The word deliverance is not a part of Christian vocabulary, but really should be.

The fact that it isn't is a serious failure on our part, because the word opens to us a category of truth that pointedly clarifies God's redemptive purpose.

What is salvation? That's a simple question, but unfortunately a crucial part of the right answer isn't talked about much, even in Bible-believing churches.

I'm talking about the idea that salvation is a rescue operation.

The question is, what are we delivered from when we're saved? And how good a job our church is doing at communicating that truth?

Well, that's what John MacArthur is going to talk about here on Grace to you as he begins a study titled, delivered by God.

John, as you get started, I'll leave things wide open and simply ask, what made you decide to focus on this concept of deliverance?

Well, as I was thinking about the concept of salvation, when you look at the Greek word, so tear, saved, it is a word that essentially means delivered, rescued.

And I think sometimes words can kind of become so familiar that we don't ask the definition and therefore we really never know the definition.

Salvation is a word that Christians throw around all the time. They talk about being saved. Well, what do you really mean by that?

Well, what the word is talking about, the actual biblical word is rescued or delivered out of danger.

And I thought to myself, you know, I think if I did a series on delivered by God, it might take on fresh new meaning for people who are familiar with the word saved, but unfamiliar with what it really means.

So that's why I decided to do that. I remember when I launched it at the church, it had an overwhelming response.

People still tell me to this day that in some cases it's the favorite series that I've ever done in all the years of ministry at Grace Church.

That's the very series we're going to begin today, delivered by God. You're going to find yourself looking at Salvation in a brand new and fresh light.

That's right friend. This study is going to answer two of the most important questions you could ever consider.

What does it mean to be a Christian? And how does life change when you become one?

So stay here now as John shows you what it means to be delivered by God.

One of the great words in the Bible is the word deliverance. It is, however, not commonly used in the Christian vocabulary.

I don't recall in my life ever having heard a sermon on deliverance. I don't recollect in any part of the world where I have talked with Christians who speak my language,

who have used the word deliverance unless it has been used in some context related to demons or exorcism.

The word deliverance has not a part of Christian vocabulary but really should be.

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