Topical Sermon: Salvation is on the Other Side of the Water

Scripture Reading: Psalm 106:1-12

Salvation is on the Other Side of the Water

Intro.

1. Rom. 5:1-2: Two historic errors about God’s grace and our salvation:

a. Saved by grace only (without personal responsibility): “It is absurd to believe that God’s grace could be linked to anything like baptism.”

{Illus: I build a house (my $, time & effort) & offer it to you, but you must be baptized in water to receive my gift...Would You?}

b. Personal responsibility emphasized to the neglect of God’s grace (forget absolute helplessness without Christ) (Lk. 17:10).

2. A consistent, guiding principle in God’s dealings with mankind: Faith coupled with obedience brings salvation by grace, Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-12; Heb. 5:8-9.

3. Historic examples demonstrate important Bible truths:

a. God’s grace does not rule out instructions & our precise obedience.

b. Good works without God's grace can never save. (Rom. 3:23)

4. God often used water to grant man salvation by grace through faith: Salvation is on the other side of the water!

I. NOAH AND THE FLOOD.

A. God’s Grace Saved Noah, Gen. 6:5-8.

B. Noah’s Personal Responsibility Required, 6:13-21:

1. God's grace included instructions & strict obedience by Noah!

2. Noah's obedience, 6:22; 7:5.

C. Noah’s Obedient Faith was the Means through which God Granted His Grace, Heb. 11:7.

1. Action of faith secured God’s grace (Gen. 7:1).

2. New world (salvation) was on other side of water! 1 Pet. 3:20

II. ISRAEL AT THE RED SEA, Exo. 14:10-14.

A. God’s Grace Saved Israel, Exo. 14:30; Psa. 106:6-12.

B. Israel’s Responsibility Required, Exo. 14:15-16, 26.

1. Moses: Lift rod, etc., 14:16, 21, 26.

2. Israel: “Go forward,” went, 14:15, 22.

C. Israel’s Obedient Faith was the Means through which God Granted His Grace, Heb. 11:29.

1. Instructions given - Obedience required. (Faith in action)

2. Deliverance (salvation) was on the other side of the water!

III. NAAMAN AND HIS LEPROSY, 2 Kgs. 5:1-14.

A. God’s Grace Cleansed Naaman, cf. Lk. 4:27; 2 Kgs. 5:15.

B. Naaman’s Personal Responsibility Required, 5:9-14.

1. Instructions given, 5:10.

2. Rejected instruction - Not healed, 5:11-12.

3. Personal responsibility met (obeyed) – Healed, 5:13-14.

C. Naaman’s Obedient Faith was the Means through which God Granted His Grace, 5:10, 14.

1. Instructions - Obedience - Healing.

2. Healing (salvation) was on the other side of the water!

IV. THE MAN BORN BLIND, Jno. 9:1-7.

A. God’s Grace Gave Him His Sight.

1. Works of God, 9:3-4.

2. Jesus healed him, 9:14-15 (17), 21, 26, 30.

B. Man’s Personal Responsibility Required, 9:7.

1. Go...wash...in pool of Siloam (Sent).

2. When he obeyed, he was healed (9:10-11).

C. Man’s Obedient Faith was the Means through which God Granted His Grace, cf. 9:15, 25.

1. Was blind…Now see --- When he trusted Jesus & did what he said.

2. Specific instructions given & obeyed.

3. Sight (salvation) was on other side of water!

V. THE SINNER AND HIS SALVATION TODAY, Rom. 3:23-26.

A. God’s Grace Saves Man from Sin, Eph. 2:5, 8 (“gift of God” is salvation). (Eph. 1:7)

B. Our Personal Responsibility is Required in Order to Receive it, Eph. 2:8; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21. (Faith, Rom. 3:26)

C. Our Obedient Faith is the Means through which God Grants His Grace.

1. Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21. (Rom. 6:3-4)

2. Salvation is on the other side of the water!

Conclusion

1. No conflict between salvation by grace & the personal responsibility of obedient faith to obey the commands of God. (Lk. 17:10)

2. Remember: God's grace saves as we meet our personal responsibility to obey the word of Christ.

3. Hear, believe, confess faith, repent of sins and be baptized: Saved -- Be faithful to Jesus. Acts 2:38, 41-42