person needs a defender.
- A drowning person needs a lifeguard.
- A lost person needs a guide.
SUMMARY: Why are people lost?
- Rejection of Biblical revelation.
- Rejection of their own conscience.
- Preference for the world over Christ.
- Preference for Satan over Christ.
- Preference for sin over righteousness.
- Rejection of God.
The Need for a Savior
- A sick person needs a doctor.
- An accused person needs a defender.
- A drowning person needs a lifeguard.
- A lost person needs a guide.
2 Implications of Salvation
- There’s a need for salvation (Gen 2:17; Ps 19:1; 69:1-2; Ecc 7:20; Is 1:6; Jer 17:9; Mt 9:1-2; 14:25-30; Mk 7:20-23; Lk 19:10; Jn 8:44; Ac 8:30-31; 14:17; Ro 1:19-20; 2:14-16; 3:19; 5:12; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2,12; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-16; 3:10; 5:12; Jud 1:19)
- There’s a willing/able party that saves (Zech 9:9; Mt 8:2-3; Lk 1:68-69; 2:29-30; 3:5-6; Ac 4:12; Ro 1:16; Eph 3:20; 1Ti 2:3-4; 2Ti 1:12; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:18; 5:9; 7:25; 2Pe 3:9; Jud 1:24)
