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Home›Topics›Salvation›Historical Examples

Historical Examples — Salvation

311 illustrations

All (1,952)⛪ LensLines™ (1,404)🏛️ Historical Examples (311)📖 Stories & Illustrations (65)⛪ Tradition Perspectives (60)🎯 Application Points (34)💭 Theological Reflections (31)🙏 Devotionals (28)🔍 Biblical Insights (17)🎬 Movie Analogies (2)

Historical

The Golden Chain: God's Unbroken Purpose from Eternity to Glory

Romans 8:29-30 presents three critical truths about this chain.

Romans 9:30Universaldivine sovereignty

predestination

Joseph S. Exell

201 words

Historical

The Great Saviour Sent to Egypt and All Nations

Historical parallels illuminate this prophecy's scope: Alexander the Great liberated Egypt from Persian oppression, while Ptolemy Soter (the Saviour) granted Jews equal civic privileges in Alexandria.

Isaiah 19:20Universaldivine provision across historyChrist as ultimate fulfillment

Joseph S. Exell

206 words

Historical

Who Will Show Us Any Good? The True Source of Blessedness

They seek visible proof, tangible evidence that happiness exists, yet they neglect to look toward God, the fountain of all blessedness.

Psalms 4:6Universalseeking God's presencedissatisfaction with worldly goods

Joseph S. Exell

223 words

Historical

The Gospel Mystery: Hidden Ages, Now Revealed

The term *mysterion* (mystery), used twice in this passage and frequently throughout Philippians, does not denote what is essentially incomprehensible to human understanding.

Philippians 4:26Universaldivine mystery unveiledhidden made manifest

Joseph S. Exell

214 words

Historical

God's Prophecy Comes in Light, Not Darkness

The phrase "in a dark place of the earth" references the pagan oracles and necromancers whose spirit-voices seemed to emerge from subterranean depths—shrouded, obscure, fundamentally deceptive.

Isaiah 45:19Universaldivine accessibilitycontrast between light and darkness

Joseph S. Exell

203 words

Historical

Wisdom as the Principal Thing: Knowledge of God and Self

Proverbs 4:7 declares wisdom the principal thing—not merely intellectual attainment, but the *summum bonum* (*chief good*) that elevates the human soul. Joseph S. Exell's 1887 exposition reveals wisdom's four-fold excellence. First, wisdom addresses man's spiritual state before Elohim. True happiness...

Proverbs 4:7Universalself-knowledge through divine encounterimperishable spiritual truth

Joseph S. Exell

196 words

Historical

The Spirit Poured Out: From Temporal Blessing to Spiritual Promise

First comes the temporal: "Afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh" (Joel 2:28).

Ezekiel 14:28Universaldivine sovereigntyspiritual outpouring

Joseph S. Exell

207 words

Historical

God's Method: We Reap What We Have Sown

God's method of punishment is not arbitrary cruelty but divine permission—He lets us punish ourselves.

Proverbs 1:31Universaldivine consequenceself-inflicted punishment

Joseph S. Exell

225 words

Historical

The Dead Shall Live: Jewish Hope in Resurrection

Exell observed in 1887, this earthly life proved too shallow a vessel to hold peace, righteousness, worship, and divine love.

Isaiah 25:19Universaldivine power over deaththe Holy Spirit's role in redemption

Joseph S. Exell

207 words

Historical

Taking Hold of Divine Strength for Peace with God

The reason for this invitation rests in reconciliation: "that he may make peace with Me." God's offer reveals His unselfishness—He seeks not His own benefit but the sinner's restoration.

Isaiah 25:5Universalreconciliation with Goddivine benevolence

Joseph S. Exell

223 words

Historical

Righteousness Eternal: From Word to Life Everlasting

This is no temporary statute, no passing ordinance that grows obsolete with the turning of years.

