“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone

who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

-- Romans 1:16

GOOD NEWS:There is SALVATION in Christ!

ConsiderThree Descriptions of Salvation...

I. Discovering Bread

(2 Kings 7)

Three Descriptions of Salvation

At the entrance of the city gate, four leprous men were considering

their options (2 Kings 7:3-4).

“3Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and

they said to one another, ‘Why are we sitting here until we die?’”

At the entrance of the city gate, four leprous men were considering

their options (2 Kings 7:3-4).

“4If we say, 'We will enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we

shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” -- 2 Kings 7:3-4

“6For the LORD had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the

noise of chariots and the noise of horses; the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, ‘Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the

kings of the Egyptians to attack us!’”

“7Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact; their tents, their horses, and their donkeys; and they fled for their

lives.”-- 2 Kings 7:6-7

“And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went

into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold

and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and

entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and

hid it.”-- 2 Kings 7:8

“Then they said to one another, ‘We are not doing right. This day is a

day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go

and tell the king's household.’”-- 2 Kings 7:9

“And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which

the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king.” -- 2

Kings 7:15

“33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives

life to the world.34Then they said to Him, ‘Lord, give

us this bread always.’

35And Jesus said to them, ‘I am

the bread of life. He who comes

to Me shall never hunger, and he who

believes in Me shall never

thirst.’”-- John 6:33-35

“Evangelism is one beggar

telling another beggar where to

find Bread.”

Salvation can be described as a starving man finding the

Bread of Life.

II. Saved from Drowning

(cf. Matthew 14:25-33)

Three Descriptions of Salvation

Due to OUR own wrong choices, you and I are much like Shane: drowning

in our sins, destined to die, and powerless to save ourselves.

“30But when [Peter] saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save

me!’”

“31And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” -- Matthew

14:30-31

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,

But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!When nothing else could help

Love lifted me!”-- James Rowe

Salvation may be described as a drowning man being rescued from

sin.

III. Released from a Debt

(Luke 7:36-50)

Three Descriptions of Salvation

“37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the

Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,”

“38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” -- Luke 7:37-

38

The Pharisee said to himself: “If this man were a prophet, He would know who and what manner of woman this

is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

-- Luke 7:39

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” -- Romans 3:23

“41There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five

hundred denarii, and the other fifty.”

“And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave

them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” -- Luke

7:41-42

“Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave

more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’”

-- Luke 7:43

Sin is a debt that we owe

to God.

“In Him we have

redemption through His blood, the

forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of

His grace.”-- Ephesians

1:7

“18…Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,

like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from

your fathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without

blemish and without spot.”-- 1 Peter 1:18-19

“He paid a debt He did not owe;I owed a debt I could not pay;

I needed someone to wash my sins away.

And now I sing a brand new song, “Amazing Grace.”

Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.”

-- Ellis J. Crum

Three Descriptions of SalvationDiscovering Bread

Rescued from DrowningReleased from Debt

Have you partaken of the Bread of Life?

Have you been rescued by the One who can save you from drowning in

sin?

Have you accepted the Forgiving Creditor’s offer of release from your

debt of sin?