The Story of Salvation

The title of this afternoon's sermon, The Story of Salvation. So let's open our Bibles together one last time and turn to Titus 2, verse 11. Titus 2, verse 11, as we do begin to close this wonderful feast of Tabernacles. And as we do, we come to Titus 2.11 because it provides for us in a very succinct way that very thing. The story of salvation. Do you know it? Do you know what is the story of salvation? Well, here it is in this verse we have in just a mere 13 words this wonderful summary. This is what it says. Titus 2, verse 11, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. So this is the story of salvation and it essentially is the story of the eighth day, the last great day, a day in which points to the culmination of God's plan, the resurrection and judgment of the vast majority of all of mankind who have ever lived, a day in which billions who have died without the opportunity to truly know God by God's grace will be raised to physical life, to have that relationship and to have that opportunity. How is it possible? How is this possible? Well, the grace of God which brings salvation has appeared and it hasn't just appeared to some men and women, but in fact to all men and women. And you'll notice first and foremost here that it is a story, this story of salvation is in fact the story of Jesus Christ because this grace that appeared, it appeared in the form of a Savior. You know, that's what a Savior does. He brings salvation. And as Savior, He, Jesus Christ, stepped onto the stage of human history and He brought with Him a gift. And it's a gift from His Father, the gift of salvation. So again, the story of salvation is the story of Jesus Christ. And the story of Jesus Christ is one of the most beautiful stories the world has ever known. However, despite the wonder and the beauty of it, we know that only about a third of humanity has ever heard it, has even ever heard it, or even paid attention to it. And it's not a story that's simply a matter of speculation as if it were a fabrication or contrived. Rather, the story of salvation begins with Jesus Christ, and it's a Jesus Christ of actual history. In fact, without the real, actual, historical Jesus, the whole story of salvation collapses. And it collapses in a way that wouldn't be necessarily true of other stories or other religions. Of all the various expressions of religious beliefs in the world, you will find that none depend upon the existence of one particular individual, such as the salvation story does.

So again, salvation stands and falls upon the existence of an actual historical Jesus Christ. The occurrence of the Son of God actually stepping upon this earth. And the Bible says that He really did, and that these things actually happened.

And I'll have you know that secular history also confirms this fact. So those in society who are in this space of being agnostic, individuals who do not necessarily claim a belief in God, but they may be wondering about these things, they need to check whether or not what we proclaim is true or not, and we tell such individuals that we believe that their search will be well repaid. Because in an honest search by an individual, they will come across many historical writings regarding Jesus Christ. And in their search, they may come across, for example, such historical individuals as Flavius Josephus. Some of you have encountered Flavius Josephus, in your studies. Flavius was a commander who was in the Jewish army, and he was fighting a war against Roman oppression. This is about AD 66 through 70. And when this commander laid down his arms, he in turn picked up a pen. And in picking up a pen, he began to write a history of his time. And Flavius' writings are recorded for us in a book called The Antiquities. How many have heard of The Antiquities? Yeah. The Antiquities was and is a work in which this commander wrote some 20 volumes. And in these Jewish antiquities, Flavius Josephus explains Jewish history to a non-Jewish audience. And he writes as essentially a secular Jew.

In other words, Flavius, he really did he had an indifference to religious considerations. And so what we find in this work is that he's essentially writing what he knew of a historic Jesus Christ. Let me quote to you from the UCG study guide, Jesus Christ the Real Story, regarding Josephus from our study guide.

Flavius Josephus twice mentions Jesus in this monumental work, The Antiquities of the Jews, written AD 90 through 95. His most extensive quote reads as follows. So this is the quote from Josephus in The Antiquities. Quote, Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as received the truth with pleasure.

He drew over to him both many Jews and many Gentiles. He was the Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of principal men amongst them, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at first did not forsake him. For he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and a thousand other wonderful things concerning him.

