Salvation
Scripture tells us that God created mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). When man was created and placed in the Garden of Eden, sin and death were not a part of the world and “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). God told Adam and Eve that they could eat “freely” of any tree in the garden except from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and that if they ever disobeyed His command, they would “surely die” (Genesis 2:15-17). Satan tempted Eve with the exact fruit that God told them not to eat. She ate and gave it to Adam; he ate, and so they sinned against God (Genesis 3:1-6). “Through one man sin entered into the world. . .and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). From that point on, humanity has been born sinful, separated from God, and in need of salvation from the coming judgment and wrath of God upon the sinner (Romans 3:10, 23). The Scripture declares that it is for this very reason that God sent Jesus—to redeem us from our sins (Matthew 1:21, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:1-6, 1 Peter 1:18-19).
From Scripture, we learn that it is by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and that this is God’s gift to us (Ephesians 2:7-8). To be saved means to be freed from the eternal consequence of our sin by receiving forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven with God through faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 1:3-4). This is something that God desires for all of humanity. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
The Bible is very clear—Jesus is the only way to salvation. In John 11:25-26, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
The Bible is also clear that you cannot earn salvation. Some may say that they will just “do good” and God will save them, but there is no amount of good things a person can do in order to be saved. Ephesians 2:9 says our salvation comes “not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Jesus Christ alone has the power to save the soul.
The Bible is clear about how a person is saved. Romans 10:9-10 says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:13 says, “for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Discussion Points
Have you believed in your heart that Jesus died and rose again for your sins and confessed with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord?
If you have not called on the name of the Lord to be saved, the following prayer is a guide to help you do that right now. However, it is important to remember that these words alone do not save you. It is the genuine belief in your heart and the confession of your mouth that brings about the salvation of the Lord.
“Lord, I acknowledge my sin before you. I admit to the need for a Savior in my life. I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ was cruci ed, that he died, was buried and rose again from the grave to save me from my sin. I confess, Jesus, that You are Lord and I ask that you forgive me of my sin and save my soul. In Jesus name, Amen.”