We have looked at several things regarding salvation in our pevious studies:

a. What salvation means
b. Who needs it
c. How we ought to appreciate it.

In all these studies one thing in particular has remained prominent: The importance of salvation; the sadness of being lost, the importance of being saved.

If we don't already have salvation, we know that we need it, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," (Rom.3:23).

Our topic today is: Salavation, where do you get it?
This may seem obvious to most of us, but for a person seeking salvation, it is a most important question.

You don't go cutting down trees looking for gold: you know it is found in the earth. You don't go digging in the earth looking for turpentine, or maple syrup, because you know each comes from a tree. You don't go to a grocery store to buy a coat. You don't go to a clothing store to buy a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk. You don't go to the hardware store to buy gas, or to the filling station to buy a pound of nails. If you want something, you need to know where it is found!

When Jesus was born, the wise men had to enquire where Jesus should be born, or they would have been seeking him in the wrong place.

When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents sought him, but they did not find him because they were looking in the wrong place. They were seeking Him among the relatives, but instead He was back in town, in the temple. They did not find Him until they looked in the right place! (Lk 2:41ff)

When Jesus was resurrected, the angels asked, why are you seeking the living among the dead? They were trying to find Jesus in the tomb. Needless to say, they did not find him there, for they were looking in the wrong place.

Like Ponce De Leon's elusive fountain of youth which he sought in Florida and never found, salvation is elusive if it is sought in the wrong place.

In Romans chapters 9 and 10, the Apostle Paul pointed out that the Jews did not find salvation because they were looking for it in the wrong place.
(Rom 9:30-33 NKJV) "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; {31} but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. {32} Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. {33} As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."" (Rom 10:1-3 NKJV) "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. {2} For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. {3} For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."

(Jer 2:13 KJV says:) "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

You don't find water in a broken cistern, and you don't find salvation in false religion!

The Bible tells us clearly that there is only one source for salvation. (Acts 4:10-12 KJV) "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

So I tell you without reservation today that Jesus Christ is the ONLY source of salvation under the sun. I know it is being "narrow-minded" to say that. I know it is not politically correct to state that one religion is better than another. I realize that it is not mannerly to say that other religions, as Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Shinto, Judaism, and Islam are powerless to save--but if you want true salvation you must look not to any of these, but to the Jesus of the Bible.

The Bible speaks of a god that cannot save. (Isa 45:20 KJV) "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save."

Let's think of some places people look for salvation where is not to be found:

Salvation does not come by time--by waiting (for sins to be forgotten.)
Sometimes two family members will become estranged by some unkind deed or hurtful wrong. Instead of making any effort to reconcile, many times they simply wait for time to heal. After many years have passed they may tend to forget the wrong and restore their friendship.

Some people seem to think that salvation can come about by the same means--by smply waiting for God to forget where we have wronged Him and let us be his friends again. Salvation does not come about by time. God does not forget. There must be something more to take away our sins.

Salvation does not come about by self-abasement or self sacrifice.
Some seek salvation through self abasement and self sacrifice. We think salvation comes about by merely punishing ourselves for the wrong we have done. This is no new idea. Some had it as far back as Bible times. It wouldn't work then, and it won't work now. (Col 2:20-23 KJV) "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, {21} (Touch not; taste not; handle not; {22} Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? {23} Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

(Col 2:18-19 KJV) "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, {19} And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."


Salvation does not come from self at all.
(Eph 2:8-9 KJV) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."

(Isa 64:6 KJV) "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."


Does not come about by money, silver or gold.
(Psa 49:6-9 KJV) "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; {7} None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: {8} (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) {9} That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption."

(1 Pet 1:18-21 KJV) "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; {19} But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: {20} Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, {21} Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."


Does not come from the wisdom of men.
(1 Cor 2:1-8 KJV) "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. {2} For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. {3} And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. {4} And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: {5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. {6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: {7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: {8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."


Does not come from men.

Does not come from any other religion than Christianity.

Does not come from false doctrine.
(John 8:31-32 KJV) "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; {32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

(2 Th 2:12 KJV) "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

If you want salvation, look to the Bible.
(2 Tim 3:14-17 KJV) "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; {15} And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. {16} All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

(Col 2:8-9 KJV) "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. {9} For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

(Rom 1:16-17 KJV) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. {17} For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Salvation is found in the Lord's church
(1 Tim 3:14-15 KJV) "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: {15} But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

(Eph 3:8-12 KJV) "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; {9} And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: {10} To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, {11} According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: {12} In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."


So, where can you find salvation? If you are seeking salvation, go to the Lord's church, go to the Bible, and they will point you to the Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12 KJV) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

(John 3:17 KJV) "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Salvation does not come from a man-made gospel, a perverted gospel, or a watered-down gospel. It comes from the gospel of Christ that points us to salvation through His blood. (Rev 1:5 KJV) "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood..."

(1 John 1:7 KJV) "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Are you seeking salvation today? We have seen where it can be found!

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