1. Salvation, What does it Mean?
(By Emerson Blythe)

A. Important message.
Our message today is going to be a very important message.

Have you ever gotten one of those sales pitches that reads: IMPORTANT MESSAGE: OPEN AT ONCE ? That is the way it is with our message today.

Have you ever received one of those letters that says, THIS COULD CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE ? The message today is so important that it could do more than change your entire life: IT COULD CHANGE YOUR ETERNITY!

The title of our message today is: SALVATION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The realization of the fact that we are dealing with eternity will shed new meaning on the topic of salvation. You see, you and I will always be around. It is important, as the Bible puts it: "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor.5:5).

The apostle Paul said, (Rom 10:1 KJV) "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."

B. Some people make light of it.

A lot of people make light of "salvation." When someone talks about someone being "saved" it is not uncommon to hear people snicker, and say something like, "How long do you think it will last?" --as if salvation were a joke, or a farce.

But salvation is for real. The need for salvation is real. And we need to pause and think of WHAT SALVATION MEANS.

C. Salvation means more than how you feel.

We used to hear a lot of talk about POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE. Some folk seem to think salvation is just how a person feels about him- or herself. --That it is just a positive mental attitude, or feeling good about one's self. But salvation is much more than that.
Salvation involves:
D. How God relates to you.

Salvation revolves around the question of: Do you know God---and does God know you. Of the Judgment Day, Jesus said, (Mat 7:22-23 KJV) "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

So salvation rerlates to the question, Does God know you? Will He accept you? Are you in right relationship with Him? Salvation has a lot to do with which road you are on: Are you on the road to Heaven, or are you on the road that leads to destruction?

E. Compare to physical salvation.

We know what it means to be "saved" in the physical sense. We read about people being "saved" from a burning building, or from a shipwreck at sea. Being SAVED means being rescued from emminent danger or ill fate.

We realize what it means to be lost in the physical realm. To be "lost" means that you are in need of being "saved." We talk about the "saved" and contrast them with those who are "lost." I'm afraid many people do not realize what it means to be spiritually "lost."

Jesus said, (Mat 18:11 KJV) "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."
He says, (Luke 15:4-10 KJV) "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? {5} And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. {6} And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. {7} I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. {8} Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? {9} And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. {10} Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

Concerning the Prodigal Son who had returned, the Father said, (Luke 15:32 KJV) "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

Those who are without salvation may not realize they are lost. Compare it to being lost in the woods. You walk for a long way, and are enjoying the day. You have no idea that finding your way out would be difficult until the sun sets, you find you are disoriented, and nothing looks familiar. You were "lost" all along but did not REALIZE it until the need arose. And then horror grabs your heart, for you realize that nightfall will bring on the darkness and the cold, and you are unprepared. You feel your hunger, and realize that you have nothing to eat. You begin to think of all the wild animals roaming the forrest, and realize that unless you are saved, you may die!

Yes, it is bad to be lost, even though you don't realize it until it is too late. And it is bad to be spiritually lost, too. The seriousness of being lost may not dawn upon you until some calamity befalls you, and God is not there; or in sickness or distress, death is knocking at your door. Then you will realize how terrible it is to be lost and without God in the world. The Bible depicts the lost as people who are walking about dead, and not realizing it, (1 Tim. 5:6). When mankind lifts his eyes to behold the eastern sky rending to reveal the coming Christ, and suddenly realizes he is lost--what a horror that will be! As John the beloved looked down through the annals of time, he saw that day. In describing it, he said, (Rev 6:14-17 KJV) "And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. {15} And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; {16} And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: {17} For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

F. About the soul and its eternal existence.

The Bible teaches that at death, the soul departs the body and lives on, (Ecc. 12:7). My soul, and your's, will live eternally in Heaven or in hell. Whether we are saved or not determines the place. The apostle Peter asks, (1 Pet 4:17-18 KJV) "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? {18} And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

And The apostle Paul answers: (2 Th 1:7-9 KJV) "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, {8} In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: {9} Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

That, my friends, is what it means to be saved.

G. After death, what then?

The story is told of a father who was talking to his teen-age son. "What are your plans for life, son?" the father asked. The son replied, "Well, I guess I'll stay in school and get my diploma." "That's fine," the father replied, "but what then?" "Well, I guess I'll go to a good college, and earn a degree." "That's fine, son, but what then?" "Well, I guess I'll get a good job with an established business where I can make a good living." "That's fine, son, but what then?" "Well, I guess I'll find the right girl, get married, settle down and raise a family." "That's fine, son, but what then?" "Well, I'll work hard, do a good job, prove my worth, and I might even get to be the president of the corporation one day." "That's fine, son, and what then?" "Well, I guess I'll build some security and retire with a good living, and take life easy for a while." That sounds good, son, but what then?" "Well," the son says, after hesitating for a moment, "I guess I'll eventually grow old and die, like everyone else." And the father says, "Yes, son... and what then???"

And that's the question for us all. We work hard and make plans for everything else, except for the salvation of our souls and the life to come... but we need to be thinking, "What then?"

H. Right with God in life important.

Being saved is important in regard to the hereafter. But it is also important in regard to this life. (1 Tim 4:8 KJV) "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." It pays to be on God's side here, and hereafter.

CONCLUSION: So, What does salvation mean?

Salvation means:
1. Being reconciled to God. (Col 1:21 KJV) "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled..."

2. Being "Justified". And that means being declared just, not on your own varacity, but on the merits of Christ. (Rom 5:1 KJV) "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

3. Being forgiven. (Col 2:13 KJV) "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."

4. Being made heirs. (Rom 8:16-17 KJV) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: {17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

5. Having an inheritance. (1 Pet 1:3-4 KJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

SALVATION MEANS MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE! --DO YOU HAVE IT?

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