SALVATION IS NEEDED!

Salvation is the remarkable work of God (Jonah 2:9) in which He forgives sins and grants eternal life to a believing sinner as a free gift of His grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Forgiveness is essential because all people are born sinners, revealing their sinful nature shortly after birth (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 14:1-3; 51:5; Rom. 3:10-18). New life is also necessary because all individuals are born spiritually dead and separated from God (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). This sinful nature and spiritual death result in total depravity, meaning that people cannot please God through the good deeds they may accomplish (Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Mk. 7:20-23; I Cor. 2:14; Gal. 5:19-21).

The sinner is under the just condemnation of God, who is perfect in holiness, purity, and righteousness (Ezra 9:15; Ps. 22:3; Ps. 48:10; Isa. 6:3; Jer. 9:24; Hab. 1:13), and He must judge sin (Ezek. 18:4; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 6:23).

WHAT IS SIN?

Sin is defined as any failure to conform to the holy character of God (Romans 3:23). The sinful nature manifests itself through selfish thoughts and actions, as well as rebellion against the will and plan of God (John 3:19-20; Galatians 5:19-21). When a created being pursues its own will over the Creator's, it is considered sin. This is because the Creator has the authority over His creation, and His will must be fulfilled (Isaiah 14:12-15; Romans 1:18-32; 8:5-8; 9:19-21).

THE PENELTY OF SIN.

God loves all people and desires for them to be with Him. However, He cannot tolerate sin or sinners in His presence because of His holiness and righteousness. As a result, He must condemn and judge sin. The penalty for sin is death—both physical and spiritual (Genesis 2:16-17; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23). Physical death refers to separation from life in this world, while spiritual death means separation from God.

Sinners cannot die for their own sins and live, nor can they make themselves acceptable to God through any works of righteousness (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 8:7-8; Titus 3:5). Therefore, God's righteous justice must be satisfied in another way. Driven by love, mercy, and grace (1 John 4:8), God devised a plan to pay the price Himself to save people and make them right before Him, allowing them to be welcomed into His presence.

THE WORK OF CHRIST.

God sent His Son to unite with humankind to accomplish His plan (John 1:1-2, 14). This union occurred through the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23). The plan included Jesus, the Christ, dying by crucifixion as a substitute for all sinners (Psalm 22:1, 11-18; Isaiah 53:3-12; Romans 5:6-8). Jesus had no sin of His own, but He allowed all sins to be placed upon Him (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-24). He expressed His separation from God with the words, “Why have You forsaken me?” spoken from the cross (Matthew 27:46). His declaration, “It is finished,” indicated that the payment for sin had been completed (John 19:30).

His resurrection from the dead proved that sin and death had been conquered three days later, demonstrating that the redemption price was fully paid (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 20-23). His separation from God in death and the shedding of His blood paid the redemption price (Ephesians 1:7), fully satisfying God’s righteous justice (1 John 2:1-2) and providing a basis for sinners to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Through His death, God showed His mercy. He made it possible for us to receive His forgiveness.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Christ's payment for sin allows God to save sinners. This process begins with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, which creates an awareness of sin and a genuine need for salvation (John 16:8-10). When a person learns the gospel truth—that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for sin—the Holy Spirit enables them to understand and believe this message (1 Corinthians 2:11-12).

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SINNERS

Sinners receive redemption by believing that Jesus Christ died for their sins and was raised from the dead (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 1:16-17; 10:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5). Believing means trusting in and relying on Christ rather than depending on our actions or anything else for salvation from sin. The faith that God requires for salvation is not about "doing" anything; it's about depending on the Savior to save us. The New Testament mentions "faith" or "belief" as God's only requirement for salvation in over one hundred verses, including those cited above.

THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST AND THE BELIEVER

God, the all-powerful Creator (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16-17) and sovereign ruler (Ps. 103:19) establishes Jesus Christ as the ultimate authority over believers. As the Head of the church, which is His body (Eph. 5:23-24), Jesus deserves our allegiance and submission as members of His Kingdom (Rom. 12:1-2).

