What It Means to Be Saved

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-11-2026

Psalms 40:1-3

 

Introduction: 

A.  Psalm 40 is Davidic.  In this Psalm, we find David calling out to the Lord for deliverance and God delivering him.  A beautiful type of our salvation today.  We call out to the Lord for deliverance, and God saves us.

 

B.  The words “salvation,” “saved,” and “save” are found in both the Old and New Testaments. 

 

1.  “Salvation” is found 119 times in the Old Testament and 45 times in the New Testament.  The words “save” or “saved” are found 347 times in the Old Testament and 122 times in the New Testament. 

 

2.  These words give a wonderful insight into what it means to be saved.  When we mention being saved to the lost, there is much confusion in their minds as to what the word “saved” means biblically. 

 

3.  In the Old and New Testaments, these words are used to describe what someone else does for a person.  Normally, in the Old Testament, the word gives the meaning of deliverance and safety, brought about by others. 

 

4.  When either Israel or an individual encountered a problem, they cried unto the Lord, and He delivered them to a place of safety.  David often found himself in such a case and cried into the Lord for deliverance many times.  He always found God to be faithful!

 

5.  These words are used in the same way in the New Testament also.  Salvation and safety are of the Lord!  It is something that God does for us and to us.

 

6.  In the New Testament, the normal use of the word speaks of redemption and security.  God does deliver us in our circumstances on occasion and place us in a place of safety, but I want to use these verses to illustrate just what happens to the child of God when they are redeemed.

 

C.  Those of us who are saved will find within these verses the marvelous wonders of our salvation.  I fear that we often forget just what God did for us when He redeemed us.  It is no wonder that the Holy Ghost called it “so great a salvation” in the second chapter of the Book of Hebrews.

 

Hebrews 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

 

D.  Tonight, I just want to look at these verses and spend a little time thanking God for His wonderful goodness to this preacher.  Today, while the world is going mad, I am saved—secured—and satisfied with my Saviour!

 

E.  In these verses, we find the dilemma of the Sinner.  The sinner must realize where he is before he can be saved.  If you never get lost, you will never get saved.  So many people believe that they are alright and have always been alright with God.

 

a.  The Unsaved Are In A Low Place – If you are unsaved tonight, you are in a low place.  This wicked world will eat you alive.  Your wicked flesh will eat you alive.  Satan will have his will in your life.

 

b.  The Unsaved Are In A Horrible Place – King David said, “There is but a step between me and death!”  What a horrible place to be in if you are unsaved.  I am in the same place, but that last step will begin my eternity with the Lord.

 

c.  The Unsaved Are In A Miry Place – If you are unsaved this morning, you cannot pull yourself out of where you are.  You may become a millionaire, but you will still be lost.  You may become famous, but you will still be lost.  You may even be what we call a good person, but you will still be lost.

 

1.  The Call Of The Hopeless – Verse 1.

 

a.  There Was A Recognition Of Need – The psalmist saw where he was: a horrible pit.  There are two reasons why people do not get saved.  Some simply do not want the Lord Jesus Christ and love their sin.  Others never realize that they are lost and have need of salvation.  Their religion makes them feel good about themselves.

 

b.  There Was A Realization Of Hopelessness – The psalmist recognized his inability: miry clay.  If you are lost this morning, you will never get saved as long as you think that you have the slimmest hope of making it by yourself.

 

c.  There Was A Resolve To Cry Out – The psalmist turned to the only One who could help: the Lord.  If you are lost this morning, your only help and hope is Jesus Christ.

 

2.  The Deliverance Of The Saviour – Verses 1-2.

 

a.  He Inclined His Ear – The Lord awaits with anticipation for the cry of the lost.  He is not willing that any should perish.  His ears are open and waiting for the repentant sinner to call.

 

b.  He Heard The Cry – The Lord hears their faintest cry.  He hears both the cry of their lips and the cry of their hearts.  He has never turned away anyone who has come to Him by faith, and He never will.  You whisper a sinner’s prayer, and He hears.

 

c.  He Brought Him Out – There is not one sinner, no matter what he has done and no matter where he is, that the Lord cannot immediately and completely save.  He is able to bring them out of whatever situation they are in.

 

3.  The Position Of The Saint – vs. 2-3

 

a.  He Set His Feet Upon A Rock – What a standing!  A Rock so secure that no power in heaven or on earth can move it.  Jesus Christ is the Rock of our salvation, and we are so secure that nothing past, present, or future can move us or remove us!

 

b.  He Established His Goings – We that are saved are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.  I will deal a little more with this in a few moments, but He establishes our goings, not we ourselves.  It is God and all of God!

 

e.  He Filled His Heart With Joy – The Lord brought a new life to each and every believer.  A “new song” that is different from the songs of the world.  A joy unspeakable and full of glory!

 

4.  The Change Of The Redeemed – Verse 4.

 

a.  It Is An Inward Change – We become new creatures.  An old preacher once said, “If you ain’t changed, you ain’t saved!”  I wholeheartedly agree.  Therefore, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  It all begins with a heart change.

 

b.  It Is An Outward Change – The child of God begins to conform to the image of the Son of God.  To be Christian is to be like Christ.  “Christian” has become a generic term to represent anyone and everyone who has any religion where the name of Christ is mentioned.  God’s people act like God’s people.

 

c.  It Is An Observed Change – You confess with your mouth that the Lord Jesus is Lord, for sure, but your life will reflect the Lord Jesus, and the world will know that you are saved. They will not only observe your life change but also fear. The life of the saved “shows up” the lives of the lost in a right way and points them to Christ.

 

Conclusion:  Never, never forget where God brought you from to where you are today.  Blessed assurance is a vital part of the redeemed's heritage.  What a blessing to be saved, know it, and show it!