Understanding Salvation and how to receive it.
Salvation is the redemption of souls from damnation through remission of sin, by the blood of Jesus Christ. The act of redemption happened at the cross over two thousand years ago, when Jesus Christ got crucified on the cross. We now receive salvation by faith when we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. The act of redemption happened on Mt. Calvary in Golgotha. The place is also known as ‘’The Place of the Skull’’, located outside the gates of Jerusalem.
Romans 5:8,9. 8But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
About 700 years before Christ came, Prophet Isaiah prophesied (to receive divine revelation) that the Messiah would come and redeem the whole world from sin.
THE PROPHECY
Isaiah 53:8-10. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY
John 1:29. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Matthew 1:21. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
How to receive salvation.
One receives salvation by repenting of sins and accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and saviour. This happens by faith after hearing the message of repentance from sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
Ephesians 2:8. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
By the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, A preacher or evangelist shares the message. The person receiving the message after hearing it, receives it in his heart by faith.
Romans 10:17. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
The newly born-again Christian will then confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in his heart that God raised Him from the dead.
Romans 10:9,10. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Every newly born-again Christian should undergo Baptism by water (full immersion). Baptism is undertaken by an ordained man of God e.g., a Bishop, Priest or Pastor. Before baptism, the Christian should be taken through teachings about baptism and why it’s important. Water is purity and Baptism means that:
- Repentance. Submersion into water means dying with Christ, an end to sinful life. Acts 2:38
- The person has become a new creation in Christ, by coming out of the water. 2nd Corinthians 5:17
- One now identifies as a Christian, is expression of Faith in Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Salvation is a way of life, let your light shine before men to the glory of God.
Salvation is not just accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour; you must live in obedience and walk in His ways. How we live as Christians not only reflects in the book of Life but also impacts those around us.
2 Corinthians 5:10. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Living in obedience to His word is a way of preaching the gospels to our neighbors. Our words, actions, thoughts and associations can build the faith of others or destroy. It is not just about doing good things but also about persevering in trials, hardships and pain.
Matthew 5:16. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
You may live a righteous life but how do you handle persecution, hatred, injustice, loss, pain and difficulty? When such happen to you remember that those around you are watching how you will handle the situation. Are you going to trust the Lord to come through for you or you will find other carnal ways of solving your problem? Let the Lord have the last say in your situation just as Job, Hezekiah, Anna, David, Jairus, the woman with the issue of blood, Bartimaeus and many more examples of men and women of faith did.
Romans 8:18. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
It is the divine duty of every Christian to spread the gospel of salvation.
Right after Jesus Christ had ordained the disciples, the gospel of salvation has been preached and spread all over the world to all tribes, tongues, races and peoples.
Mark 3:14,15. 14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
Luke 9:1,2. 1Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
We are called to preach the gospel to every soul in all the world. The work of spreading the gospels is not just the work of preachers and evangelists, it is the duty of every born-again Christian.
Acts 1:8. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Why you must be saved from damnation, eternal separation from God in Hell.
The fall of man through disobedience and sin, started at the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman brought sin and death by disobeying God and falling for the lies of Lucifer, the devil. Through the disobedience, Adam brought sin and death to themselves and to all the descendants and that includes you and me.
After fall of the Adam, man is always bound to sin because it is our nature. As sin happens when a person willingly decides to sin, salvation too is willingly accepted or rejected. Rejection of salvation leads to condemnation of the soul to eternal damnation.
Romans 5:12. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
1 Corinthians 15:22. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Luke 13:3. “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Penalty for sin paid by the blood of Jesus Christ, the one and only begotten son of God.
Redemption could not have happened without the shedding of the blood on Mt Calvary.
Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of God’s throne (Psalms 89:14). Therefore, justice demands penalty for sin.
In the Old Testament, the people had to offer sacrifices for their sins before a priest in an altar, inside a tabernacle. The sacrifices varied from the slaughter of bullocks and ram, to offering of pigeons, turtledoves and grains. The sacrifices had to be pure, blemish free and spotless. This was part of laws set up by Moses after the Israelites had been delivered from bondage in Egypt.
In as much as God accepted the sin offerings, He was not pleased because the people didn’t have a personal relationship with Him. The people depended on the priest and looked upon him instead of God. Furthermore, the sacrifices only atoned for their sins which only meant reconciliation, instead of full remission of sins. Atonement meant that only the sins that had been offered sacrifices for were forgiven and not the sins that followed afterwards. This meant that the people had to keep on offering sacrifices throughout their lives. However, remission of sin which only came by the blood of Jesus Christ, is the total removal of all sin if the person remains in Christ.