The title "Lord Jesus Christ" emphasizes His divine authority. “Lord" signifies His deity, "Jesus" is the name given to our Savior (Matt. 1:21), and "Christ" refers to Him as the Messiah, the chosen one for our salvation (Jn. 1:41; Acts 4:12). When we are called to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), to confess Him as Lord (Rom. 10:9), and to call on His name (Rom. 10:13), we acknowledge His divinity. Accepting His lordship begins at the moment of salvation and marks the beginning of a new life that continues throughout our spiritual journey.

THE BELIEVERS NEW LIFE

When sinners accept Christ as their Savior through faith, God forgives all their sins and grants them eternal life (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Jn. 5:13). This transformative experience marks the beginning of a new spiritual life, which is given through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5). It is often referred to as a new birth (Jn. 3:3-8), whereby believers become born-again children of God (1 Jn. 3:1-2). Importantly, eternal life is received by grace through faith alone, independent of any works of righteousness (Jn. 3:17-18, 36; 20:30-31; Eph. 2:4-9).

In addition to the gift of eternal life, salvation brings numerous other blessings. Believers are justified, or declared righteous by faith (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:1-8), and are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (Acts 1:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:13). Furthermore, they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-17; Rom. 8:9-11), adopted as sons or daughters into the family of God (Eph. 1:3-5), and transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God (Col. 1:13). Each of these blessings contributes to the believer's new identity and relationship with God.

SANCTIFICATION OF THE BELIEVER

When an individual becomes a child of God through faith, they receive a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:2-4). This transformation marks the beginning of a process known as progressive sanctification, where God actively works in the believer's life to produce good works.

At the moment of new birth, believers also enter into positional sanctification, meaning they are immediately set apart to God in holiness and deemed entirely acceptable to Him (1 Corinthians 1:30, 6:11; Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 10:10, 14). For example, the Corinthians were referred to as saints (1 Corinthians 1:2), even though they needed to address issues in their behavior, as discussed throughout Paul's letter to them.

Ultimate sanctification refers to the complete perfection in holiness that believers will experience when they are glorified in the presence of God (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; 1 John 3:1-3; Jude 1:24).

In the present, believers are called to put away sin and practice righteousness as part of their sanctification journey (Romans 6:1-22, 12:1-2). God's plan for every believer encompasses engaging in good works (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8). The indwelling Holy Spirit empowers believers to develop Christ-like character and perform good deeds that honor God (Romans 8:2-4, 11-14; Galatians 5:22-25).

The process of sanctification, or becoming more like Christ, continues throughout a believer's life (Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 1:6). However, the lives of many biblical characters illustrate that sanctification can occur at different rates, often accompanied by sin and failure (1 Corinthians 3:14-15; 5:3-5; 6:6-8; Hebrews 5:11-12; 11:32-34; 2 Peter 2:7-8; Revelation 2-3). This reality highlights the ongoing journey of faith and growth in Christ.

THE BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE AND ETERNAL SECURITY

Assurance of salvation is attainable by understanding the requirements outlined in the Word of God and recognizing that these requirements have been fulfilled. The sole condition for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. For instance, John 3:36 affirms that believers possess eternal life, while John 5:24 highlights that they will not face judgment and have transitioned from death to life. The use of present tense verbs in these verses indicates that eternal life is a current possession for those who believe.

The Apostle Paul further emphasizes this assurance when he instructs the Philippian jailer to "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Similarly, the Apostle John reinforces this idea by stating that eternal life is a gift from God granted through His Son. Those who have the Son already possess life, and those who believe in His name can confidently know they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Thus, by understanding that God requires belief, recognizing that faith in Christ is sufficient, and placing that faith in Him, individuals can be assured that their salvation is both real and personally held.

Eternal life is affirmed as a present possession for all believers in Christ (John 3:36; 5:24). Because eternity is everlasting, the life that believers possess is not temporary but permanent. This eternal life begins now and continues forever. Jesus assures us that those to whom He grants eternal life will never perish, as He securely holds them in His hands alongside the Father's protective grasp. As stated in John 10:27-30, no one can snatch them from either hand, providing profound security for believers.

Moreover, Romans 8 begins by affirming that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, a status given by the Spirit at the moment of salvation. The chapter concludes with the comforting assurance that nothing can separate believers from the love of God. This truth reinforces the idea that believers are eternally secure. Therefore, salvation is not just a future hope but a present and permanent possession for every believer!