The process in which we are BORN AGAIN and redeemed from the condemnation of sin.
”Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” John 3:3 NKJV
The Holy Spirit regenerates our spirit and places us in the family of God by adoption.
“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:3-7 NKJV
Introduction
We spend so much time worrying that we forget what happens a minute after we die or a loved one dies. Some of us get entangled with religions that promise the truth about the afterlife. We usually may fall into one of three categories when it comes to this subject:
- We know what happens after we die.
- We do not care what happens after we die.
- We often ponder and think about the afterlife but are not sure.
If you fall into the first two categories, all I can say is I hope and pray you are RIGHT! However, no matter which category you fall into, the Bible says (emphasis is mine):
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put ETERNITY in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV
I hope you read this entire article and study the scriptures within. This present life is short compared to what is to come. I pray you do read and pray for Salvation if not saved.
What is Salvation?
Salvation, the primary meaning, is to keep from danger or suffering. It could mean physical well-being as well as spiritual. Here we are applying the spiritual, eternal deliverance. When Jesus Christ spoke about salvation, He referred to us entering into the Kingdom of God!
Salvation is two-fold. Jesus Christ saves us from something, and He saves us INTO something.
From what are we saved?
In the Christian doctrine of salvation, Jesus Christ saves us from “wrath,” that is, from God’s judgment of sin.
”Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:9 NKJV
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 NKJV
Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of sin is death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequence of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin’s power.
Into what are we saved?
We are saved from the wrath to come and adopted into a family, a kingdom with no end (Galatians 4:3-7)
Can you earn SALVATION?
The Bible is very clear, and it says:
”For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
The Grace of God saves us. The word Grace means “Unmerited Favor.” Salvation is a gift from a loving God to the subject of His love that does not acknowledge Him. The subject receives it through faith, which is:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
We do not work to get salvation; we work because we are saved and for the Glory of God. When a football player points his finger up after a touchdown, he is giving God the glory for his abilities and honoring his maker. An unsaved person will take credit for all the good that person can do.
Why is salvation needed?
SIN!
Webster’s dictionary defines sin as:
a: an offense against the religious or moral law
b: an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible IE: it’s a sin to waste food
c: an often serious shortcoming: fault
d: transgression of the law of God
e: a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God
Billy Graham hit the mark on what sin is. Below is a quote from Billy Graham; if you want to visit the page, click here.
“A sin is any thought or action that falls short of God’s will. God is perfect, and anything we do that falls short of His perfection is sin. The Bible actually uses a number of examples or “word pictures” to illustrate what this means. For example, it tells us that sin is like an archer who misses the target. He draws back his bow and sends the arrow on its way—but instead of hitting the bull’s-eye, it veers off course and misses the mark. The arrow may only miss it a little bit or it may miss it a great deal—but the result is the same: The arrow doesn’t land where it is supposed to.
The same is true of sin. God’s will is like the center of that target—and when we sin, we fall short of His will or miss the mark. And this is something we do every day; as the Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even when we aren’t aware of it, we commit sin by the things we do (or fail to do), or by the way we think.
This is why we need Christ, for only He can forgive us all our sins, and only He can help us live the way we should. We can’t forgive ourselves, nor can we change our hearts and make ourselves better in God’s eyes.”
Sin places a barrier between God and us! This barrier is the main reason God hates sin. When God created Adam and Eve, they walked with Him. Once they sinned, they hid from God and felt shame. God created us for Himself to have a relationship with us. Sin stopped that. Our loving God then devised a plan for us to come back to him. This plan is what the Holy Bible is all about. It is God’s plan of salvation so He can have a relationship with you that was lost when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden.
God must punish sin!
The Bible says that as soon as we are born, we start accumulating debt; sin demands a wage.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NASB)
Death in the Holy Bible is defined as spiritual separation from God and biological death (The body returns to dust after the breath is gone.) God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on that day, they would die. They died spiritually that day when they disobeyed God. Their spirit and God’s Holy Spirit are no longer connected. Hundreds of years later, they died physically.
Everyone inherited that sin from Adam through our DNA. We are born in sin and spiritually separated from God. Perfection and sin cannot occupy the same space, just like fire and wood cannot be together. That is why a perfect God must deal with sin if He wants to have fellowship with His loved creation. This plan involves God seeking us and us responding to His call. To those that respond, He offers a way to deal with sin. To those that ignore His calling, wrath is waiting since God must punish sin.
Soon after Adam and Eve sinned, God began calling a people to His name. These people became slaves and were kept from freedom by the leader of Egypt in those days. God attempted to force freedom by sending ten plagues. The last plague was that an angel of the Lord would take the lives of the firstborn children all over Egypt.
God commanded His people to kill a perfect, unblemished male lamb, take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses of the children of God.
When the angel comes to fulfill his mission, if he sees the lamb’s blood in the doorposts, he will pass over that house and spare it—reference Exodus chapter 12.
This picture is also a type of our situation.
God created Adam and gave him dominion over the created earth. Adam disobeyed God, and sin has made us slaves. We need the blood of the Lamb to set us free.
Every sin demands a blood payment. In Hebrews chapter 9, we read:
“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22
John the Baptist said this of Jesus Christ when he saw Him approach.
