Salvation

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Salvation in Christ

• What does it mean to be saved?
• What does it mean to be born-again?
• What does it mean to be a child of God?
• Why is Jesus Christ the only way?

Scripture is a perfect unfolding plan of salvation from beginning to end.  We will take this post in four steps to help us understand what salvation is all about.  You need to fully know what has happened to you and how you can explain the Biblical plan of salvation to those you witness to. Unfortunately, there are many believers - some have even been saved for years - 

that can’t articulate to others how one comes to salvation in Christ.  

There are many false teachings on salvation and one of the most common is what we call “Easy Grace” salvation.  This teaches that you come to Christ by a careless reciting of a few words in prayer, that nothing has to change in your life, that you can continue to sin just like you have always done, and God will make your life all great and nothing will ever go wrong for you.  This is “trying” Jesus and many come and then turn away from Christ;  then tell others that Jesus didn’t work for them.  

It is a false gospel.  So let’s look at the Biblical teaching of salvation.

1. God’s Plan for Us - Peace and Life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

 in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭

God has a plan for you.

God has made you with a purpose.  All through your life you try to find things that give you joy and happiness.  We do this for one reason - because there is emptiness in our hearts and we try to fill it with relationships, money, careers, alcohol, drugs, and the list goes on and on. Understand, God created you with that feeling of emptiness for one reason - that you would turn to Him to fill it.  Once you have Him in your life, you will have true peace and life abiding in you.

Only Jesus Christ can give you inner peace.

Now one bad thing that a lot of believers do when witnessing is say that - “If you come to Christ, all your troubles will go away.”  That is not true and if we share that, we set them up to dislike God. They will have inner peace and life though Christ.  Being a Christian doesn’t mean that troubles will never come our way, for the Bible says that 

we will go through tribulation and trouble.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: 

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬

What God promises us is that He will be with us through everything and give us strength to endure the struggles of life and

ultimately give us eternal life with Jesus Christ, home in heaven. There are special promises for the child of God.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea,

I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬

Wow - did you catch that?!

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭3‬

Great news for the child of God!

Think about that - it took God six days to create this earth and look how beautiful it is.  Now get your mind around this - He has been working on your place for over 2000 years!  What a place that will be!  Truly - we can only imagine!

2. Our Problem - Separation from God

So many people think they are “ok.”  If they haven’t killed anyone, then they will make it to heaven, or at least,  if they believe their good outweighs their bad, then they’ll make it. Some say that they go to church or are even a member - 

therefore, they are going to heaven. But Scripture tells otherwise.

There is no one  righteousness in ourselves

“as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭

“for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬

“For the wages of sin is death;…

‭‭Romans 6:23a

God is holy and perfect and we are not - this brings us separation from Him.

“but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ 

Since God is holy, no one can come into His presence.  We are born with a free will and we intentionally

or unintentionally choose not to follow God, but choose to do our own thing.  

Why are we like this?  The original sin.

People may try to think they can live above the principles that they are born under.  But realize, we live God’s plan and can’t change the way things are.  Understand, life is what God wants to give, but because of sin against God - death came.  That’s proof of His existence.  To the one who says he/she can live without God - I say this, “Try not dying.”  

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬

This is why you’re not “ok” - when Adam disobeyed God, he sinned and that brought sin into the world.

Is it saying that we are guilty of his exact sin?  No.  What it is saying is that we are born into the world with an

inclination toward sin and evil.  It is inheriting a moral corruption and our impulse toward disobeying God. For instance - you never have to to teach a child to lie - it comes naturally. What is the result of this?  As stated in (Romans 6:23), 

the payment of sin in our lives is death.

Once again - one may say, “I’m not a murderer,” or “I’m not as bad as that guy.” An example is of a little girl that was looking at sheep against a brown fence and dirt - she may think it looks so white.  Then it snows and she sees 

the same sheep against the snow and thinks it is so dirty and not white.  

The point is that God doesn’t compare us to people that are worse, but He compares us to the perfection of Jesus Christ.  

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  That is what the law of God points out - “the knowledge of sin.” 

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬

Many people turn to religion or good deeds to get to God and heaven, but look at what God says about it.

“But we are all as an unclean thing; and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; 

and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

The Result - Eternal Separation from God in hell - then the lake of fire

Now, I’m going to talk about the thing many don’t talk about, and many don’t want to hear.  The end result of life without God - eternal damnation.  