And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day. Unquote. So that's from The Antiquities book 18 chapter 3 section 3. So again, he's writing as a Jew, and he's not really writing to bolster up this Christian idea, if he will. He simply records history, records it as he knew it to be. And so you'll note from this quote, he acknowledges with honesty the instigation that was brought, that brought about Christ's death.

He declares unequivocally the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he affirms the identity of Jesus, revealing him and declaring him as Christ. That's just one historical example. So it's all there. All the information that one might ever require, both in the biblical record and in the framework of secular history, all these things to repay the honest investigation of the one who says, I want to get to the heart of this matter, and I want to find out about this grace appearing issue. I want to see what it's all about.

And in knowing this, this helps us. It's helpful to us as we turn our focus on to mankind on this eighth day, because we who have been called, we who have acknowledged and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, it enables us to better articulate the story of salvation with those who ask for the reason of the hope that's within us. So, what is the salvation story? It is, in fact, the grace of God in the form of Jesus Christ has appeared to all men.

And he's been appearing throughout all of history, all the prophets foretold of his coming. We read from the prophet Isaiah yesterday. Isaiah wrapped up the story of salvation very well in just one verse, and he gave it to all of them to hear and to read and to anticipate. You remember, Isaiah wrote, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

There you have it. Isaiah 9 verse 6 is where that came from. So, there it is from the pen of Isaiah and many other prophets. And as the people listened to these prophets, and they listened to this Savior who was coming and bringing this gift with him, they were as men and women who were anticipating, and they were, if you like, standing on their tiptoes, you know, trying to see who will this child be?

Who is this son that will be given to us? And then all of a sudden, in the routine of a Judean evening into the darkness of a Bethlehem night, the son of God appears, and he comes in person. And he begins what would be the fulfillment of all that was foretold, and he comes right down into our circumstances. And he comes not dressed up as a man. He comes as a man. But more than a man, as Josephus said, if you could call him a mere man.

And everyone that would meet him would know that he was a true man. Ah, but they would know he was more than that. He was, in fact, the Word, the one to whom was with God from the beginning, the Creator of all things. He would now come in the flesh as the Son of God. And if you're looking for something to keep you awake at night, an unbelievable thought that the Creator of the universe, Jesus Christ, became a human fetus. That he actually came down a birth canal, born in the context of such a humble setting there in Bethlehem. It's incredible. You can't get your mind around it. So those who think that the Bible is contrived on the part of human ingenuity of some sort, that that's just a story given to men and women to swallow, a type of fairy tale. Answer me this. Why would a group of men or individuals put together a scheme like this? Why would they make it so mind-boggling? All the things you had to believe, mind-boggling things before you could ever get started? No. In fact, this is the story of salvation, a true story. And it is a story of an actual historical Son of God who became flesh and dwelt among us. And in this, the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Glorious story. It's a glorious story.

But again, as we turn our minds and our eyes and our focus on to mankind on this eighth day, we realize that by and large, mankind looks on, don't they? And someone says, well, that's nice. Thank you for sharing that. It's not necessary.

You know, I can live my life. I can have this experience on this earth without all that stuff. You know, who cares? Who really cares?

Or another says, I really agree with that. Yeah, it's interesting. But for me, it's irrelevant. But you see, it's at that moment in which we say, well, hold on, hold on, because there's three words here in the midst of all this that are crucial for all men, all women to acknowledge. For the grace of God, here they are three words that brings salvation.

Grace that brings salvation. In other words, the real matter, the real issue, it is a matter of necessity. And it's a matter of urgency because you cannot have a Jesus born as a savior unless there's a need of saving.

A coming savior presupposes the need of saving, doesn't it?

And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1, 21. You can look that up later.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2, 11. So you see, the fact of the matter is that there on that first evening, as that baby lay within those humble settings, that somehow or another in the mystery of God's purposes, that baby had its destiny on a crucifixion on a Judean hillside.

Why? Well, because he had been born to save. Salvation. This is the real issue for mankind. It's a matter of necessity, and it's a matter of urgency, grace, and then those three powerful words that bring salvation.

