One of Monday's Lessons

Salvation Equation: Gospel + Faith = Salvation

1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Romans 1:16, Ephesians 1:13

What is the Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

The gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ; who He is, what He did and what He accomplished. There are two parts to the Gospel…

1. Christ (the Messiah) died (what He did) for (in the place of) our sins (all of mankind are sinners) in accordance with the Scriptures (explains the meaning & significance of Jesus dying for our sins) that He was buried (proved that Jesus did in fact physically die).

2. He (same Messiah) was raised on the third day (what He did) in accordance with the Scriptures (explains the meaning & significance of Jesus physically rising again on the third day) and that He appeared (proved that Jesus did in fact physically rise again)…

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 4:20-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 20:21

Faith is the response of confidence towards, reliance upon, surrendered dependence to, sure hope in, joyous tasting of, complete trusting in Jesus Christ, His person, His death on the cross as full payment for your sins, His powerful resurrection that brings new life & His promise to give eternal life, His life to all who will trust solely in Him to save them.

Gospel + Faith + Doing good works = Salvation NOT SALVATION

Gospel + Faith + Being water baptized = Salvation NOT SALVATION

Gospel + Faith + Anything = Salvation NOT SALVATION

NOTE: If a person adds anything to the Gospel (let him be accursed-Gal. 1:8-9) or if anyone adds anything to faith (it is no longer on the basis of grace and is therefore not real faith (see Rom. 4:4-6, 16, 11:6) it is NO LONGER SALVATION.

THE TRUTH…

Gospel + Faith = Salvation + Water baptism + Good works + Confessing your sins

NOTE: Water baptism, doing good works, confessing your sins are all examples of obedience to Christ once a person has by faith in Christ become a Christian.

NOTE: The faith that saves is never alone…once a person trusts Christ; their faith in Christ will produce good works. If a person professes to have trusted Christ as their Savior and yet does not walk with Jesus Christ, their profession is suspect—i.e. may not be real. Just because someone says they are a Christian, doesn’t mean they actually are a Christian (see Matthew 7:21-22).