John 5:24       SIMPLY SAVED

Intro: Ill. Moses’ simple shepherd’s pipe. Transformed by all the decorations, it no longer contained to power to play the notes that would call the sheep. What a picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Men have added so many trappings and so much decoration to what was simple and effective plan that they have stripped the Gospel of its power to save the soul.

           Many feel that you have to embellish the gospel so that it is a little harder to get in. Others want to doctor the doctrine just a little to make it more appealing to the hearers. All the clever inventions of men can never improve on a Gospel that was perfect from the beginning.

           If there has ever been a need for preaching that was Biblical and gun barrel straight, it is today, the day in which we live. For us to be able to fully understand exactly what the gospel is, I feel that we must return to the source of the gospel. In this one, simple verse, the Lord Jesus declares the gospel in a clear and easy to understand manner. I want us to look one more time at being Simply Saved.

 

 I.  THE CONDITIONS OF SALVATION

A.  Men Must Hear The Word - Rom. 10:17. Before it can be believed, the Gospel must be heard. God’s plan for hearing includes preaching - 1 Cor. 1:21. (Ill. What the        Gospel is - 1 Cor. 15:3-4. It is the story of the death, the burial and the    resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.) (Ill. Not just external hearing, but a hearing with the heart! That is the work of the Spirit of God, Eph. 2:1; John 6:44) (Ill. It needs to be kept simple!)

B.  Men Must Heed The Word - (Ill. Believeth) Hearing must be taken a step further and put into action, by believing the message delivered. (Ill. Not a casual ascent to the facts - James 2:19) This type of belief is an absolute conviction of the entire being. This is a conviction that makes the lost sinner realize that every word concerning Jesus is true; that he stands in need of help; that Jesus is the only way! It is the response of faith to the call of God - John 6:44; Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9. By believing in Jesus, one believes in the Father. Have you taken this step?

 

 II.  THE CHARACTER OF SALVATION

A.  It Is A Present Possession - (Ill. Hath!) The saved are not waiting to be saved, we are saved! It is an ongoing thing, but it is as good as done! (Ill. Rom. 8:28-39) (Ill. Eph. 2:6) (Ill. John 17:20-26 - GLORY!!) (Ill. Progressive!)

B.  It Is A Perfect Possession - It is a done deal! It will never be changed or done away with! (John 6:37; 10:27-29) (Ill. Can’t get unsaved - Heb. 6:4-6)

C.  It Is A Powerful Possession - It produces a total change of life, 2 Cor. 5:17! (Ill. From death to life!) From dead works to living works - Eph. 2:1-4; Gal. 5:16-25. It makes dead people live, Gal. 2:20.

 

III.    THE COMFORT OF SALVATION

A.  It Preserves The Saved - 1 Pet. 1:5. We stand preserved in Jesus - FOREVER! (Ill. Isa. 54:17)

B.  It Protects The Saved - (Ill. No condemnation!)We are protected from Hell, and from judgment! We can never be convicted, there just isn’t any evidence against us anymore - Rom. 8:1; Col. 2:13-14. (Where is sin? Psa. 103:12ff – Follow the trail!) (Ill. Rom. 5:9; John 3:18; 36!)

 

Conc: Are you saved today? Have you cast yourself on Jesus by faith on Jesus and His saving grace alone? You’ve been thinking about it. Do you know why? It is the Lord that has brought such things to your mind. He is calling you and He wants you to bow to His will. Come today and be saved from your sins.