What Is Salvation?
The biblical teaching on salvation is simple: All human beings have sinned (Romans 3:23). We have rebelled against the way of life designed for us by God and pursued goals and purposes foreign to His will. Therefore, God allowed death to enter the world so that His creation would not exist forever in a corrupted state (Genesis 3:22, Romans 5:12). Every morally conscious human being has sinned, so every human will die.
But God's plan does not end in our deaths. He does not want any to perish – to die and to face punishment for our sins – but wants every one of us to repent and have everlasting life (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9)! Therefore, He made a plan to save us both from our sins and from death through His Son, Jesus Christ. This plan has two parts: 1) Jesus' sacrificial death solves the problem of sin by reconciling us to God. We are enemies of God when we rebel against Him in sin, but Jesus' sacrifice gives us the opportunity for peace (Romans 5:1-10). 2) Jesus' resurrection solves the problem of death. Our physical bodies will die (Hebrews 9:27), but, in Jesus, we can be raised up to live like Him forever (1 Corinthians 42-57).
What is biblical salvation? It is the forgiveness of our sins and the cure for death.
But God's plan does not end in our deaths. He does not want any to perish – to die and to face punishment for our sins – but wants every one of us to repent and have everlasting life (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9)! Therefore, He made a plan to save us both from our sins and from death through His Son, Jesus Christ. This plan has two parts: 1) Jesus' sacrificial death solves the problem of sin by reconciling us to God. We are enemies of God when we rebel against Him in sin, but Jesus' sacrifice gives us the opportunity for peace (Romans 5:1-10). 2) Jesus' resurrection solves the problem of death. Our physical bodies will die (Hebrews 9:27), but, in Jesus, we can be raised up to live like Him forever (1 Corinthians 42-57).
What is biblical salvation? It is the forgiveness of our sins and the cure for death.
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
This salvation can be yours today in Jesus Christ! He has already done the work that can accomplish our salvation. In the words of the apostle Paul, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19, NASB). The stage is set, the power to forgive your sins is there, within your grasp, all you have to do is receive it. In the very next verse, Paul pleas on Jesus' behalf, "be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
How can you be reconciled to God? Here are the first steps you must take to implement God's plan in your life.
How can you be reconciled to God? Here are the first steps you must take to implement God's plan in your life.
Trust in JesusJesus died to forgive you for your sins and to save you from death. Through His word, the apostles, and the lives of all who have followed Him since His death, He is pleading with you to be made whole. The first step to salvation is simple – recognize that you must trust Him to solve the problem of sin an death. We cannot save ourselves, but we have a Savior we can trust. We must believe that God exists, and we must believe that His plan can and will save us (Hebrews 11:6). For this reason, all who followed Christ are called "believers" in the Bible (Acts 5:14).
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Repent of Your SinsGod's plan for your salvation involves more than simple belief, He wants to save you from sin altogether! This means that He wants to separate you from the source of pain and death in this world. Practically, this is accomplished when you repent of your sins (Acts 3:19). Repentance involves a change of mind and a commitment to a new course of action. You will continue to grow in self-control and Christian character throughout your life, but this is your starting point. This is when you determine to change the direction of your life and begin moving toward God.
Paul addressed this concept in Romans 6:1-2: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" If Jesus' death has lifted us up out of the despair and death of sin, why would we want to climb back into it? We have seen a better end, let us climb toward it with all of our might. |
Confess the Son of GodJust as the Gospel challenges you to change the direction of your life, it reveals something about the order of the whole universe. In order to accomplish the salvation of humanity, God has given His Son, Jesus Christ, all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). This means that He is King over everything that exists, and will be until the end of time (1 Corinthians 15:25-28). If you trust in the Gospel, you must recognize this fact, because you are counting on Jesus' power and authority to pardon your sins. This trust should lead you to confess Him (Matthew 10:32). When you make this confession, you are, in essence, announcing your allegiance to Him and His kingdom above all else in this life.
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Be Baptized for the Forgiveness of Your SinsNow that you know who you can trust for salvation, you know the direction that your life needs to take, and you have confessed your allegiance to Christ, you must be cleansed of your past sins. This is accomplished when you are baptized or immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). This action symbolizes your death, your burial, and your resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). In baptism, God accomplishes the death of your guilty spirit and gives you a new life – a resurrected life – according to the life that is in Jesus. The day when you are baptized will be your spiritual birthday, the day you enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5-6).
If you need help being baptized, contact us! We are eager to help you begin your walk with God! |
Grow in the SpiritJust like your natural birth, your spiritual birth in baptism will only be the beginning of your spiritual life. There is much to learn, much to practice, and much to look forward to on the road ahead! Look to grow through these lessons and experiences (1 Peter 2:1-3). Our elders and those among us who are more experienced and mature can help to equip you and guide you through the decisions and difficulties that come as you steadily walk toward God.
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