Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Thanks to Phil Johnson

Thanks to Phil Johnson, who maintains the Spurgeon Archives and posted this a few days ago:

"The world is dull and sleepy, and utterly indifferent to the glory of God in the work of redemption. We need to tell it over and over and over again, that God is great in the salvation of his people.

There are many who will rise up and deny God's Glory; revilers of all sorts abound in rage; but over and above their clamor, let the voice of truth be heard, "Let God be magnified."

They cry, "the Bible is worn out." They doubt its inspiration, they question the deity of Christ, they set up new gods that have lately come up, that our fathers knew not.

Let us confront them with the truth, let us oppose them with the gospel, let us overcome them through the blood of the Lamb, using this one only war-cry, "Let God be magnified." Everywhere in answer to all blasphemy, in direct conflict with profanity, let us lift up this voice with heart and soul. "Let God be magnified."

-- Charles Spurgeon

Thursday, May 6, 2010

What does it mean to be "saved?"

What Does It Mean to be “Saved?” (Greek: sozo)

Titus 3:5 says “he saved us”

It means being saved from sin,
being rescued
• from sin,
• from sin’s power,
• from sin’s penalty,
being preserved therefore safe and unharmed
• from divine wrath,
• from judgment,
• from hell,
• from eternal punishment

We talk about being saved. We talk about salvation. We remember the words of the Apostle Paul who said in writing to Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15) Those who would otherwise have been doomed.
That’s what we’re saved “from” (the “negative” side)
We have been rescued from imminent disaster and deadly danger.

There is also what we’re saved “to” (the “positive” side)
• not only lifting us out of danger
but also putting us into blessing,
• not only delivering us from punishment
but also bringing us to glory,
• not only taking us out of the threat of hell
but also giving to us the hope of heaven,
• not only dismissing us from divine wrath
but also bringing us under divine blessing.

The word then carries the idea of being delivered, as Paul said, “out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son.” (Col 1.13)

Christ has rescued us out of sin and placed us into His body (the church), the very place of blessing. (Acts 2:47)
And so we know and love the word “saved.”
1 Peter 3:18 - “that he might bring us to God”

That’s what it means to be saved!

* Much of this comes from a John MacArthur sermon on Titus 3:1-8.