I. What is salvation?
Many religions speak of 'Salvation'... what does that term mean? Why do I need to be
saved and what do I need to be saved from?
Pastoral Response
The term salvation implies being rescued from something ... for example, being
rescued from harm, danger, or, ultimately from sin, death, hell, and the tyrranny of
Satan. The essence of salvation concerns our immortal souls spending an eternity in heaven
with God rather than an eternity in the terrors and torments of Hell separated from God
due to the breaking of His laws.
We in fact will begin this study with the Law of God as described in the Ten
Commandments since many people are familiar with them and claim that they live their lives
by them and have some basic understanding that God will judge us according to our
adherence to them.
Supporting Verses
Exodus 20:1-17
1. And God spake all these words, saying, 2. I [am] the LORD thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3. Thou
shalt have no other gods before me. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath,
or that [is] in the water under the earth: 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor
serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; 6.
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7. Thou
shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him
guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10. But the seventh day [is] the sabbath
of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is]
within thy gates: 11. For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day,
and hallowed it. 12. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the
land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13. Thou shalt not kill. 14. Thou shalt not
commit adultery. 15. Thou shalt not steal. 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbour. 17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor
any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.
Historical Context (Exodus 20:1-17)
Having miraculously delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, God now gathers them
together at Mt. Sinai and is about to enter into a covenantal relationship with them by
giving to His people His Holy Law through His servant Moses, as He promised that He would
do. He has inscribed this Law by His own finger on two tablets of stone. The summary of
this Law is commonly know as the Ten Commandments.
Study Questions (Exodus 20:1-17)
1. What do you suppose God means when He says 'Thous shalt have no other gods before
me?'
2. Is there anything or anyone that you love, think of or admire more than God?
3. What do you suppose God's underlying command is in the second commandment (v4-6)?
4. Do you think that you have always worshipped God in the way that He wants to be
worshipped?
5. What do you suppose God means when He says, 'Thou shalt not take the name of the
LORD thy God in vain'?
6. Have you ever used the name of God or Jesus in an improper manner, either as an
expletive or in an irreverent manner?
7. What do you suppose God means when He says 'Remember the sabbath day, to keep it
holy'?
8. Have you always kept the sabbath day holy by not doing your own will on that day?
9. What do you suppose God's underlying command is in the fifth commandment (v12)?
10. Do you believe that you have always honoured your father and mother?
11. Have you always honoured all authority figures over you?
12. What do you suppose God's underlying command is when He says, 'Thou shalt not
kill'?
13. Have you ever hated anyone?
14. What do you suppose is the scope and intent of God's command, 'Thou shalt not
commit adultery'?
15. Have you ever lusted after anyone in your heart?
16. What do you suppose is the scope and intent of God's command, 'Thou shalt not
steal'?
17. Have you ever taken something that was not yours, or cheated your employer in any
way or cheated on your taxes?
18. What types of behavior is God condemning in the ninth commandment?
19. Have you ever slandered anyone or defamed anyone's character or reputation?
20. What attitudes and actions is God condemning in the tenth commandment?
21. Have you ever desired something that someone else had or have you ever been
discontent or dissatisfied with your own lot in life?
22. In what way is the tenth commandment related to the other nine?
23. How many of the Ten Commandments have you kept perfectly?
Cross References (Exodus 20:1-17)
Matthew 10:37-37, Isaiah 58:13-14, Matthew 15:4-4, 1 John 3:15-15, Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 5:28-28, Colossians 3:5-5, 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Commentary (Exodus 20:1-17)
As is true in any covenant, there are also two parties involved in the covenant which
is established here in Exodus 20. God is setting forth for His people what He has done for
them and goes on to pronounce certain blessings which He promises for their obedience as
well as certain curses which will come upon them due to their disobedience. This is God's
Moral Law which is binding on all people in all times and all places.
Please take note of the fact that the Ten Commandments are divided into Two Tables: The
first four commandments deal with our relationship with God, whereas commandments 5-10
concern our relationship with our fellow man. Thus the first and greatest commandment said
Jesus is to "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength",
and the second like unto it is to "Love thy neighbor as thyself".
James 2:10-11
10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one
[point], he is guilty of all. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do
not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor
of the law.
