Understanding the Bible's Message of Salvation and What Must I Do to Be Saved?

Salvation

Does the bible present Salvation as the only method by which God can and will change a person’s nature?

Yes, Salvation (regeneration) is a gift from God to man! Man has a sinful nature and does not deserve God’s gift of Salvation. The nature of man’s desires is Salvation which would enable him to live a meaningful life and assures eternity with God in Heaven after they die. Man is sinful. Therefore, man is responsible before God for his sins, because he cannot save himself, nor can he earn Salvation by works but it is a free gift from God. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Titus 3:5

God is Holy and in complete control of his creation, ruling and reigning over the universe with all authority and power. God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnipresent (all-knowing). He is eternal, with no beginning or ending (alpha and omega). God desires that all people are saved through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Salvation by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way God can and will change man’s nature. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

When a man accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, God works a great change in their soul. He changes man’s nature from death of sin to life in righteousness. It is this change in the soul by the Almighty Spirit of God; that he has created a new creature in the image of Jesus Christ (in righteousness and true holiness). Behold I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. John 3:3

Nicodemus: in his limited thinking, only thought of the natural man and giving birth but Jesus was teaching on the new birth of the spirit man and being born anew in order to receive the inheritance the Lord promise (the Kingdom of God).  Marvel not that I said unto thee that you must be born again. John 3:7

The Meaning of Salvation

Webster’s dictionary defines Salvation as: deliverance from the power or effects of sin; the agent or means that effects sin. However, Salvation implies more than that, Salvation suggests deliverance, perseverance, regeneration, safety, healing, and completeness. Salvation is for those who persevere in their faith. Faith is the means by which God’s grace in Christ, through Him the blessing of salvation is received. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. Galatians 3:13

Christians are set free from the curse of the law. Because we all have broken the law so then we must live under the curse that hangs over us. Christ suffered the curse of the cross for us, having never deserved the penalty of violated law, he suffered the fate of violated men. Christ’s endurance of the curse of the cross liberates us from the curse of the law. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:14

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your father. 1 Peter 1:18

The Source of Salvation

Jesus Christ is the source of Salvation.

God has determined man’s salvation and has revealed the way, the only way. By the name under heaven “given” among men to be saved. Jesus Christ, by divine appointment, when a man falls, he lay at the mercy of his sovereign. Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 I) “I Am the Way.” Man’s holy communion with God was broken in the Garden of Eden. As a result, humanity has become disconnected for the eternal realm, therefore God’s eternal word became flesh in order that He, himself might become “the Way” which mankind should reconnect. II). “I Am the Truth.” Jesus is the True Light, the True Bread of life, and He is said to be the fulfiller and realizer of all.  III) “I Am the Life” All things were created through Him and for Him. Such as the person of Christ, He is the eternal embodiment of Life, its source, means, and end!

Two important reasons why Jesus is the source; first, because He is able to save, additionally because He is willing to save. That He may dwell in our hearts by faith, able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we may ask to know the breadth, depth, height, length, and width of Christ love which surpasses all understanding. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20

Eternal life is not secured by merit. The Gift of Eternal Life is given unmerited. Th soul cannot save itself. Man, merits nothing but death; but God grants eternal life as a free gift! And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28.

Life is a gift received, as distinguished between existence and life, we are made eternal partakers of the Divine’s nature, origin, and end. “They shall never perish.” Preservation secured. Position guaranteed. In Christ’s land, a place of Honor, secured in the Hand of God. The Hand of God encloses and protects all his people. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Christ is able and willing to save; thereby a Savior must be willing and able to rescue his people from impending danger. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; Luke 1:68

Man Needs Salvation

Only a sick person needs a doctor. Man has a sinful nature; therefore, man needs a Savior.  The prophet Isaiah prophesied 1,500 years before Christ about the Salvation of the Lord; the Savior and His Salvation. He professes that Gods people did not know or have not considered that they owe the Lord for their lives and comforts the kindness of the Heavenly Father care and kindness. The world is careless and largely ignorant in regard to matters of their own soul. Ignorance of what we should know is no excuse for not searching for a Savior!

The bible often ascribes wickedness as a sickness or a disease in the body. Affliction from the sole of the foot to the head.

Wickedness is universal from the meanest prisoner to the best of friends. For in wickedness there is corruption, no soundness, no good principle, guilt, no religion, nor nothing good for the health of the body or the soul. The sad effects of man’s fall in the Garden of Eden. While sin remains unrepentant, nothing is done towards healing the wounds and preventing its fatal effects. There is an evil nature in each one of us, but the Lord’s mercies are not consumed; only Jesus and His sanctifying Spirit can restore us to Spiritual health (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary).

Only an accused person needs a lawyer. Man stands condemned in God’s court of law. As it is written; “There is none righteous, no not one.” All mankind is guilty of sin, under the law. We are enslaved to the work of wickedness. A man may be accomplished in the eyes of the world, greatly esteemed as a doctor, lawyer, scientist, scholar, or well-read in literature but not acknowledging or understand his guilt, responsibility, duty or its effect on his destiny. Why? Simply because he does not want to.

His ignorance is fantastical bliss! He is not troubled by the uncertainties of life, conscience, or the anticipation of God’s judgement. Even a practical understanding of these things would trouble him if he chose.

Only a drowning person needs a lifeguard. The bible refers to “Deep Waters” as a place that man finds himself when the suffering of life overwhelms him. I am come into the deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Psalms 69: 1-2 What a familiar place! When a man finds himself flooded by the waters of sin; he cries out, save me O God, for the waters are up to my neck. Man’s sufferings are sometimes seemingly overwhelmingly great. But the Good News is that Christ’s mission was to “heal the brokenhearted” and to “wipe away all the tears from off all faces.”

Why Are Men Lost?

Men are lost because of their rejection of divine Bible Revelation. God is seen everywhere: The Heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Psalms 19:1. The Heavens have a voice but one that speaks not to the ear but to the heart. The universal revelation of God in nature is not accidental but the universal proclamation of the Gospel. The Heavens are the works of God’s fingers and declare His glory, His Word is yet more desired. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

They are lost because of disobeying their own conscience: Believers often think of themselves as holy people, entitled to their privileges by right; while they remain unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all must be reminded that the judgment of God will be according to their character (MHCC).  For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Romans 2:13-16

They are lost because of their relationship to the world:  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Jesus Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT). The Gospel is hid to those who deny its Divine authority, to those who are ignorant of its doctrines, and to all those who disobey regardless of their own views of its doctrines.

The False Hopes of Salvation

 Why can’t an individual obtain Salvation by works? For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2: 8, 9 There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14: 12 The false hope of salvation is that man can or must perform works. They realized their sin and sewed fig leaves… Genesis 3: 7

We are not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith of Christ, and not by the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Galatians 2: 16

The world believes the lie that their education, position in society, good works, religious denomination, baptism, or living according to the law can or will save them. Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. John 3: 3 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3: 16

For God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world: but through Him the world might be saved. To believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation is to believe only that his shed blood at the cross is the only remedy for the wages of sin! For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Romans 6:23

Artist renderings by Cadman Matthias