Sermon #1353 Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: “THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS”

Text: 1 Peter 1:1-25

Reading: Psalm 66:1-20

Subject: Salvation

Date: Sunday Morning - July 25, 1999

Tape # V-37a

Introduction:

My subject today is found in 1 Peter 1:9. I want to talk to you about “The Salvation of Your Souls.” When all is said and done...

Proposition: There is nothing that is of greater importance than the salvation of your souls.

· You are a living soul. You have a body; but you are a living soul. You will spend eternity somewhere, in some state. You will live forever, either in the eternal bliss of salvation in heaven, or in the eternal state of death, the second death, in the torment of divine wrath in hell.

· The salvation of your soul involves the very glory of God himself. --If the Lord God is pleased to save you by his almighty, free and sovereign grace in Christ, it will be to show forth the praise of the glory of his grace. God saves sinners for his name’s sake (Eph. 1:3-14). He says, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it” (Isa. 48:11).

Psalms 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

· It is the salvation of your immortal souls that I am talking about. I am not talking about earthly, temporal things, but about spiritual, eternal things. I am not talking about your bank account or your health. I am not talking to you about politics, history, or the economy. I am talking to you about something of real importance. I am talking to you about your soul!

Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (37) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

The salvation of your souls is the subject of 1 Peter chapter one. So I want you to keep your Bibles open on your laps, as I endeavor to give you the message of these twenty-five verses of Inspiration.

Because the salvation of our souls is of such immense importance, we are admonished in the Scriptures to make our calling and election sure, lest we be deceived with one of Satan’s devices to the damning of our souls. May God the Holy Spirit make us honest with ourselves and honest before him. As we look at the salvation described in this chapter, let us ask ourselves one question -- “Is this the salvation I have?”

If the salvation described here is your salvation, you have reason to give thanks to God continually. If the salvation you think you have is not described in these terms, then your imagined salvation is a vain delusion, a refuge of lies that will crush your soul down to hell forever, unless the Lord delivers you from it.

Divisions: This chapter speaks to us plainly and forcibly about three things...

1. In verses 1-12, the Holy Spirit describes the salvation of our souls.

2. In verses 13-17, we are plainly told what our responsibilities are as the children of God in this world.

3. In verses 18-25, the Apostle Peter, writing by divine inspiration, gives us the motives by which believers are inspired live in this world for the glory of God.

I. OUR SALVATION

In verses 1-12, God the Holy Spirit describes what salvation is. If we are saved by the grace of God, this is the salvation we have experienced. If we have not experienced this salvation, we have not yet been saved by the grace of God.

TEN THINGS ABOUT SALVATION

A. In Bible terms, salvation is a radical thing.

Salvation is something so radical, so life altering that it makes every saved sinner a stranger in this world. Religion makes people strange; but grace makes them strangers to the world.

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

“Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Believers are strangers to the people of the world. We are a paradox, a people puzzling to the world.

· Rich, but Poor in Spirit.

· Happy, but Heavy Laden.

· Strong, but Weak.

· Confident, but Trembling.

· Assured, but Fearful.

· Meek, but Uncompromising.

The world can never understand what makes us tick, why we do what we do, how we live, or what motivates us. The world can understand and explain any and every form of human religion. But the world can never understand a child of God. It’s a grace thing. They just can’t get it. Grace experienced in the soul makes a person a stranger in this world.

Now, look at verse 2...

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

B. Salvation is the work of the triune God alone.

1. It begins in that blessed, eternal work of God the Father called, “ELECTION”.

2. Salvation is wrought in us by the regenerating, sanctifying work of God the Holy Spirit -- IRRESISTIBLE GRACE.

3. This salvation was earned and purchased for us by the obedience and death of God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. -- PARTICULAR REDEMPTION.

4. God’s salvation brings both grace and peace. -- It brings every gift and blessing of grace as a matter of pure, free grace. And where there is grace, there is peace. -- Peace With God. -- Peace From God. -- The Peace of God.

Look at verses 3-4...