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 

in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬

No one that is not perfect can come into God’s presence - He has to place those somewhere else. 

One has said - “Hell is truth seen too late.” (Thomas Hobbes).

Some Scripture passages on hell - 

• Matthew 25:41, 46
• Luke 16:24
• John 5:28-29
• 2 Thessalonians 1:9
• Revelation 14:11
• Revelation 20:10, 15

(Reference: Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:42; Mark 9:43-48; Jude 13)

Those passages make it pretty clear what hell, then the lake of fire is, and how long it lasts.  Now realize that all of hell and all in it will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the final destination of the wicked (Rev. 20:14).  In short - it’s a bad place!

It is our personal sins and our rejection of Christ that cause God to send people to hell.

Let’s quickly recap, 1. God’s Plan for you - Peace and Life, 2. Our Problem - Separation from God.

3. Lord Jesus Christ Is The Answer - The Cross and The Resurrection

“who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (the cross), that we, being dead to sins, 

should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ (Parenthesis added)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ 

Jesus Christ was tortured, shed His blood, was crucified, and died for us just the way we are -  in all our sin and shame.

The difference between Christianity and all other religions

No other religion has a Savior.  They have a leader, but not a Savior.  

Jesus also says something very profound in an age of “relative truth.”

Jesus Christ is the Only Way

Some people ask, “Why do I have to do it that way?” Let’s look at an example:

You own a house and you want to throw a dinner party.  You send out invitations and even go out of your way to buy and send them dinner clothes.  The invitation is signed by you with the instructions that they have to have your signed invitation with them and they have to be dressed in the clothes that you sent for you to let them in. Now, one person says, 

“Well, I don’t want to wear these clothes - I want to wear what I want.  I don’t want to follow what they say.”

He then finds someone that makes up an invitation to your dinner party.  Signed by them with the instructions that they can wear anything they want.  When this person shows up at your door without your original signed invitation and not wearing the clothes you offered them, you won’t let him in.  Why?  You got the place ready, prepared, gave the invitation and provided the clothes.  

It’s your house and you make the rules.

You see, God owns heaven - it’s His place.   The invitation is Jesus Christ and His blood (Romans 5:9).  The clothes are the clothes of 

righteousness He clothes you with as you receive the invitation (Revelation 19:6-8).  

We have to come to Him His way - the way He has provided.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬

Instead of being mad that there aren’t many ways to God, we should praise Him that He  has provided The Way!

Now, just knowing this is not enough.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬

At least the demons fear God!

Jesus Christ is presenting a gift to us, which is salvation through Him.  It's there for us, but we must do something to have it.

4. Our Response - Receive Him!

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12

“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, 

thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ 

For the blood of Jesus Christ to be applied to our life - we have to receive Him.

Just having the knowledge of Jesus Christ and who He is, is not enough.  We have to receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.  That is, you put your whole life and trust in Jesus Christ’s control.

How do we do this?

Realize this first - we don’t “try” Him.   We don’t receive Him for just one hour, a day, a week, a month, or year, but our whole life!

You receive Him with all your heart!

• Admit - Your spiritual need. “I am a sinner, and I need You, Jesus Christ.”

• Repent - Be willing to turn from self and sin and totally turn to Jesus Christ.  Repentance means having a godly sorrow for one’s sins and a willingness to forsake those sins forever and turn to Jesus Christ completely.

“and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭46‬-‭47‬ 

The disciples were not to preach forgiveness of sins without the demand for repentance. Any person who offers salvation on the basis of an easy faith or by mere acceptance of salvation without a commitment to obey Christ and His word preaches a false gospel.  

Repentance involves forsaking sin - this has always been an essential element in the true gospel of the New Testament.

• Believe - That Jesus Christ came, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, revealed Himself, then was tortured, shed His blood, was crucified, and died for us.  He took our sin, our shame, our guilt, our hurt, and our punishment and gave us His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation - what a trade!  Not only that, but He was buried and resurrected to provide victory not only over sin, but over death as well!

• Receive - Through prayer - with all your heart, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and ask Him to come into your heart and life.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

At this time the Holy Spirit lives inside of you.  You become a “new creation.”

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” ‭‭

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭

God helps you obey Him, by working in you to give you the desire - “the want to” and the power and ability to please Him.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭

Because of this, God’s commands are not grievous/burdensome.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬

Coming to Jesus Christ is like rest to your mind, heart and soul.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ 

What a glorious life that Jesus Christ gives us in His salvation!