Salvation
What is salvation? Why do you need it? Where does it come from? How
do you get it? - These are all valid questions and below we address
this issue for you to seriously consider.
Salvation is something that many people who believe in God seem
to have a tough time understanding. If you ask any prophetic liberal
ideologist what salvation is, you will get answers ranging from a
simple belief in God to suggestions of having to be adopted into some
spiritual or religious cult in order to receive it. The degree to
which salvation has been misrepresented in the world today so stretches
the unstudied mind that we have people blowing themselves (and others)
up, sacrificing their children, submitting to dangerous rituals and
even mutilating themselves, all in the purported interest of pleasing
God.
It certainly is a sad state of affairs these days but this has been
going on for centuries. It is simply made more public with the advent
of various technologies from radio and television to the Internet.
Nowadays, many people are told to throw money at some slick looking,
smooth talking evangelist on television for which they have the priviledge
of putting their hands on the TV while this individual "prays
them up". Others use the radio for the same purpose and some
say just to say the "sinners prayer" and your done. There
are many more variations but the point is that none of these methods
are biblically supported and therefore, not endorsed by God. There
is a specific pattern of steps required in order to receive the gift
of salvation. All you have to do is do them in sincerity recognizing
that His gift comes as a sacrifice of self.
Here I try to clarify God's simple plan for salvation and enlighten
the individual as to what is required according to scripture. The
key is in the "Truth" as Paul once said:
“[God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge
of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Similarly, Jesus said,
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John
8:31-32).
The truth is something that is critical with regards to our salvation.
But how can we determine what is the truth regarding any religious
matter? There is only one objective way to “know the truth.” The Lord
Jesus affirmed that God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). Since God’s
word is truth, genuine faith is derived from God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
I might believe or practice something with sincerity, but sincerity
does not determine “the truth.” Paul (as Saul) sincerely persecuted
Christians in his early life and with what appeared to be a good conscience
(i.e. he didn't know any better) but he was wrong (Acts 23:1).
The Simple
Plan
God's simple plan for salvation requires 6 distinct things that each
person must do in order to receive the gift of His glory. Keep in mind
that achieving salvation is a journey throughout life. You may follow
the steps but if you remain sinful and unchanged in your heart (mind),
your efforts will be for naught.
1. HEAR the
word of God
Mat. 11:15
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Rom. 10:17
"Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
You must hear the word of God in order to first understand His authority
and power of redemption through Jesus Christ. You must also hear the
"truth" of His word and not everyone who preaches is interested
in the truth. The point here is to be sure that what you hear can
be verified in the scriptures. Of particular importance is what you
must understand prior to completing the process. The nature of the
gospel of Christ i.e. His Death, Burial and Resurrection. You do not
have to hear a series of sermons before understanding this most fundamental
and important component of the salvation process.
2. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Joh. 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life."
Act. 8:37
"Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God."
Mar. 16:16
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does
not believe will be condemned."
After you have heard the word, you must believe that Jesus is the Son
of God. This is exemplified in Acts 8:37 when the apostle Philip was
sent to an Ethiopian Eunuch who at the time was reading what we now
refer to as Isaiah 55. The Eunuch did not understand what he was reading
and Philip was sent to him, taught him and baptized him straightaway.
3. REPENT
Luk. 13:3
" I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise
perish."
Act. 17:30
"Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He
strictly commands all men everywhere to repent"
Repentance is a sincere change of heart and attitude towards God. You
cannot go on living a life of sin (i.e. doing those things you know
to be wrong) and receive God's blessings. Sometimes this means a radical
change and often includes giving up the kinds of relationships you have
that are possibly no good for you anyway (the kind that encourage you
to do wrong). Other times it means you have to go separately from family
tradition but ask yourself; what is your salvation worth? Would you
die and burn in hell for your family and friends? If you're going to
be selfish about something, be selfish about Christ and the only means
of salvation in Him.
4. CONFESS
that Jesus IS the Son of God
Mat. 10:32-33
"Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will confess
him before My Father who is in Heaven. (33) But whoever shall deny
Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in Heaven.
In Act. 8:37, the Ethiopian Eunuch confessed with his mouth that Jesus
is the Son of God. You must do this before men so that your public confession
will be acceptable to God. You must go on throughout your life never
denying the confession you've made.
5. Be BAPTIZED
for the REMISSION of SINS
Joh. 3:5
"Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God."
Rom. 6:3-6
"Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we were buried
with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in
newness of life. (5) For if we have been joined together in the likeness
of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection;
(6) knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should
not serve sin.
Act. 2:38
"Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Baptism is the final step to beginning a new life in Christ. In spite
of popular belief, you cannot be saved without taking this step in
your commitment to God. 1Pet. 3:21 "which figure now also saves
us, baptism; not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the
answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ;". Some evangelists have suggested that baptism
is just "an outward sign of an inward grace". This is nonsense
and misleads a person into believing that baptism is somehow 'optional'
and that the person is saved prior to this happening but the biblical
record clearly says otherwise. Do not be deceived. No where since
the church was established do you find anyone ever being saved without
baptism. See further explanation here.
6. REMAIN FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH
Heb. 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Heb. 11:6
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of
those who diligently seek Him."
Heb. 5:9
"And being perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation
to all those who obey Him,"
Rev. 2:10
"Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried.
And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and
I will give you the crown of life."
In the ongoing battle of good and evil, living a life of Christ will
at some point cause us to suffer trials that challenge our faith. This
is where you're given an opportunity for increased spiritual growth
and you are to remain faithful until death. For what is this life? For
it is a vapor, which appears for a little time, and then disappears
(Jam 4:14). God does not want you to live a life in misery and pain,
rather if you are faithful and diligently perform the work He prescribes
for you, you can live a happy and fruitful life. What you should understand
is that your life, when dedicated to God, is no longer yours but His
and your salvation is worth more than anything this world has to offer.
What
Does Not Make You A Christian
1. Just believing in Jesus Christ
2. Just believing in God
3. Joining a church...any church
4. Having water sprinkled or poured on you as a baby
5. Simply being a 'good person'
6. Having said the "sinners prayer" and accepted Jesus into
your heart
7. Anything that is outside of scriptural support.
