The All-Encompassing Gospel

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.’” Romans 10:8-11

The word that is used in the original language for “salvation” covers the entire work of God on behalf of the human soul. I am sure that not one of us, not even the one who has spent the most time with God, can fully comprehend the height and the depth of the vast subject of salvation. The depth is our need; the height is the provision that God has made. Salvation begins when the sinner recognizes the fact that he is less perfect than God and therefore under condemnation.

“Salvation” also is a word that has a complete meaning in the past, present, and future. In the past, the believer has been saved from the penalty of sin; in the present, is being saved from the power of sin; and in the future, he shall be saved from the very presence of sin.

I have been saved from the penalty of sin = Justification.
I have been saved from the power of sin = Sanctification.
I will be saved from the presence of sin = Glorification.

The world is looking for deliverance, but they are looking all the wrong places. The gospel sounds so simple - so stupid, but is the power of God.

Salvation delivers a person from -
▸ Lostness - to seek and save that which was lost.
▸ Sin - we have been delivered from the power of sin.
▸ Guilt - declared not guilty.
▸ Judgement and Death - 1 Cor. 15