Psalms 119:144UniversalGod's eternal naturetransformation through God's Word

Charles H. Spurgeon

200 words

Historical

The Workshop of Falsehood: Exchanging God's Truth for Lies

The Greek word *ergastērion* (workshop) reveals where this transaction occurs—in the very matrix of falsehood itself.

Romans 1:23Universaldivine truth versus human deceptionthe consequences of misplaced worship

Joseph S. Exell

194 words

Historical

Christ's Authority Recognized in Teaching and Miracles

Mark records their astonishment at His doctrine, for it bore the unmistakable stamp of divine power.

Mark 1:22UniversalDivine authorityTransformation through Scripture

Joseph S. Exell

209 words

Historical

The Necessity of Immediate Repentance Before the Risen Christ

Repentance (*metanoia*—a turning around of the mind) in Scripture holds three distinct meanings.

Revelation 1:16Universaldivine judgmenturgency of conversion

Joseph S. Exell

226 words

Historical

The Fear of God: Restraint and Direction in Righteousness

The fear of God operates as a restraining influence upon the heart.

Psalms 25:12Universaldivine guidance through reverencethe dual nature of godly fear

Joseph S. Exell

230 words

Historical

By the Grace of God I Am What I Am

First, some regard themselves as mere products of natural causes—biology determining destiny.

1 Corinthians 15:10Universaldivine providencepersonal transformation

Joseph S. Exell

218 words

Historical

The Gospel Mystery Revealed to All Nations

Exell (1887) distinguishes three dimensions of this mystery.

Colossians 4:28Universaldivine mysteryChrist's centrality

Joseph S. Exell

208 words

Historical

God's Righteousness and Salvation Draw Near to All Nations

The prophet teaches that an evangelical law—the law of Christ, the law of faith (Isaiah 42:3)—proceeds from God Himself, bringing both righteousness and salvation to the children of men.

Isaiah 45:5UniversalGod's universal redemptionrighteousness through Christ

Joseph S. Exell

206 words

Historical

God Alone Accomplishes Our Complete Salvation

First, the accomplishment itself: "salvation." Not partial deliverance, not merely an escape from consequences, but complete salvation—a word *yeshuah* meaning wholeness, safety, and triumph.

Psalms 44:7Universaldivine accomplishmentGod's exclusive power

Charles H. Spurgeon

198 words

Historical

All God's Promises Affirmed in Christ Jesus

Each was made according to His sovereign purpose, functioning as links between His eternal decrees and His redemptive acts—the voice of the decree becoming the herald of the act.

2 Corinthians 1:20UniversalGod's faithfulnessChrist as fulfillment

Joseph S. Exell

195 words

Historical

Faith Comes by Hearing the Word of God

Exell, in his 1887 *Biblical Illustrator*, offers a vivid comparison: as the thirsty man needs only be directed to water—"There's the water, drink"—so the anxious soul requires but one directive: "Faith cometh by hearing." Elaborate explanations about reservoirs and river...

Romans 10:17Universalhearing as the means of faithfalse paths to belief

Joseph S. Exell

220 words

Historical

Blind Leaders and the Source of True Deliverance

Bishop Ryle offers a piercing parallel: the bankrupt cannot finance another's recovery; the imprisoned cannot liberate a fellow prisoner; the shipwrecked sailor cannot rescue his drowning comrade.

Matthew 15:14Universalspiritual blindnessfalse authority

Joseph S. Exell

209 words

Historical

Man's Coming Dominion Under Christ's Sovereignty

Not yet are all things in subjection to humanity, yet this sovereignty shall come.

Hebrews 1:9UniversalChrist's sovereigntyhuman dignity and destiny

Joseph S. Exell

216 words

Historical

From Darkness into Light: Christ's Liberation of the Captive Soul

To those imprisoned both in darkness and in chains, the Lord Jesus speaks: "Show yourselves; rise, and come out of the darkness; hide away no longer, come forth into the light, and enjoy it." Consider the characters mentioned in this...

Isaiah 49:9Universalspiritual bondage and freedomconviction of sin leading to conversion

Joseph S. Exell

256 words

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