The Common Salvation

Temple Baptist Church - 2-17-2016

Jude 1-3

Introduction:  I may have to spend a couple of weeks on this sermon but it is imperative that we understand that salvation is the same for all.  It is a “common salvation.” 

A. The Book of Jude was one of the epistles written concerning the apostasy both present then and to come.  Everything God has every created has been attacked by Satan and his people.

1. Apostasy was already prevalent in Jude’s day – almost 2,000 years ago.  2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2. The spirit of Antichrist was there and disciples were being drawn away.  1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

B. The very foundation of our faith is now under satanic attack from both without and within.  Jude is all about infiltration! 

1.  Not everyone sitting on the pews of churches is saved. 

2.  Not everyone sitting on the pews of churches loves the Lord. 

3.  Not everyone sitting on the pews of churches loves the Word of God.

C. Before we get very far into this little epistle, I want us to look again at the description of the saved in these opening verses. 

1.  True Biblical salvation is indeed “common” to all of God’s children. 

a)  By “common,” the Bible is not referring to something cheap or inexpensive.  Salvation is free, not cheap.  It cost God His Son! Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

b)  By “common,” the Bible is not referring to something plenteous.  There is still a remnant according to the election of grace!  Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

c)  By “common,” the Bible means that salvation is the same for all of God’s children! 

2.  If you listen to the voices of “Christendom,” you will be completely confused!  There are so many “voices” out there that are clamoring for people’s attention.  Radio, Television, the internet, etc. are full of false doctrine and have very little truth. 

3.  What changed to create churches full of lost members?  The answer is very simple: people changed Biblical salvation to fit their own personal experience instead of following God’s way of salvation found in the Bible.  I have often said that we MUST conform our doctrine to the Bible, not make the Bible conform to our doctrine.  Now, we have many different ways to heaven instead of one way: God’s way that is found in the King James Bible.

4.  Some say that salvation is of works or personal merit; some say that salvation is a mixture of works or personal merit and faith; some say that salvation requires water baptism; some say that salvation requires you to be a member of their church; some say that salvation can be through Christ or Mary; some say that you must endure to the end in order to be saved; others, who are correct, say that salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ alone.

D. They have the same characteristics because they are born into the same family.  They have the same genetics or spiritual DNA!

1.  All are called from Sin to Christ!

2.  All are called from Vanity to Purpose!

3.  All are called from Ungodliness to Holiness!

4.  All are called from Dishonor to Honor!

E.  How are we saved?

John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (Salvation is a birth!  And, there are no exceptions to the rule!)

John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (The birth is a faith in the finished work of Christ.)

1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (The birth and faith are Bible based!)

Acts 16:30-31  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  (31)  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (Repentance and faith are necessary for salvation.)

F. All are changed from the old man and conformed to the new man.  We are all being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.  Not to be changed and conformed is not to be saved.  I understand that there are varying degrees of obedience among God’s children, but all have the Holy Spirit and all have desire.

G. Our Common Salvation is a finished work!  As it is God that begins a good work in us, it is He that performs it in us.  This is what makes us alike though we are so very different.  It is also what differentiates us from “Christendom.”

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Romans 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.  (The mercy and grace of God are both the spring and fountain of everything that we have or ever hope for.)

H. We all have the same salvation; the same Spirit; the same witness; and the same testimony.  Notice with me the reversal of order in verses 1 and 2.

1.  In Our Common Salvation We Find Sanctification – The means of sanctification is Multiplied Mercy (to separate from and to consecrate to) – vs. 1 (Sympathy)

a. We Are Sanctified Through His Will - John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

b. We Are Sanctified Through His Word - John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2.  In Our Common Salvation We Find Security – The fruit of our security is Multiplied Peace (to attend to and to take care of) – vs. 1  (Serenity)

a. We Are Powerfully Kept - 1 Peter 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

b. We Are Permanently Kept - John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

c. We Are Perfectly Kept - Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

3.  In Our Common Salvation We Find Seeking – The basis of our calling is Multiplied Love – vs. 1  (Sovereignty)

a. There Was A Sovereign Call (Do not let the word “sovereignty alarm you. God is completely sovereign but, in His sovereignty, He extended His call to salvation through grace alone. By sovereign call, the Bible simply says that God chose to save us through His marvelous grace, not by our works.)

1) The Call Came Through Grace Alone - 2 Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2) The Call Came Through the Gospel Alone - Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

b. There Was A Sovereign Choice – Matthew 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.  (My Bible says that, though the many are called, few are saved!  The difference is the choice! God’s sovereign choice was to save those who came to Him by faith!)

Proverbs 1:24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;  (Man has the choice to come to God or to refuse Him!)

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (God’s choosing came through our “belief of the truth.”)

c. There Was A Sovereign Conversion - Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (It is God’s way or the “highway” to hell!  Our salvation is a “common” salvation because it is inclusive to only those who come to God His way.)