What is Salvation and Why we need it?

Liberty Baptist Fellowship
7 min readMay 25, 2024

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John 3:16–17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Introduction

Salvation is the term referred to when a person is spiritually passed from death to life. They have been rescued from the eternal condemnation of hell and have entered into eternal life. This happens in a moment, once the person believes on Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross at Calvary. Merriam-Webster.com defines it as, “deliverance from the power and effects of sin.”

What is sin and Why do we need deliverance from it?

According to the Bible, sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). To transgress means to go beyond the limits of what is morally, socially, or legally acceptable. So, to commit a sin is to go beyond the limits of what is morally, socially or legally acceptable to God.

The penalty for sin

As stated in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” This means that death is our direct recompense for the sin committed in our lives. God bestowed upon mankind the curse of death after his initial sin in the Garden of Eden. The search for the remedy for this curse has led man to the farthest corners of the earth, searching for the fountain of youth, or the secret to eternal life when the second half of this verse explains that eternal life is a gift that comes through belief in Jesus Christ.

What is death?

Of course, many of us are familiar with death. We have had grandparents pass away, possibly even parents, friends or other people in our lives. Yet, what we see in the flesh as death is only the beginning. The Bible tells us that there is a place where the spiritually dead dwell, and that is hell. If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life as stated in John 14:6, then those who reject him have chosen another way, they have been deceived into choosing a path which leads to destruction. Instead of accepting the free gift of eternal life given by God through his Son Jesus Christ, they have chosen to pay for their sins on their own.

What is Hell?

Hell is the dwelling place for those who have not received the gift of eternal life, because they have chosen not to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day. Due to their lack of faith in God’s Word and the shed blood of his Son Jesus, their sins must still be atoned for. Therefore, because the spirit is eternal, they must spend an eternity in hell paying for their transgressions.

What did Jesus do on the Cross?

In short, Jesus defeated the curse of death placed on mankind because of sin. By living a sinless life, Jesus was the only man ever to walk the face of the earth that was qualified to sacrifice himself for the sins of the world, thus fulfilling the payment required for the atoning of sins. As the Son of God, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, he taught others, healed the sick and ultimately was given over to death for our sake that he might overcome death with his blood and sacrifice in accordance with God’s Word.

Jesus Atonement for Our Souls Through Crucifixion

The Bible tells us in Leviticus 17:11 that it is the shedding of blood which atones for sin, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Unfortunately, for those who do wish to choose another way, there was only one man who ever lived who could fulfill the requirement of being a perfect sacrifice without sin, that was Jesus Christ. He atoned for our sins and overcame the curse of death by living a sinless life and giving it over as a ransom for all of mankind (Mark 10:45).

Jesus Conquers Death Through Resurrection

Not only did Jesus live a sinless life which he laid down for us; but scripture tells us that God raised him from the dead, which was testified of by Paul and witnessed by over five hundred people.

1 Corinthians 15:1–11

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.”

Jesus Christ offers you the gift of eternal life, here is how to receive it:

  1. Admit that you are a sinner: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
  2. Understand that you deserve hell: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  3. Know that Salvation from the eternal torment of hell is by God’s grace alone, it is attained by Faith in Him: Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
  4. Know in your heart that salvation cannot be taken away: Psalm 89:27–34 “Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”
  5. You cannot walk away from your salvation: John 10:27–30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.”
  6. Pray to God from the Heart: Romans 10:9–13 “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Summary

The Way, the Truth and the Life: One of Jesus’ personal descriptions of himself is given in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This means that if you are searching for a path in life, Jesus says that he is the way that you should follow. He states that he is the truth. If we search the internet or look to television for truth, we will not find it, because Jesus Christ is the truth, look to him and he will set you free from the bondage of sin. Finally, in this passage Jesus states that he is the life. In Christ is eternal life, this means that your life will last forever when you truly believe in him. Remember, your sins have already been atoned for, all you have to do is believe on Jesus Christ with all of your heart and what he did on the cross, and you will be saved.

God Bless,

Liberty Baptist Fellowship

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

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Liberty Baptist Fellowship
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We are a Christian apologetics ministry seeking to provide an answer to every person that asks a reason for the hope that is in us through Jesus Christ!