PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS AND SALVATION
#848 PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS AND SALVATION
Scripture Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6, NIV Orig. May 14, 1988
Passage:
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Titus 3:5-6
5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior….
Purpose: Continuing a Church Training study on the Priesthood of the Believer, here relating our understanding to salvation.
Keywords: Doctrine Priesthood
Timeline/Series: Baptist Beliefs
Introduction
Display Cel #6 “We are a holy and royal priesthood with the calling to worship and to witness. Our priesthood had origins in the Old Testament and is rooted in Christ, the Great High Priest.”
The above is a link to previous study unit. Briefly refer to the three-part outline: The Jewish Priesthood; The High Priesthood of Jesus; and The Priesthood of Believers. See if there are any comments or questions related to this prior study.
Display Cel #2. Underline Chapter 3. We will major this evening on the ways that the Priesthood of the Believer relates to salvation. Display the three-part outline of this chapter (Cel #7).
The Equality of Access to Salvation
The Personal Nature of Grace
The Voluntary Nature of Faith
Use Cel #7a as a kind of overview of this triumvirate. “Every person has the privilege of uncoerced personal access to God’s grace through Jesus Christ.”
Pass out the seven question cards. Responses!
1. How do the four gospels reveal Jesus as being available to all persons?
2. Who helped you come to trust Christ as your Saviour?
3. Do all persons have equality of access to God’s grace for salvation? What about those who’ve never heard?
4. Explain: “Salvation is not church by church, community by community, or nation by nation. It is lonely soul by lonely soul.”
5. Explain (Martin Luther): “Before God all Christians have the same standing.”
6. Dr. Shurden1 points out that Jesus’ love was a barrierless love. Do you have a problem loving certain people?
7. What are some ways people try to substitute for the gospel?
I. The Equality of Access to Salvation. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
A. The gospel thus portrays Jesus. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Heavy laden—referred to animal loads. John 12:32, “I, when I am lifted up, will draw all men unto me.”
All men without exception?
All without distinction?
B. Mullins “religious axiom.”
1-Equal access
2-The inalienable right of every soul to deal with God for itself.
3-Article in Friday paper (NSW 5-13-1988). Interview with Marilyn Vos Savant—identified herself as agnostic. Would be more open to a God defined in terms of one world religion.
4-Equality of access to God’s grace for salvation is not rooted in human capability. God is sovereign; His sovereignty can accept a wide corridor of human understanding or a narrow one.
C. A definition of salvation.
1-Greek—soteria—health, wholeness: Health as to fragmented bodies; wholeness as to fragmented relations; salvation as to fragmented spirits.
2-Salvation is God’s act on behalf of our helplessness.
D. A longer look at Ephesians 2:11-22
1-A man-made distinction: circumcised v. uncircumcised.
2-These distinctions are broken down in Christ. Actually, Hebrews were divided from each other. Courts of: Gentiles, Women, Israel, Priests; but even they were restricted from inner portion. But Christ brought deliverance alike to all. Ephesians 2:17, “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access. . . .” Access: to bring to.
E. Examining Jesus breaking down barriers.
Luke 6:15 Zealot—political distinction
Luke 19:5 Zacchaeus—religious distinction
John 4:27 Woman at the Well—sexual distinction
Mark 7:26 Syrophoenician—racial distinction
Matthew 8:10 Centurion—national distinction
Matthew 11:19 Sinners—social distinction
II. The Personal Nature of Grace. I John 1:2, “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.”
A. Thus, grace is God acting to make Himself known where otherwise He would not be known.
1. “Eternal life” is another reference to salvation.
2. He is making this truth known to those whose it is.
Apocalypsis—is an unveiling
Phaneroo—is personal revelation
B. God’s intervention in history was: personal, relational, individualistic. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Matthew 1:23, “Emmanuel”—God with us.
C. Dealing with a persistent heresy—gnosticism.
1. Its teachings—Matter is evil/spirit is good. Salvation was through secret knowledge.
2. Dealing with it—Jesus was a real person with a real body. He sought to touch lives relationally. Salvation is through faith in a personal Saviour. It can only be accomplished one person at a time.
3. Proxies have no entrées to grace.
III. The Voluntary Nature of Faith. Exodus 19:8, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do.” Luke 15:11-24 story of the prodigal: without reading all recall that shepherd went for sheep/woman searches for lost coin/the father can only wait until the son chooses to return.
A. What is at stake?
1. Freedom
2. Soul competency
3. Love cannot be forced.
4. Conversion can only be by conviction, not by compulsion.
B. What we can therefore conclude:
1. Mass evangelism is not a true concept. Billy Graham early went to train counselors, on site, to pair off with people making decision, even in films.
2. There can be no proxy salvation. Parents can not baptize an infant and assume that opens the door to faith.
3. A state church has always fallen into the pattern of coercive action. Even in early American life it emerged. Roger Williams, a Puritan himself, was banished from his Massachusetts church for soul competency. Read p.290 (S3).
4. The primacy of the individual is never to be so magnified as to produce anarchy.
5. And the opposite is true as well. The individual must never be treated as without private worth.
6. Freedom to express one’s own views must be seen to be inviolate. “No person . . . shall be in any wise molested, . . . for any differences of opinion (that) . . . do not actually disturb the civil peace . . . colony.”
7. Changes worldwide can only happen one person at a time.
Conclusion
Avoid truth by substitution: proxy—infant baptism.
Avoid truth by addition: Judaizers—become Jews to become Christians.
