Saved By What?
The Analogy of the
Heart Attack
Imagine this: a man
suddenly collapses during dinner, clutching his chest. His wife
calls 911. EMTs arrive quickly. CPR fails, so they use a
defibrillator. His heart starts beating again. Now ask—what saved
him? His wife, for calling? The phone? The EMTs? The defibrillator?
The ambulance? All were essential. Take away any part and he would
have died. None alone saved him—but together, they did. This
perfectly illustrates the layered nature of spiritual salvation.
Scripture never attributes salvation to one element alone. Salvation
is the result of several essential components working in harmony.
Salvation Is a Gift
from God
Romans 6:23 says,
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord." Salvation is a gift. God was not
obligated to offer it. Out of love, He chose to. Gifts, however,
must be accepted. John 3:16 affirms this: God gave His Son, but
eternal life is for those who believe. John 6:27 ties together grace
and human response: labor for the food which endures to eternal
life, which the Son of Man will give. We labor—not to earn
salvation—but to receive it.
Salvation Requires
Good Works
Romans 2:6–7 teaches
that God will render eternal life to those who patiently continue in
doing good. This contradicts the idea that everyone receives
salvation unconditionally. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13–14 that few
will find the narrow road. Salvation is offered to all—but most
reject it. That’s why it’s unbiblical to say we are saved by God
alone. Universal salvation is not scriptural.
Salvation Involves
Faith—But Not Faith Alone
John 3:16 and 1 John
5:13 show the necessity of belief. But James 2 makes clear that
faith without works is dead. A lifeless faith—one not accompanied by
action—cannot save. Noah is our example (Hebrews 11:7): he believed
God’s warning but wasn’t saved until he built the ark. Faith must
move us to obey. Salvation requires a living, obedient faith.
We Are Saved by
Grace—Not Grace Alone
Ephesians 2:5,8 says
we are saved by grace through faith. Grace is God’s favor, unearned
and unmerited. But Paul is not teaching salvation by grace alone.
James teaches that works matter; Paul himself says the works that do
not save are those done apart from Christ. So we are not saved by
works alone either—but obedient works in response to grace are
essential.
Obedience Is
Required
James 1:22 says we
must be doers of the word, not hearers only. Hebrews 5:8–9 states
that Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey
Him. Jesus Himself, in Matthew 7:21–23, warns that not all who say
“Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom—but only those who do the will
of the Father. Obedience, therefore, is not optional.
Salvation Comes
Through the Blood of Christ
Matthew 1:21 tells
us that Jesus came to save His people from their sins. Revelation
1:5 reveals how—He washes us from our sins in His blood. His blood
is what redeems us. But how do we contact that blood? Romans 6
teaches that baptism is the point where we die to sin and are buried
and raised with Christ. In baptism, our sins are washed away (Acts
22:16).
Conclusion
So what saves us?
God saves us. Faith saves us. Grace saves us. Obedience saves us.
Christ’s blood saves us. Baptism saves us. But none of these things
saves us alone. Remove one, and salvation is incomplete. Like the
heart attack victim, every element matters. The Bible never says we
are saved by any one thing alone.
Sermon Outline –
Saved By What?
1.
Introduction: The Heart Attack Analogy
2.
Salvation Is a Gift – Romans 6:23; John 3:16; John 6:27
3.
Salvation Requires Good Works – Romans 2:6–7; Matthew 7:13–14
4.
Saved
by Faith, But Not Faith Alone – James 2:14–26; Hebrews 11:7
5.
Saved
by Grace – Ephesians 2:5–10
6.
Obedience Is Essential – James 1:22; Hebrews 5:8–9; Matthew 7:21–23
7.
Saved
by the Blood of Christ – Matthew 1:21; Revelation 1:5; Romans 6
8.
The
Role of Baptism – Acts 22:16
9.
Conclusion: All Are Essential
Call to Action
Are you saved—by all
that God commands? Have you accepted His gift, believed in Jesus,
repented, confessed His name, and been baptized for the forgiveness
of sins? Don't leave any part out. Eternal life depends on obeying
the whole counsel of God. Respond to Him today—while there's still
time.
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