And I say to you again, it's a great story. It's a beautiful story, compelling story, demanding story, life-changing story. So again, why is it that men and women hearing this story, they don't embrace it? Why is it they don't give themselves to it? Why is it that they don't turn and trust in the Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of this story?

Well, I believe the answer is manifold. At the heart of it, of course, is the understanding that it begins with God opening the mind of an individual to understand that they need salvation. God must open a man or a woman's mind to understand that. We know that. But we also know that many are called. Think about this. Many are called. And we must recognize that with the many are called, but we know that God calls an individual for the purpose of choosing the individual.

He calls the individual with the purpose of choosing that individual. Every man or woman to whom God calls, He calls them with the purpose, the hope for them to respond to the calling. But why is it that those men and women who are called, those many, in hearing this story, they don't embrace it? Why is it, as the Bible further reveals, that despite the fact that many are called, only a few are chosen? Why? Well, as I thought about it in these days, I've concluded that there's at least three notions which prevent a man or a woman from embracing this grace which has appeared to them. So we want to think about this. We want to be thinking men and women. Because the fact of the matter is, while God could have fulfilled His purposes without us, we know that He has called us to participate in the plan of salvation. He's asked us to participate in this. So we've got to think about this. Why are men and women not who are called, not grabbing on to this? We need to be purposeful because all those who are called, we participate in bringing the called man or woman over to the blessed position of being chosen. We participate in that. So we have to be purposeful in thinking about these things. So we need to understand why it is that those who have heard, those who have been called, those who have been brought to the ability to understand why is it that that man or that woman do not embrace the grace which appears to them. Three notions. Three notions. First notion, number one. Number one, is the notion that we are all okay. That's number one. The notion that we are all okay. The grace of God has appeared and we say, isn't that wonderful news?

Answer, it's interesting news. Not particularly wonderful because as far as I'm concerned, I'm okay. Thank you for considering us, you know. Thank you, but we're okay.

And our response is, are we? Are we okay?

Now, the fact of the matter is that mankind has done fantastically well. Fantastically well. Science, technology, great achievements, achieved great wealth, achieved great leisure opportunities. And as a result of that, we hold a very high opinion of ourselves, don't we? And we seem to think that because we've been successful down here, to a certain measure, that we're really quite fine. And indeed, self-esteem is so important to us that the one thing we must never suggest is that there's a problem down here.

But at the same time, deep inside of every man or woman in the quiet moments, they realize that this notion doesn't hold up. It doesn't, that notion that we're all okay, it doesn't match with our human experience. It's not honest to the issues of our hearts. And yet, mankind, and the many who are called, they hold on to that notion. And to the degree that a man or woman holds on to that notion, it's enough to keep a called man or woman from accepting the grace which has been extended to them in a relationship with God. Because of the high view mankind has for themselves, they close the door on this appearing, choosing rather to believe that everything's okay. We're fine. But, but, if in our proclaiming individually and as a church, if we dare challenge this strong held notion, and if we are bold enough to proclaim that you're not okay, we might begin to make progress to this notion, thereby opening up their minds and their hearts to acknowledge this grace which has appeared to them. Well, you tell me I'm not okay. I don't know.

I tell a few white lies. I tell a few a couple of fibs, you know, yeah, maybe I shouldn't have gone there. Yeah, that when I was thinking that, that was a pretty bad thought. Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have read that or watched that. But they're just kind of private matters, really. Just little secret matters. I don't get too worked up about it. Presumably God's not too worked up about it. I'm fine. But to such an idea, such a notion, the Bible says that you're not okay. And God says, I do care. And the Bible says to that individual that he or she is actually in rebellion against their creator and guilty in God's sight and fit only for condemnation.

And unless that notion is confronted in that way, it'll never hit their hearts.

The truth is, you're not okay. I'm not okay. Why is acknowledging that we're not okay so important? Why is that so important? Why is it so important to combat this notion? Well, it's because until a man or a woman are able to see that they're in need of saving, why would they ever turn to a Savior?

