Salvation
How to find Jesus
Salvation
Salvation must be understood in its proper context to make sense, and to do that, we must go back to the very beginning. When God created Adam and Eve, He created them perfect and without sin. But after they ate of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, sin entered the world and entered their lives.
Adam and Eve were created for an intimate relationship with God, and because they were without sin, they had access to His presence. When they sinned, they were banished from the presence of God and lost that intimacy in relationship they once had. However, instead of casting them out of His presence forever, and possibly even starting again from scratch, God did something unimaginable. He loved them and therefore wanted to rescue them from sin that had destroyed that relationship, and therefore put forth His eternal plan of the salvation of Adam and Eve, and thereby, all of mankind. This demonstrates to us that salvation is the work of God alone to rescue man who has fallen into a life of sin.
With that in mind, when thinking about salvation it’s helpful to think about what we are saved from, what we are saved to, and who we are saved by.
What are we saved from?
While the primary New Testament (NT) word for salvation on occasion points to deliverance from a physical threat the dominant meaning is deliverance from the consequences of sin and the clutches of death and Satan. The major theme of deliverance in the NT is deliverance from God’s wrath because of sin. God sent Jesus Christ to rescue us from the consequence of our sin, and everybody falls into the category of sinner. Unless something happens to change our condition, were on our way to an eternal hell. We need to be rescued from the consequences of our sin.
We see, then, that salvation speaks of receiving deliverance from our greatest problem; namely, the many consequences of our sin against a holy God.
By whom are we saved?
In Acts 16:30 a Philippian jailer asks Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The apostles did not hesitate in pointing to Jesus Christ as the only means by which men will be saved.
God is the one who enacts salvation. The Scriptures are clear that the way of unbelief is to trust in self or in other things for salvation. 1 Timothy 1:15 is clear that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. This means every sinner can only be saved through Christ. This is clearly affirmed in the most popular verse in the Bible, John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
What are we saved to?
Salvation is not only being saved from something it is also being saved to someone. We are saved from sin and brought to God.
The Scriptures speak of the many benefits of salvation. John 8:36 helps us see that we have been set free. We are rescued from bondage and brought into freedom. Romans 5:1 tells us that we were saved from wrath and brought into peace with God. But of all the benefits of the gospel, the greatest one is that it brings us to God Himself.
We are saved for a relationship. As in Adam’s case, God has overcome our greatest problems so that we could be brought into a relationship with Him. How then do we appropriate this relationship can wants to offer us?
How do we receive Salvation?
Christ has done what is necessary for us to be saved, but that gift is not appropriated apart from faith. This is what the Bible teaches in Ephesians 2. We are dead in our trespasses and sin, and God makes us alive. When our eyes are opened to the gospel and the accomplishment of Christ, our only fitting response is to respond in repentance and belief.
Repentance and belief are really two sides of the same coin. Repentance means that we are changing our mind, about God and about ourselves. We are laying down our own efforts to save ourselves. We are turning away not only from our own self-sufficiency, but we are also turning away from the old life of sin we were living. We are saved to a new life in Christ, a life of holiness and worship to God. At the same time, we are turning towards Christ. We trust that He alone is the one who can save us. We are entrusting ourselves to him.
So, what must I do to be saved?
Salvation is a gift, so it must be received. And it is done by praying to God to ask for it. Many would know this as praying the Sinner’s Prayer. “Just say the prayer and you’re saved.” Well, it’s not that cut and dry. We are not saved by praying the Sinner’s Prayer. It’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the repentance and faith behind the prayer that lays hold of salvation. The prayer, to ask God for His gift of salvation, is just the beginning. It’s the door that allows us to enter into His presence. But we also must understand the concept of repentance. The reason we needed to be rescued in the first place was because of the sinful life we lived that was contrary to God’s way. And so, salvation requires us to not only ask for the gift of His salvation through prayer, but then to live a life of salvation, a new life that aligns with God’s purposes and ways.
The Sinner's Prayer
Pray this prayer from your heart, believing by faith that Jesus paid the price for your salvation to forgive you of your sins.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in Your holy presence.
I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take You at Your word. I thank You that I can face death now that You are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that You will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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