The Pastor finishes his sermon. The piano begins playing Just as I am. The pastor asks every christian to bow their head to pray for the lost. Christians bow their heads in prayer to the Lord. You can hear tears from the thankful. You can see the smiles on the faces of the joyful. The pastor lays out the offer of salvation and what makes it possible. At the end, he calls out the lost, to give heart to the Lord. One lonely soul steps up, and take a walk courage to confess their sins to the lord. The pastor leads him in prayer at the altar. The angels rejoice in heaven. However, what really happens in that moment? What happens inside that lost soul? Why do the angels rejoice? Why does the pastor make that offer?
The gift of Salvation is simple but yet complex. That gift is the only way for man to build a bridge to God. A bridge that once was broken due one man’s sin in the Garden of Eden. That disease of sin was passed down though birth and was sadly imputed against all mankind. However victory was achieved at Calvary. That victory made a bridge possible. Jesus’s tears, blood, and his life gave us a chance to come home. A chance to come home to the father. Jesus’s death was payment for the pardon of all mankind. His righteousness then was imputed to us and made us just before the father’s eyes. The only true way for us to be saved is to have faith in the justification of Jesus’s blood. Paul writes to the Romans about this very matter.
“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.” (Romans 5:18 New Living Translation)
When we ask for forgiveness of our sins, it begins a rebirth inside of us. Though our repentance of sins, our soul is made whole once again. We are in a sense born again. Jesus said that one must be born of the Spirit to see the kingdom of heaven. This is the moment that the Holy Spirit come inside and begins lives with us.
“ Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”( John 3:5-7 New Living Translation)
This new birth creates a new creation. This act of regeneration of the human soul creates a new man. We began seeing things differently. Things we once lust for in our life begin to fade away. A hunger for God is placed inside of us. A fire is placed by the Holy Spirit to inspire us. This is not something we can boast about because we did nothing to achieve it. No man could or can fulfill the law given to Moses. So God sent his self in human form as Jesus to fulfill the law. Jesus fulfills the law and took our punishment on the cross. It is though his blood that we are reborn.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”(Titus 3:5 New King James Version)
In this new birth we become spiritual minded. We began to feel God moving in us. We began to feel the Holy Spirit guide us though comfort and conviction. Our mind is slowly renewed from our carnal mind into a new spiritual mind. Paul characterizes this as a new creation. The things of old have fallen away, and the things of the spirit are put in place. Our water baptism is done in honor our old self being buried.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 New King James Version)
We also have the assurance in salvation. The evidence of assurance can be revealed by three things. The first is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He testifies of salvation and reveals truth to us. He seals us in Christ. He reveals our hope for the future and love that God has for us. The second thing is our faith in the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ cleanses our sins and puts us in right standing with God. The third is the fruit that we produce. Every time we show love for our brother and every time we take a step towards God our assurances grow. Our assurance gives us a sealed and secure salvation.
“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22 New Living Translation)
However salvation would not be possible without grace. Every single person has failed God. That is a sad truth, that we must realize at some point in our life. Every sin person deserves the penalty of sin. That penalty is death. However the Father had another plan. The Father so loved the world, that he laid down a path of redemption. The whole Bible tell of God’s execution of his divine plan.
Paul in Romans goes into great detail about grace. He clearly defines salvation as a free gift. It was by God’s grace and love that he sent his son to earth to die for our sins. Salvation is given as a gift for multiple reasons for which I am thankful. One reason is so we could not boast. Salvation is something that we cannot attain, it merely a free gift if we chose to have it. It is a way to keep us humble and thankful in front of God.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 New Living Translation)
Another reason is he loves us. No man could attain it, so he sent his only son for us. Jesus was forsaken on the cross, so God would never forsake us. Paul said no angel or anything could separate us from God. The whole bible folds out as a divine message of his love, righteousness, and his grace.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 New King James Version)
Another key factor in salvation is faith. Our forgiveness of our sins comes by faith as well. We must have faith that Jesus died and rose from the grave. If we don’t have faith, then everything is vain in our theology. In order to truly follow the commandments and have the assurance of our salvation, we must have faith. If we do not have faith, then how is salvation even be possible.
Personal salvation cannot be attained without faith. If we don’t have faith, we begin to question everything. Their is no assurance without faith. Faith in God is what deepens our relationship. Faith holds the keys to salvation, healings, tongues, prayers, and hope. Everything has been done for us for salvation. God did all the work on the cross. In order to accept the gift, we have to have faith in him.
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (Romans 9:9-10 New Living Translation)
“But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.” (Romans 4:5 New Living Translation)
There is one more thing. This is the most important and no paper on salvation would be complete without it. Jesus is why we have salvation. If not for the Messiah, we would have no hope. It is only through Jesus that we become complete. It is Jesus that is possible to be a new creation. His sacrifice gave him all authority. He is the undeniable King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. There are many religions out there, but there is only one Jesus. There is only one true God. Christianity is not a religion. It is not just a set of beliefs, or theology you can sit down. It is the truth, the light, and the way. Following Jesus is a relationship.
Jesus even defines its a relationship. Jesus said no greater thing can a friend do besides lay his life down for his friends. That exactly what Jesus died. For the good of humanity and creation, Jesus laid down his life. Jesus took God’s wrath for our sins. He pays the debt for our sins, and when he rose the payment was accepted. A major battle in Spiritual Warfare was won. Victory was given to every person, and that victory was salvation.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 English Standard Version)’
Salvation is a great gift. If not for God grace, then we all be in hell. He loves and that why he has done everything he ever done. We should cherish salvation and our relationship with our Father. We are sons because of Salvation. It is something we should never take for granted. That’s why angels rejoice when someone gets saved, cause another son came home.
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