1. The Doctrine of Salvation is called “Soteriology”
2. The word “soter” refers to the Lord Jesus as the Saviour
3. We cannot separate “Salvation” from the “Saviour”
THE PLAN OF SALVATION EXPLAINED
1. Nicodemus was a renowned Teacher of Israel
a) He came to the Lord Jesus because he was impressed
b) He concluded that the mighty deeds of the Lord reflected the power of God
2. The Lord Jesus proceeded to explain to Nicodemus God’s Plan of Salvation
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
a) God has a Kingdom
b) All are invited to enter into His kingdom
c) But the entrance into His kingdom is through being “born again”
3. Further explanation was given to Nicodemus
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:5-8
a) The Spirit of God causes this new birth to take place
b) It is an invisible work but it has very visible effects
THE PERSON OF THE LORD JESUS
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:13-17
1. The Lord Jesus came from Heaven as The Son of Man
2. He is “the only begotten Son of God”
a) He will be lifted up one day (a reference to His crucifixion)
b) All who believe in Him would have eternal life
c) He was sent to the world not to condemn the world
d) He came into the world to save it
3. Why would God do this?
a) Because of His great love
b) Because there is no other way to enter into His kingdom
c) The Salvation plan of God is deeply moving
WHY WOULD PEOPLE TURN AWAY FROM SALVATION?
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
John 3:18-21
1. God’s offer of salvation may be turned down
2. Wherein lies the condemnation?
a) People prefer darkness to Light
b) Many prefer deeds of evil
c) There are many who practise evil
d) They hate the Light
e) They will reject the Light because their evil deeds would be exposed
THOSE WHO WILL TURN TO THE LORD JESUS FOR SALVATION
1. They recognise who the Lord Jesus is
a) He is the Son of Man
b) But He is also the only begotten Son of God
2. They recognise their sinfulness
a) They acknowledge their sinfulness
b) They will seek salvation from faith in the Lord Jesus
AN INVITATION
1. To enter into the Kingdom of God
2. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
3. To receive everlasting life through faith
4. To rejoice and live a meaningful life as children of God