No question is more important than this. We make many important decisions in life regarding matters such as education, marriage, and occupation. But none is as transcending as that which affects our soul's eternity (Matt. 16:26). Unfortunately, religious groups give contradictory answers, but the result is misunderstanding if we isolate a verse or fail to accept all that the Bible says on a subject. In this lesson we shall survey the greatest story ever told as we learn why Christ died for us and what we must do to be saved by God's grace.

I. Salvation is God's Desire for All Men, 1 Tim. 2:4,6.

A. The provision of salvation is solely by God's grace, Eph. 2:8-9.

1. Why did Christ have to die? That God might be JUST, Rom. 3:26.

2. The just penalty for sin is death, Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23. Justice demands death for all who have sinned.

3. All men have sinned, Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23; 5:12.

4. God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to die in our stead, John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-11; Isa. 53:1-7.

B. Salvation is not by grace "ONLY."

1. If it were, then all should be saved, Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11.

a. God wants all to be saved 2 Peter 3:9 1 Tim. 2:4. b. Christ died for all men, 1 Tim. 2:6.

2. But all men will not be saved, Matt. 7:13-14.

3. The dividing line between lost and saved is man's part, which is faith, John 8:24; Heb. 11:6

4. Grace teaches obedient faith, Titus 2:11-12.

C. God is the JUSTIFIER of believers, Rom. 3:26.

1. We are saved by grace through faith, Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:24-25.

2. Salvation cannot be earned by meritorious works of either: (1) the law of Moses (Rom. 3:28-4:12); or (2) our own righteousness (Rom. 10:3; Titus 3:5).

3. We must have an obedient faith to walk with our Savior, Heb. 5:8-9. Christ Himself described this kind of faith as a "work of God," John 6:29.

D. Salvation is not by faith "only."

1. Saving faith is a faith that obeys God, James 2:14, 17, 24.

2. Those with "faith only" will be lost, John 12:42-43; Jas. 2:19.

3. By obedient faith we become servants of righteousness, Rom. 6:17-18, as we walk in the works God ordained, Eph. 2:10.

E. Grace and faith illustrated in Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

1. By grace - Israel did not escape by its own strength.

2. By faith - They obeyed a "work of God" by sprinkling the blood, Exo. 12:3-14; Heb. 11:28.

a. Were they safe after the lamb was slain?

b. Or because they "trusted" in the Lord only?

c. They were safe only when by faith they obeyed, Ex. 12:20-30.

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