WHAT IS SALVATION
There are 6.3 billions population in the world, out of these 2.4 billions named themselves as Christian, but 75 % of Christian don't know what salvation is ?. If you know the deep meaning of salvation you will become the child of God with assurance of salvation and be saved.
Salvation means:
( 1 ) Salvation is something we can never accomplish on our own Jesus means " Savior ' who came to earth to save us because we an't save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we are, we can't elimate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that. Jesus didn't come to help people save themselves, He came to be their. Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Thank Christ for His death on the cross for your sin, and then ask Him to take control of your life. Your new life begins at that moment.
( 2 ) Salvation is the assurance of God's presence within us. Jesus was to be called "Immanuel" ( God with us ), as predicted by Isaiah ( Isa 7: 14 ). Jesus was God in the flesh, thus God was literally amongs us " with us ". Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is present today in the life of every believer. Perhaps not even Isaiah understood how far reaching the meaning of Immanuel would be.
( 3 ) Salvation is a single plan. The gate that lead to eternallife is narrow ( John 10: 7-9 ). Which does not mean that it is difficult to become a Christian, but there is only one road that leads to eternal life with God, and only a few decide to take it. Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, because He alone died for our sins and made us right before God. Livimg His way may not be popular, but it is true and right. Thank God ,there is only one way.
( 4 ) Salvation is a work done in our life by thr Holy Spirit. Jesus explained that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in ways we cannot predict or understand. Just as you did not control your physical birth, so you cannnot control your spiritual
birth. It is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit ( Eph 2; 8-9 )
( 5 ) Salvation is much more than Just knowing about Jesus. Knowledge is not about salvation like Nicodemus, you should know the bible but even more important you should understand the God whom the bible reveals and the salvation that God offers.
( 6) Salvation is available only because of Christ. Although there are many philosophers and self styled authorities, Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. People look every where for
eternal life except to Christ, the only source. Stay with Him, especially when you feel confused or alone.
( 7 ) Salvation is matter of receiving or rejecting Christ. Whe Jesus asked the disciplesif they would also leave, He was showing that they could either accept or reject Him. Jesus was not trying to repel people with His teachings. He was simply telling the truth. The more the
people heard Jesus' message the more they divided into camps, the honest seekers who wanted to understand ,more and those who rejected Jesus because
they didn't like what they heard.
( 8 ) Salvation is a gift to be profoundly appreciated. When some one gives youy a gift, do you say, ' There is very nice, now how much do I owe you ". No the appropriate response to a gift is " Thank you ' We should appreciate the respond with gratitude praise and joy
because Jesus Christ paid the price by His blood on the cross to redeem us.
( 9 ) Salvation can not be earned. God unmerited grace not as the result of any effort, ability,
intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve other with kindness, love and gentleness and not merely to plese ourselves. While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation. God's intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit, but
to serve Christ and build up the church which is Christ body.
Dr John Than |