Saving? Salvation? Thank you. I'm okay. But if we were ever to hold up to Him where they could see the guilty reflection, if we were ever to, in our proclaiming, hold up God's perfect commandments to their face and sin would be revealed, guilt then revealed, condemnation imminent, then you see, maybe at that moment that salvation might begin to mean something to them.

Consider how many presentations of the Gospel have been eased by the fact of portraying Jesus simply as one who merely fixes relationships. Or the simple portrayal that He's someone that just, He came to give you the American dream, you know. Or Jesus appeared simply to help you not be lonely. Or the most common one, Jesus came to make you happy. All that's true. Jesus Christ did come to give us good things. But if you think about it, if you think about that, what does the person have to say that comes from that message landing on them? Afterwards, what do they really have to say in response to that?

To the person who's happily married and is faithful to his wife, and if the Gospel is merely Jesus Christ came to fix your relationship, the response is, I don't need it to be fixed, but good to know. Or to the individual who hears that Jesus Christ came to give you the American dream. Well, that man or woman reaches in his pocket, or her pocket, grabs a hold of the BMW keys, and they say to themselves, I know something of the American dream. Thank you.

Or, says the preacher, let me try another one. Jesus Christ came to cancel your loneliness. Loneliness? I got all the friends in the world. I got too many. Lonely. Ah, this will get them. This will get them. Jesus Christ came to make you happy. I'm pretty happy. You know, ask my friends. I'm doing all right.

Well, says the preacher, I guess you're okay.

And what we find is that so many pulpits are not preaching truth, and they're portraying Jesus simply in a way to make Jesus Christ relevant to their lives. And they cast mankind's dilemma in terms of the perceived needs of the day. But when you approach people from the felt needs, and they don't have that felt need, then there's no relevance to what you're talking about. And there's no relevance to what I'm talking about. So, think about this. As you're proclaiming, remember what I said, you're a participant in bringing those many who are called to the blessed position of being chosen. You got to think about this. We need to be thinking men and women. Why are they not grabbing hold to this story of salvation?

If we position Jesus Christ as merely someone who brings good things, rather than positioning Jesus Christ as Savior that brings salvation, we won't make progress. Because if we position Jesus Christ as Savior who brings salvation, every man or woman needs that. That's not a felt need. That's a genuine need.

See, the Bible asks the question to mankind, what will it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul? That's Mark 8, 36.

You know, if we proclaim that, then the man or the woman, think about that for five minutes. You and I think about that for five minutes, and you realize the predicament that you're in without accepting and responding to God's call and accepting his son as Savior and then transforming your life in that way. So when we proclaim real need, the man or the woman says, that changes everything. Because I'm in trouble. I've got no answer to that here.

You know, the emblem on my car keys can't answer that.

So again, whereas not everyone has certain felt needs, absolutely everyone needs the saving work of Jesus Christ. And when we begin to preach that, we're going to begin to make progress, helping the called man or the called woman make it all the way over to that blessed position of being chosen. So, first notion that everything is okay, it is a notion that will ultimately keep a man or a woman from embracing the appearance of grace. Second notion, second notion that keeps mankind from the grace of God and from embracing this wonderful idea of the grace appearing, second notion may be summarized in the phrase, tolerance is divine. So, the second notion, tolerance is divine.

This is a notion that's hitting our young people quite hard these days. And don't misunderstand me, it's important to be tolerant, patient, loving, for all those who oppose us, those who don't have, don't share our beliefs. We must be tolerant, patient, loving, but it's a quantum leap from there to the contemporary wisdom which suggests that all views are equal, equally valid, and that no one dares speak about certainty in truth, or no one talk about right or wrong, or no one talk about absolute morals.

In fact, society's view today is becoming more and more where the only person to be feared in the 21st century is the one who talks about absolute truth, or moral absolutes. That's the one you got to fear, they say. That's the one who's suspect. No, they say tolerance is divine. So, if tolerance is divine, why would I ever be concerned about a little phrase like, for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men?

