SALVATION - God's gift

Last week, we explored the problem of sin in depth. It robs us of fulfilling our purpose, it separates us from God, and it leads to physical and spiritual death. But God loved His precious creation far too much to leave us lost and hopeless in our sin. He provided a way of rescue from the penalty for our sin. Paul says it this way-

Romans 7:24b-25a | Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week, we’ll explore the most important essential yet- Salvation.

Essential #9 -  Salvation is God’s gift to mankind, one that we could never earn or deserve, made possible through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. We are made right in God’s sight, the punishment for our sin paid in full, when we put our faith in Jesus. The believer is made a new creation that should continue to grow more and more like Christ.

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Romans 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. What do we deserve because of our sin? 
2. What does God offer us instead if we put our trust in Jesus? 
3. How is salvation a gift from God? [Is it something we deserve? Is it something we have to earn? Is it something we have to pay for?]

John 3:16-17 | “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

1. How do we accept God’s gift of salvation? 
2. God’s gift gives us eternal life. Where will we spend that if we know Jesus?

Ephesians 2:8-9 | God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

1. Can anyone do enough good to earn salvation? Why or why not?
2. Because we can’t earn salvation, who should get the glory for saving us? 
3. When you share your testimony or story of salvation with others, how do you make sure God gets the glory (instead of you— i.e., I decided;  I changed; I stopped; I started…)