Just What is "Salvation"?

Maybe you’ve wondered about the talk of "Salvation" and never really understood or never really heard what the Bible says about it. The following paragraphs describe "salvation" according to what the Bible teaches. Many claim to be "Christian" but don’t really match up with what the Bible says. Since the Bible is God’s message to mankind, we should see what He says salvation is!

(John 3 :16; Revelation 21-22; 1 Timothy 2:4)

God loves you and desires this personal and eternal relationship, but sin is in the way!

But Sin gets in the way. All of us are sinners. Sin is falling short of God’s glory - His holiness and sinlessness. Sin is evil thoughts and evil actions, disobedience, missing the mark of holiness, and even part of our fallen human nature. Even though each one of us is not as evil as we could be, each one of us is a sinner separated from God.. (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:2; Galatians 3:22)

Being separated from God is what spiritual death is. In this condition, sinners are without life and without hope. Sinners face the consequences of sin and the penalty for sin unless something is done about the sin. (Eph. 2:1-3,12; Hebrews 9:27;)   Eventually each one faces God’s judgment. ( Romans 1:18-32, 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

Jesus is the Son of God, fully God as God the Father. Jesus became a man, fully human as each of us. He lived a sinless, perfect life so He could be a sinless, perfect Substitute to die for sinners. He died on the cross for our sins. He was buried to show that it was real death. That death was the penalty for sin–the sins of the whole world. Jesus paid all the penalty.

But He arose from the dead bodily to show His power and victory over sin and death. Because Jesus is God, this victory in Death–Burial–Resurrection needed to be done once for all.

(1 Cor. 15:3-8; Hebrews 4:15, 9:28, 10:10-18; Romans 5:8; John 3:16)

To obtain this salvation, each of us must realize that we are sinners deserving the penalty for sin, separated from God, and not able to save ourselves. We fall short! But God is able to save us!  It is by His Grace that God saves the sinner. Grace is the unmerited, unpaid for, undeserved kindness of God. Even unsaved, wicked sinners are blessed with God’s gracious gifts of light, rain, food, and life, but salvation by His Grace is through faith in Christ.

Saving faith is trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior–believing the truths of the Bible about Him (as outlined above) and depending upon Him for Salvation. Believe that when He died on the cross for sins, He died for Your sins. Trust in His work alone – not trusting your own efforts or payments or sufferings, not trusting anyone or anything or any organization, not trusting in the fact that you "believe something".

Trust in Jesus Christ alone:

-that He is fully God

- that He is fully man

- that He fully paid for your sins

-that He forgives your sins fully

-that He really and bodily rose from the dead

If you are trusting in Him, then you have the salvation that God offers!!

(Ephesians 2: 4-7, 8-9; John 1:12-13, 3:16; Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8)

Then, Salvation is for a growing personal, loving relationship with the True God through Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. That relationship is one of growing knowledge of God and His Word, loving obedience to His principles, service, worship, and witness for him, and a loving, eternal hope of eternal fellowship with Him! (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:1-2; John 14:21,23; 1 Peter 1: 3-5; 2 Peter 3:1)

We believe these Bible truths and trust in Christ as our Savior.

If you have trusted in Christ as your Savior, then let us know by publicly obeying Christ in Baptism. Contact our Pastor for more information at 570-282-7092 or email at: pastorglennborne@hotmail.com

May God richly bless you!