Tolerance. That's fine. That's just the Christian view.

I'm not interested in just the Christian view, you know. In fact, I'm going to go home on the computer and I'm going to give myself to a little religious consideration. I'm going to type up there what is out there in the different religious expressions, and they'll all be there, popped up on your computer screen. It's all there for you. Darwinism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, all mixed there. Oh, there's Christianism, you know. I don't know if I fit into any of those categories. Oh, there it is. There's the category right at the bottom. A big pale, if you will. The option for the person that doesn't fit in anywhere. Ah, perfect. Perfect for the individualism of the 21st century. I can make my own little religion. You can be your own little religion, they say. And tolerance is divine. There's no need to get worked up about these things. You know, it doesn't matter. There's no absolute truth, you see.

And with that notion then, and I hope the young people are listening, mankind, if you have that notion, they will tolerate just about anything. That's why you're seeing anything goes. You're your own little religion. Tolerance is divine. Anything goes. After all, who am I to judge? Who am I to say what's wrong? That she's sleeping with her boyfriend.

Well, we will say it's wrong. Why do we say it's wrong? Because the Bible says it's wrong.

God says it's wrong. How can you say it's wrong? How can you say anything's wrong? Well, God here, he reveals himself as a moral and righteous God, and he has moral and righteous commandments. And therefore, with morality, consequently, there's immorality. And with the grace of God appearing, immorality cannot be tolerated. So, yes, while we are, while we do express tolerance and love and patience, and while in our proclaiming, we get in the right posture, you got to get in the right posture, you got to get in the posture that you understand your own need of saving. That's the right posture. But with proper tolerance, love, a healthy understanding of our own saving, we proclaim that only God is divine, and only his law is divine, and only his truth is divine.

Oh, you're not going to suggest to me that this book here is a book of absolutes, and that God can determine what is morally acceptable? Yes, we are, in fact. As a church, we are. As we go to our schools, as we go to our work, God does not say tolerance is divine. Rather, he says his law is divine. And in the breaking of the law, there are wages to be paid. And God said, I'm going to take my son, and I'm going to nail him to a stake to deal with issues of wrong. And if you want to talk about tolerance, we need to proclaim that God will never tolerate the notion that tolerance is divine. Never. Tolerance is only divine when it's filtered through God's divine word. This notion is a powerful one, and it will keep the called man or woman to the extent that they hold on to this notion. It will keep them from moving, from being called again to the blessed position of being chosen. And we need to be effective in helping men and women move to that blessed position. So we've got to be thinking about these things. Why aren't they grabbing on to this? Why haven't they grabbed on to it like we have?

Well, that leads us to the final notion. Number three, the third notion that will keep mankind from embracing grace as the individual is called and appears to them. It is the notion that God will forgive because it's his obligation. That's the number three notion.

God will forgive the man or the woman because he's obliged to forgive me. He does that, you know. Therefore, why worry? Why the urgency then? Why the need to respond to this prick in my heart? This calling that I feel. God will forgive. It's his obligation. This third notion actually comes from ancient paganism. The thought that somehow God is bound to his worshippers, dependent upon, as it were, as they brought their offerings and presented their services, then God had to respond in this way. Thereby, God is not above the worshipper, but below the worshipper. They brought gifts and services, and so God was subservient to the pagan worshipper. So, in the mind of modern man, there is this similar feeling again, and it goes something like this. That somehow or another, God is obliged to love me. And God is obliged to accept us. And even if we don't turn to him, it is the belief that God will forgive even if we don't turn to him in humble obedience. After all, it's what he does. It's his obligation. What's our answer to that notion?

Well, we say, let me point out to you that the Bible says very clearly that prior to grace appearing, we can only expect from God justice. And with justice, mankind's only expectation was that of condemnation. And if God does the right thing in relation to my rebellion against him, he has no other conclusion to reach other than the fact that you and I stand in condemnation. The wages of sin is death. Have you ever thought about the fact that God does not owe us to prevent justice from taking its course? Have you ever thought about that? And justice without grace means condemnation. He's not obliged, then, to pity me. He's not obliged. He's not obliged to pardon me. And if he does, it is an act, we could say, of his own free will.

