Saved Soul, Lost Life?

What do we mean when we say saved, regenerated, born again, etc. “Communication is not simply a process of taking meaning out of words; it is also the process of putting meaning into words.” Many times we find we are using the same words, but getting different meanings.
John 5:1-14, Mark 10:17-22, Living of James 2:14-20

I: Problems We Confront:
1. Ones view of being saved influences the way he enters into Christian life.
2. To some it may mean an easy way to escape Hell and gain Heaven.
3. To some it means embarking on a life’s mistake.
4. To some it means salvation of the soul with no interference in daily living.
5. To some it is a completely new way of life.
6. To some it may mean adding a little room for God.
7. To others it means a new master has taken control.

II: Cheap Grace or Costly Grace: No Cheap Way to Salvation.
1. Our weakness’s in falling to lead people into a deeper conversion of the total man.
2. We preach that a person saved by grace but we fail to help them understand how costly it was to God.
a. Grace cost God his son. Cost complete surrender. (That is not cheap Grace.)
3. The “big job” is not completed at conversion, but just begun.
4. It is wrong to assume that one just automatically becomes a mature Christian. (Christian character does not come automatically).
5. Undeveloped Christians do not become fervent soul winners (5,000 S.B Churches).

III: The Gift of God, Grace, and Works.
1. What constitutes saving faith.
“By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourself; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 but we fail to quote vs. 10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he hat faith, & have not works? Can faith save him…? James 2:14, 19-20.
2. Benhoeffer to the Lutheran Church, 1937: “Cheap grace has turned back upon us like a boomerang.”
3. Southern Baptist — 5,000 church no conversions 30 church members a year to win one to Christ. Non resident members and none active members.

IV: Saving Faith.
1. What is saving faith? “Faith without works is dead.”
2. Saving faith produces life according to the will of God. Life contrary to the will of God denies faith in God.
3. The only way we can tell saving faith is by its fruits.
4. Saving faith involves the whole walk of life. “Walk worthy.” means life is an expression of what is in his heart.
5. “The Christian is not allowed the Luxury of following his own desires and pleasures.” Findley B. Edge.
6. Too often sacrifice is something we agree to but rarely live by.
“A faith which a person is not trying to share is not genuine.” Trueblood.
7. Too often the “decision for Christ” is the desire to escape Hell and share in Heaven but live for self.

Salvation is a free pass into Heaven regardless of the quality of living. (Actor Gregory Walcott). Saved soul, lost life?