Historical Context (James 2:10-11)
In James 1:1 we learn that he is writing to believers who were scattered among the
nations due to severe persecution and were going through severe trials. Therefore, we find
that we cannot make any excuses for our failure to pursue and seek to uphold the high
standard which God sets before us in his law.
Study Questions (James 2:10-11)
1. What do you suppose the 'whole law' is that James talks about in this passage?
2. What do you suppose is meant by phrase 'offend in one point'?
3. What do you suppose being 'guilty of all' refers to?
Cross References (James 2:10-11)
Matthew 22:34-40, 1 John 1:8-9
Commentary (James 2:10-11)
From this passage we learn that every man, woman and child who ever lived is a
transgressor of the law, having violated even a single portion of the law a countless
number of times. Therefore, there is no one who stands guiltless before God.
Hebrews 9:27-27
27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Study Questions (Hebrews 9:27-27)
1. Have you ever considered your own mortality and that one day you will indeed die?
2. How would you feel standing before an earthly judge having committed a crime?
3. How would you feel standing before an omnipotent Judge, having committed hundreds of
thousands of crimes?
4. What would a just punishment be for a person who has committed numerous crimes
[sins] against a Holy God?
Cross References (Hebrews 9:27-27)
Genesis 2:16-17, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Commentary (Hebrews 9:27-27)
No one likes to think about death... especially their own! However, the reality of life
includes the certainty of death for every person who has ever lived. The question is,
"Are we ready to face death"?
Matthew 12:36-36
36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Historical Context (Matthew 12:36-36)
Jesus speaks these words in the context of differentiating the good from the bad, the
saved from the lost, the kingdom of God from the kingdom of Satan. He indicates that the
words we speak play an important role in helping to distinguish one from the other.
Study Questions (Matthew 12:36-36)
1. What do you suppose is meant by the term 'every idle word'?
2. What do you suppose some sins of speech would consist of?
3. If God will be judging even incidental speech, what do you suppose the severity of
His judgment concerning our actions will be?
Cross References (Matthew 12:36-36)
Matthew 15:16-19, James 3:3-12
Commentary (Matthew 12:36-36)
Considering the seriousness with which God views every word we speak, how diligent each
one ought to be in putting a guard upon our lips and thoughts. Please note that the Bible
says whether or not we will win this battle begins not with our speech but with our hearts
which must be cleansed through the shed blood of Christ and sanctified [made holy] by His
Holy Spirit.
Revelation 20:11-15
11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12. And I
saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works. 13. And the sea gave up the
dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and
they were judged every man according to their works. 14. And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Historical Context (Revelation 20:11-15)
The Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
while in exile on the island of Patmos for the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In
this inspired vision, the Lord Jesus showed him things that would take place throughout
the history of the world, culminating in Christ's ultimate victory over Satan and the
ultimate victory of the Kingdom of God over the powers of darkness. The triumph of the
Church of Jesus Christ is viewed through several different imageries which all convey the
central theme of the salvation of God's people.
Study Questions (Revelation 20:11-15)
1. What thoughts or feelings come to mind when you visualize a great white throne in
heaven?
2. What do you suppose is meant by 'earth and heaven fleeing' from the presence of the
One who is seated on the throne?
3. Who do you believe is being refered to by the phrase 'the small and the great'?
4. What does the imagery of the 'record books' convey?
5. What do you suppose is the meaning of the sea and death and Hades giving up their
dead?
6. What do you suppose is meant by the 'second death'?
7. What do you suppose is meant by the 'Lake of Fire'?
8. Who shall be cast into the Lake of Fire?
9. Do you consider having your name written in the Book of Life as being important?
10. What is salvation? Why do you need to be saved? What are you being saved from?
Cross References (Revelation 20:11-15)
Revelation 21:1-8, Revelation 22:1-5
Commentary (Revelation 20:11-15)
The imagery of the great white throne reminds us that all men will one day have to give
an account to God for every thing that they have ever said and done. The fact that earth
and sky fled from his presence indicates the awesome fearfulness with which all of
creation views this Almighty God. The reference to 'record books' indicates that no one
and nothing will be exempt from or overlooked at the time of the final judgment. Indeed,
even those whose bodies were cast into the sea and had already died will be called to give
an account on that day. Only those whose names are found written in the Book of Life by
God's grace through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will not be thrown into the
Lake of Fire (which is the second death).
Chapter 2 - How Many Ways or Means of Salvation Are There?