I can neither incline him, bargain for it, force his hand, because you know this, even in our whole cell, heartfelt turning to him, we are still sinful. Still sinful. And so his grace is freely given, and it proceeds from one who was free not to be gracious.

God is free not to be gracious.

So isn't it a great mystery that any of us would end up in the kingdom?

The truth is that this truth must dawn on every man and every woman that God was free to not be gracious to me. We must proclaim the fact that mankind cannot think of God, and he must forgive us it's his obligation, and that he must dismiss these wages. With the appearing of grace, he must dismiss these wages on me. Because the truth of the fact is that sin was dealt with at the highest of cost, that hid the life of his son. And rather than imputing our sins onto us, he imputed our sins onto his son. And so we're not speaking truth, and any pulpit is not speaking truth, if they say, God lets you off. God doesn't care. Don't feel bad as a sinner. It doesn't really matter. God's not counting your sins. Oh yes, he is. In fact, he's counting your sins. Absolutely. He's either going to be counting your sins against you, or he's counting against his son, but make no doubt, sins are being accounted for. And if he's gracious enough to count them against his son, then it's being counted at the highest of costs. Forgiveness comes on the shoulders of the one who would take the wages upon himself. Yet, so many hold on to the notion that God is obliged to put my wages on his son, and therefore forgive me whether or not I turn from my sinful ways. As long as mankind has that notion that sin is simply dismissed with no real price, they will never grasp the wonder and the glory of this grace appearing. Never.

And if they can't grasp it, they'll never change. If you and I can't grasp it, we'll never be transformed. Until it dawns on a man or a woman, until that sense, they will say, grace, very nice, but not necessary. Until it dawns, they will say, grace, very interesting, but irrelevant. But if one day, if one day there may be a call, a call to a man or a woman, maybe it's a call that God is wanting you to participate in, where grace appears at their heart and through the Spirit, God says to them, do you understand this? That whether or not you are forgiven for your sins, grace extended is a gift from God, and it's a decision that God makes and so that when when he does extend it to you, when you and I see this grace and I know you felt it, when you know that this grace has been extended to you and it appears in your life, it sweeps us off our feet and it puts us on our knees and it loosens our tongue in praise.

In fact, it's the response to grace which we heard this morning, wonderful, that has brought us here. It's our response to grace as to why we're honoring him on this eighth day. Has anyone asked you why you do what you do? Why do you go and observe on these peculiar days?

Why do you take 24 hours, the Sabbath day, Saturday, to dedicate yourself to God? Why do you do that? I wonder what your response would be. I'll tell you what your only response should be. I'm responding to grace. I have received such love, such undeserved love from God. I know I have and I'm so moved by it that I want to show my love back to him. And so I say, Father, show me how I can love you back. And he gives me his word. This is the relationship guidelines. And if you want to love me, search it in here.

I'll tell you exactly how you can honor my grace, how you can honor my love.

That's why we do what we do.

He asks you to come into a relationship with him. God's grace appears on an individual basis and personal basis. So we search the scriptures to find out how best he wants us to love him.

Men and women will never realize the reality of grace until they understand just what a wonderful gift. It's the most wonderful gift that could ever be received. Grace.

Well, let's conclude.

You see, in our proclaiming of the wonders of God's grace, we can offer nothing to humanity until we give them the knowledge of their need of grace. And at the moment the called man or called woman, once they acknowledge their ultimate need, we can then offer them the most wonderful gift the world has ever seen. It appeared and it came in the appearance of a wonderful Savior. We got to be moved by this. We have to be moved by this. Because if we're not moved by this, how do we ever expect to move the world?

So here on this eighth day, at the picturing of this conclusion of the great story of salvation, I commend to you the appearing of the grace of God, Jesus Christ our Savior. May his grace rest upon each one of us here today and forevermore.