Avoid truth by subtraction: humanists—would dispense with sin.
Avoid truth by multiplication: works—C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.
Shurden,Walter https://www.amazon.com/Baptist-Identity-Four-Fragile-Freedoms/dp/188083720X
Lewis, C.S. Books - Official Site | CSLewis.com
1Shurden, W.B. (1993). The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. (14th Edition). Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.
SALVATION: WORD OR WONDER
#348 SALVATION: WORD OR WONDER
Scripture I John 4:7-21, NIV Orig. Date 11-19-1961
Rewr. Dates 3-1978, 4-25-1988
Passage: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Purpose: To call attention to the message of scripture as it relates to God’s purpose in the salvation experience.
Keywords: Christ, Saviour Grace Revival Series, Baptist Beliefs Salvation
Introduction
The concept of salvation generally understood today is woefully inadequate. It is assumed to be: goodness, lack of badness, church membership, a particular church membership, baptism, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and, there are those ardent enthusiasts that it is just so much hokem.
Confusing there is. And understandable so. A major car manufacturer advertises the latest model of one of their lines as having been “Born. Again.” The witness of so-called Christians does not always keep the air-waves of communication open and clear.
Larry Flynt was for years a moral demi-god, and the word suddenly surfaced that Flynt had been converted. You may remember that he was born into the kingdom(?) on the wings of Ruth Carter Stapleton. Evidently, it was not the Holy Spirit’s doings, because Larry Flynt clearly gives evidence today that he is still a moral demi-god.
Eldridge Cleaver was another. He had a flair for drawing the attention of the media. His conversion was short-lived. After a couple of bounces in the world of the born-again, he was off on another tangent.
Thank God, there are legitimate happenings of people being saved. Salvation still works; and it is still a wonder. Charles Colson came out of Watergate, out of prison, and into the kingdom. The only splash we hear about him, is of some effort to reach back into some prison somewhere with the good news that “Jesus saves.” The salvation that is genuine is the salvation that sends people back to where they have been, and along, where they are going, giving evidence of God’s love along the way.
I. The Wonder of Salvation Begins with God. V10 “This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” NIV.
You see, Salvation begins, as all things that are of God must, with an uncomplicated offer.
An offer based on the integrity of God. Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give all?” My wife, and two young teenage daughters, went with me from New Iberia to Brookhaven, in response to an entrepreneurial advertisement. They were going to pay for our gas, give us a set of dishes, other things, but it all hinged on a name on a contract.
And though God can not compromise that offer of salvation, we may. It is compromised exceedingly through the irrational of unbelief. Its power is quelled when we renounce its moral uniqueness. Daniel Weiss spoke a word not to be forgotten (Christianity Today 3/10/78, p.69). “If God had meant for us to live in a world of moral uncertainty He would have given us ten suggestions rather than ten commandments.”
This uncomplicated offer addresses man’s most basic need. Erma Bombeck is cute and clever saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone; every once in awhile he needs a little gravy.” If we gave consideration to God that we give to “gravy” we would all be better off.
This salvation is the personification of grace. Our need is first of all spiritual. I Corinthians 2:4,5 “My teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words . . . but with the power of God’s spirit.” It is God initiating care undeserved. Not what we are owed, but offered. Not man’s worthwhileness, but God’s willingness. Man’s crown originates in Christ’s cross.
II. This Salvation Rests upon the Accomplishment of Jesus Christ. V14 “And we have seen and testify that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
The Old Testament concept of salvation was sometimes confused, but it was not without hope. Even Job addressed the subject. “For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and even after worms destroy this body, . . . I shall see God.” Job 19:25. David knew the subject well. “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein forever.” (Psalm 37:29)
Must I remind you that salvation is not moping around, waiting to die, so we can be happy. It is intended to grace this life also. TS host interviewed Madalyn Murray O'Hair (New Orleans). She remarked strongly against the church’s running gambling operations for profit. Woman called to respond. Seemed to offer witness of faith, then said, “My life would be zilch without my bingo.”
God grants enrichment of joy. Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
And we should not need reminding that it is an eternally lasting experience. Once we have faithed our way into the Kingdom, there is no unfaith that drags us out.
We have already concluded that God is the author of this salvation. He is likewise the sustainer/keeper. We have control at the outset. We do not have any option in the intermediary stages to renounce. We can misuse and abuse the gift. As material gifts can be rejected, others can be received but used in ways not intended.
We do need reminding that God responds to our carelessness in ways that amplify His sovereignty. 2 Timothy 1:14 “That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”
III. The Wonder of This Salvation is that it is the Answer to the World’s Distresses. V11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
Surely, we can comprehend the variances of love. We have different capacities to love. There are people, things in our lives of greater importance than others.
Evidently, then, God’s love is supreme. I John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.” With such verses, I don’t need to try to explain the Trinity. It was God in Christ on the cross. At Golgotha I can get the clearest view of love. Any unanswered dilemma of scripture needs no answer when we see the blood.
There we see love. Thus, from God’s love for us, there is the well-spring of our love for God, and concurrently, our love for others.
Take charge of your relationship: know who God is—Goal #1. Strangers do not become our best friends, but those whom we choose to get to know better do.
Goal #2—Love Him. Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Any goal beyond these two (#3) is to make Him Lord. Not some teaching about Him. Not some surrender on my part. Open yourself to His lordliness.
Finally, because He loved, so must we. Our own. Our extended family. Others. (He decides.)