SALVATION

CLOSELY LINKED with the subject of the new birth is that of salvation. The former concerns itself principally with the necessity, source and nature of the spiritual life all men need from God; the latter emphasizes the delivering effects and scope of God’s provision in Christ. We shall think of seven things in connection with salvation.

I ITS DEFINITION

The word simply means deliverance. It is commonly used to describe the act by which a person is delivered from a danger which threatens him. We speak of a person being “saved” from drowning, or from a burning building, or from a sinking ship. In each case, three things are taken for granted. In each case, three things are taken for granted. (1) The person to be saved was in danger of death. (2) Someone saw his peril and went to his rescue. (3) The rescuer was successful in his mission and delivered the person from his perilous plight, and thus “saved”, “Savior”, and “salvation” occurs very many times in the Bible and has exactly the same meaning in a spiritual sense.

II ITS NECESSITY

The necessity for God’s salvation is due to two facts which each person must face.

1. The fact of man’s sin. We have already discussed in our previous lesson, the spiritual condition of all men by nature, and we pointed out that each human being comes into the world possessed of a sinful nature that constitutes him a sinner by birth. This sinful nature, in time, is evidenced by sinful thoughts, words, deeds, and attitude of enmity to God. The Bible makes this abundantly clear (read Romans 5:12, 18, 19; 6:16; 8:5-8; Genesis 6:5; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:21-32; 3:19-23). It will be evident to all from these Scriptures that man is: (1) A sinner, needing forgiveness. (2) Lost, needing to be found. (3) Doomed, needing deliverance. (4) Guilty, needing pardon. (5) Spiritually dead, needing life. (6) Blind, needing illumination. (7) A slave, needing liberation. Man  is thus utterly helpless to save himself.

2. The fact of God’s righteousness. God is holy, and must punish sin. He will “by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6, 7). He has revealed His hatred of sin, and His sentence against all who die in their sins. This is eternal banishment from His presence (see John 8:21, 24; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:22-31; Jude 11-13; Revelation 20:11-1 5). The obvious conclusion is: Since man is a sinner, and God is righteous; the sinner needs to be delivered or saved from the penalty of his sins. His cry should be: “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30-31).

III ITS PROVISION

The Gospel is the good news that God in wondrous grace has abundantly provided this salvation through the Person and the work of His beloved Son. Two things are clearly taught.

1. Christ came to be the Savior of sinners (Matthew 1:21). The Son of God, equal and eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, became incarnate in order to provide salvation (John 3:16, 17; Mark 10:45; Matthew 9:12, 13; John 10:11, 15-18).

2. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, this salvation has been provided, to god’s complete satisfaction.  As Christ willingly hung upon the cross, He assumed the full liability of our guilt and sin, bore our sins in His own body, and died as a substitute sacrifice on behalf. God indicated His complete acceptance of this sacrifice of Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand (read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:6-9; Acts 4:10-12; 5:31; 17:31).

IV ITS CONDITION

Since Christ has accomplished, by the sacrifice of Himself, all the work needed for the sinner’s salvation, what must the sinner do in order to experience this salvation?

1. He must repent. Repentance consists simply of a change mind which results in a change of attitude toward sin, self, the Savior and salvation; which, in turn, is evidenced by a change of action (read Luke 13:3; Acts 17:31; 20:21). The sinner’s indifference will give place to an earnest desire for salvation; his pride to humility; his self-satisfaction to a frank confession of his helpless, hopeless and hell-deserving condition.

2. He must believe the gospel, or the testimony of God concerning the Person and work of Christ (see 1 John 5:9-10). As a lost and guilty sinner he must believe that Christ died for him, individually; that Christ bore his sins, took his place and by His death, accomplished all the work needed for his salvation (Romans 4:5).

3. He must accept the Lord Jesus Christ, by a definite act of his will as his own personal Savior, henceforth to own Him as the supreme Lord of his life (John 1:12; Romans 10:9, 10; John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; Ephesians 1:13). This is the crucial act. Will you not, right from your heart, say: “Lord Jesus Christ; owning myself to be a guilty, lost sinner; but believing that Thou didst bear my sins and die in my place on Calvary; I now definitely rest in Thy finished work and receive Thee as my own Savior, henceforth to own Thee as the Lord and Master of my life”. This is what it means to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31).

V ITS ASSURANCE

How may one know, for certain, that he is saved? We answer without any hesitation: by the Word of God. God declares plainly and in black and white, that every soul trusting in His Son is forgiven, saved, the possessor of eternal life and secure forever (read Acts 13:38; 1 John 2:12; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 5:13; Romans 5:1; 8:1; John 10:27-30).

VI ITS SCOPE

Salvation has a three-fold aspect: past, present and future.

1. Past. Salvation from sin’s penalty, or consequences. Since Christ has endured the full penalty which was due to our sins, the believer is delivered from its dread consequences (see John 5:24; Romans 8:1).

2. Present. Salvation from sin’s power, or control. Because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence, plus the impartation of a Divine nature, the believer is now enabled to enjoy deliverance from the dominion of sin in his life (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Romans 6:1-14). This does not mean that the believer is incapable of sin; far from it, for he still possesses the evil nature called “the flesh”. It does mean however, that, in the measure that he avails himself of the means God has provided, sin shall not be the dominating factor in his life. This present deliverance will depend on: (1) the reading and study of and obedience to the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). (2) The keeping constantly in touch with God by prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). (3) The yielding of one’s body to God for both a righteous and useful life (Romans 6:13; 12:1, 2). (4) The prompt confession to God and the forsaking of all known sin (1 John 1:8, 9; Titus 2:11-15).

3. Future. Salvation from sin’s presence, or committal. This will take place at the coming of Christ, when He will raise the dead and change the living, so that they will have bodies incapable of sin, decay and death. This is the final aspect of salvation that we look for (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

VII ITS RESULTS

These are multitudinous (Ephesians 1:3-14). We shall select a few.

1. Peace with God (Romans 5:1). No longer at enmity.

2. Acceptance before God in Christ (Ephesians 1:6).

3. Joy in God as His children (Romans 5:10, 11; 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26-4:7).

4. Living for God (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:2-5).

5. Service to God in the way of good works and testimony for Him (Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:16; Mark 16:15, 16).

6. Worship, praise and prayer unto God (John 4:23, 24; Hebrews 10: 19-22; Hebrews 13-15; 4:14-16).

7. An eternal home in heaven (John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:1-5).

May each reader give himself no rest until he knows, on the authority of the Word of God, that he is eternally saved!

What Christians Believe

Chapter 8: Salvation

Copyright, 1949, 1951, by Emmaus Bible School 

Chicago, Illinois