1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

C. Salvation, as it is described in the Bible, both honors God and gives all praise and honor to God.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

D. That salvation which is described in the Book of God gives hope.

1. A Lively (LIVING) Hope -- “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”

2. A Hope That Is Based Upon And Is Found In God’s Abundant Mercy.

3. A Hope That Is In A Risen Savior.

4. A Hope For Eternity...

· An Inheritance

· An Incorruptible Inheritance.

· An Undefiled Inheritance.

· An Inheritance That Fadeth Not Away.

· A Reserved Inheritance.

1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

E. God’s salvation is a salvation that keeps all by grace who are in grace.

· Grace chose me.

· Grace found me.

· Grace put me in the way.

· Grace keeps me in the way.

· Grace keeps me through faith, yes; but it is grace that gives me the faith through which I am kept.

F. This great salvation, great as it is now, in this present, earthly experience of it, is a salvation “ready to be revealed.”

G. Salvation, real salvation, causes saved sinners to rejoice in the Lord.

I am not talking about giddy, giggly, ha-ha, hee-hee joy. I am talking about real joy, joy in the very depths of your heart and joy, joy in God your Savior. When we have nothing else in which to rejoice, we can and should rejoice in our God and in his salvation.

Illustration: David did -- Dancing Before the Ark

On His Deathbed -- 2 Samuel 23:1-5

1 Peter 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

· Joy In The Midst Of Heavy Trials

Notice that we are here told three things about our trials in this world. Let us never forget them.

1. They are only for a season.

2. There is a “need be” for them all.

3. They will make heaven more glorious and blessed than it otherwise would be, or could be (v. 7).

· Joy Because Of Christ (v. 8)

· Joy Because Of The End -- “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

H. This salvation is a salvation which is consistent with all the Scriptures.

1 Peter 1:10-11 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Illustration: Cinderella’s Glass Slipper

I. The only way any sinner can ever know and experience this salvation is by divine revelation.

1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

· By Type, Shadow, Promise, And Prophecy In The Old Testament.

· Through The Report Of The Gospel.

· By The Holy Ghost Sent Down From Heaven.

J. This great salvation is a salvation that the angels desire to look into!

Illustration: The Cherubim Looking On The Mercy-Seat

That is how the Word of God describes this thing we call “salvation”. Have I described your salvation? If I have, I want you to hear me just a few more minutes, as we are reminded of....

II. OUR RESPONSIBILITY

If we are the saints of God in this world, if we truly belong to God, it is our highest privilege and greatest honor in this world to honor our Father in all the affairs of our lives. Saved sinners seek to live for the honor of God.

1 Peter 1:13-17 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (17) And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

A. Live with your eyes focused upon eternity (v. 13).

B. Fashion, mold, govern your affairs as obedient children, not after the lusts of ignorance by which others live (v. 14).

C. As God our Father is holy, let us ever strive to be holy (vv. 15-16)

D. Live in the fear of God (v. 17).

These are matters of personal responsibility for each of us. Yet, they are not matters of legality. The Holy Spirit does not take out the whip of the law, threatening punishment if we fail. Neither does he promise rewards if we comply. If there is neither the threat of punishment nor the promise of reward, how can anyone be expected to take these matters seriously?

Look at verse 18-25. Here is...

III. OUR MOTIVE

1 Peter 1:18-25 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The motive for godliness is grace, just grace. I am calling for you and me to devote ourselves to the will of God, the glory of God, and the kingdom of God, because we have been granted the grace of God in Christ.

Why should I devote my life, consecrate myself, my goods, my property, my money, my time, my family, everything to the cause of Christ and seek to honor him? Let me tell you why....

A. I’ve been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (vv. 18-20).

B. God has given me the blessed gift of faith (v. 21).

C. The grace of God, granting me faith in Christ, has purified my soul (v. 22).

D. I love my brethren (v. 22).

E. I’ve been born again by the Word of God (v. 23).

F. There is nothing in this world even worthy of consideration except the gospel of the grace of God (vv. 24-25).

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

AMEN.