Defining Salvation
Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
1. Salvation is not a matter of where you are going but of who you are.
Current assumption – You can be a Christian and not be a disciple. “Get them saved, and count the numbers.”
However, behavior does not bring salvation –
Ephesians 2:8-10 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. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do..
Romans 9:31-33 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”2. Salvation is not a behavior that makes you right, but a relationship that alters your behavior, not because of what you do but because of who you are.
The teaching that Jesus is Lord, brings a focal point – to Him. This is more than words or doctrine, it is focus and perception. What we focus on we tend to mover towards. Our perception, our world view, is the realization of our reality and the creative point of who we are. Perception changes behavior. Disciplined behavior does not necessarily change behavior.
3. Salvation is not a matter of reorganizing social structures or challenging the powers that be. It is a matter of becoming the power of the central focus of human redemption – the expression of Christ.
The central focus of Christianity is transformation – being reformed from the inside out into Him.