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NASB
Yes! Jesus IS the Lamb of God. Provided by God for us. God made way for us to deal with sin through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord! All we need to do for salvation is believe in the Gospel and trust the Lord Jesus. Paul the Apostle explained the Gospel or “Good News” in a letter to the Corinthians.
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.“ 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Who needs salvation?
Every human being that ever existed needs salvation, except our Lord Jesus Christ, who was all man and all God, born of a virgin, and lived a perfect, sinless life.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 NKJV
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 NKJV
All humanity is born sinful, even if you do not believe so. We are sinful, but God’s grace is more powerful.
King David once wrote:
“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4 NKJV
Questions to ponder:
Below is a quote from a study from Truth For Life’s website, “A Woman at the Well” and “A Man By Night Series.”
Can a person be so good that SALVATION is not needed?
Nicodemus, a Pharisee during Jesus’ time, visited Jesus at night to ask Him questions. Pharisees in those times were one of the religious orders. They were the “In The Know” crowd, the “Wikipedia” of the Bible in those times. The Pharisees were judgmental towards anyone who sinned. Nicodemus was one of them, a teacher of the law. He did not want to be seen with Jesus, so he came at night to ensure secrecy. Jesus knows the heart of man, so He knew why Nicodemus came to see Him. He was looking for salvation. Nicodemus belonged to a group that was supposed to be the best in man. Jesus told him right away,
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” John 3:3 NKJV
Yes, even if you think you have done mostly right, you still need salvation. Please study John 3; it is an essential section for salvation.
Can a person be so bad that SALVATION cannot help?
While on His travels, Jesus made a detour through Samaria, a region of people the Jews considered worst than pigs. Jesus’ disciples went to town to fetch food and left Jesus alone. He then rested by a well when a woman approached to get water. In those days, speaking to a woman while you were a teacher of the Law was a no-no. But Jesus had a mission to accomplish. Jesus began to explain He was the giver of life when He asked her to get her husband so he could finish the conversation. She then told Him, “I have no husband.” It went like this:
“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”” John 4:16-26 NKJV
She then went to the town and testified about Jesus. Many believed in Jesus and were saved because of her testimony.
There is no one bad enough that Jesus Christ cannot save.
When do we need salvation?
Now! Today!
It is not God’s desire that anyone should perish and be lost. He is merciful but also must punish sin in due time. So today is the day, do not wait.
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” Hebrews 3:7-11 NKJV
Do not delay! Why work and store treasures for yourself and place God behind you until you are ready for Him?
Jesus spoke about this and warned us:
“And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” Luke 12:19-21 NKJV
We often think we have a long way to go before we get old and die. We often say, “I will enjoy my life, have fun, travel, etc.” We immediately put up a wall when someone starts preaching and quoting Bible verses, as if we will miss out on a lot of fun if we engage in Christianity.
We hold contempt for those that attempt to bring the message of salvation to us, believing that what they are saying is gibberish, and we trust the theories of people that think they’re wise on their own and their education.
If I had accepted Jesus Christ for salvation at a younger age, I would have made better decisions and led a more fulfilled life led by the Holy Spirit. I would not have escaped troubles and tribulations but have lived in peace earlier. Knowing my future is secure gives me peace to confront my problems.
Salvation provides hope for the future no matter our circumstances today.
Do not delay your salvation. Pray today for Jesus to come into your life. At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 NKJV
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today:
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NKJV
Jesus wants a relationship with you! He loves you!
How to get saved?
We cannot do anything to get salvation. Salvation is a gift of God, freely given by a loving God. We are born dead, and dead people cannot do anything spiritually. God must reach down and place life in us.
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1 NKJV
Even though we are born dead spiritually, God places in us a spark, a measure of faith in our souls and consciences. When God calls us, this spark lights up in us. We either feed the flame, make it grow, or snuff it out.
We grow our faith by believing the truth about Jesus written in the Holy Bible.
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 NKJV
If God calls you today, find a quiet place, kneel, and open your heart to God!
- Admit you are a sinner and in need of salvation.
- Tell God you repent, that is, you are willing to do a 180-degree turn from the life you have led so far. A life in which God is last.
- Ask God for forgiveness.
- Believe Jesus died for you, shed His blood for you, in your place, thinking of you at that time, to forgive your sins.
- Believe Jesus rose from the dead to give you eternal life.
If you believe this, with a thankful heart, then pray!
Here is a sample prayer.
Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe you sent Jesus to die on the cross for me, to pay the penalty for my sins. You did what I could not do for myself. I believe Jesus rose from the dead to give me eternal life. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
In Jesus Christ’s Name,
Amen
If you prayed a prayer such as this from your heart, you must, by faith, believe the Holy Spirit will do fantastic work through you. God will start changing you from the inside out; this does not happen overnight. Start trusting the Holy Spirit. The word believe in John 3:16 denotes trust in Jesus Christ, not just a mental exercise.
CLOSING NOTES
You are now a baby Christian who will endure growing pains and hardship. You MUST attend church and fellowship with fellow Christians to strengthen each other. Satan will like nothing more than to destroy the faith of a baby Christian. He cannot undo what Christ has done but can make you ineffective.