Salvation
What is salvation?
As a new Christian it is important that you have a right understanding of salvation. Being saved means to be delivered from the power and effects of sin. The Process of Salvation is God’s way of renewing our relationship with Him through faith and right belief. A Savior is one who brings Salvation. One who has paid the price for us.
Who needs to be saved?
Everyone!!! Consider what God has told us: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
I believe the first step toward salvation is knowing, being convinced, that you indeed need to be saved, to be forgiven your sins. Those who do not think they need to be saved are not going to seek a savior.
This can be difficult for some people. From our point of view, that is with our reasoning, it is easy to think we are not that bad. We may even think we do more good than harm. It certainly doesn’t seem like we deserve the consequences of terrible, horrible punishment in hell for eternity. The difficult thing for us to understand is that God sees things and thinks very differently from us. Look at it from another way. Do you think that your deserve to go to heaven? The Bible says there are only two alternatives.
Why do need a Savior?
Since Adam’s fall we are all totally depraved, totally undeserving of being with God. There is no good within us, not even one of us.
God expects us to be PERFECT. You might think that is too demanding and impossible. But God still loves us even though we are sinners and He has provided a way.
Our only long term future alternative is to be with God. But, if we are guilty of sin we cannot be with God. God has said so. God has also said we are not capable of saving ourselves, because there is no good in us.
Everyone has sinned. No one deserves to be saved. Anyone who is not saved will go to hell and suffer eternal punishment. If you do not accept the fact that you deserve to go to hell for your sins you are unlikely to believe in Jesus and obtain salvation.
How do I obtain Salvation?
Salvation is a gift from God. It cannot be earned. It has nothing to do with:
- how good you are, your good deeds and works,
- how much time or money you give to Church or charity,
- how much you pray, or how much you want it,
- how much you attend Church, or what Church you attend,
- what position or role you have in your Church
- the number of sacraments you obtain,
And, surprisingly, it has nothing to do with any decision or choice you have made!
You are incapable of saving your self. It is entirely out of your hands. You do not obtain salvation be cause you choose God. God chose you!
You will hear many ministers, pastors, priests make statements like; “Believe in Jesus and you will be saved”, “Trust in God and you will be saved”, “Accept Jesus into your heart and you will be saved” Now, in once sense these statements are true and in another sense they can be misleading. It is true that if you do these things in truth, you will be saved. What is misleading is getting the idea that you had anything to do with your doing these things, thinking these things, or choosing these things. They are not actions on your part. You can take no credit for them. They come to you from the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, not from you. Your salvation totally originates from the Grace of God.
Questions about Salvation
A new Christian should focus upon having a strong understanding of the fundamentals of Salvation. Focus on these essentials and what is most important. However, as you read the Bible, you will have questions. You may even become confused trying to understand why one thing is said "Here" and it seems something else is said "There". Even long-time Christians have this difficulty. God want's us to understand as much as we are able. But do not be troubled about what you do not understand. Do not let it steer you from your belief in the important things. There are many things debated by theologians. And, it is nice to understand things. However, with most of these theological issues it doesn't matter whether you believe on one side or the other as far as your salvation is concerned if you believe the right things and follow Jesus's example.
Salvation is not a problem or a riddle to figure out. Those who are smart enough to understand more about it do not have an advantage. It is not a test. God made salvation free to anyone and he made it easy for everyone.
Below are some common questions. I hope you enjoy the answers. If you have other questions please submit them via the "Contact Us" page.
What must I beleive?
Everybody believes something. Do you believe the right things? What does a true Christian beleive?.
What is Faith?
How do you get Faith? How do you grow Faith? What is meant by "A Saving Faith"? What if a Christian has no works?
Must I be Baptized to be saved?
What is Baptism? Is it necessary? Does it matter if you are Baptized as a child or adult?
What does it mean to be "Born Again"?
How can you be "Born Again"? How do I know if I am "Born Again"? I don't feel "Born Again"?
What about Repentance?
What does repentance have to do with Salvation?
Can someone lose their Salvation?
What if you turn away from God and do not believe anymore? What if you commit some terrible sins after you accepted Jesus?
How can I have assurance that I am saved?
How can you know for sure? What has God said about this?
Is salvation a Process or one time Event?
There seems to be a lot of different things involed in Salavation. How does Salvation work?
What about people who lived before Jesus?
Are they going to hell? How can they be saved?
What about people who live in places like China, Japan, and Native Indians?
Are they going to hell? How can they be saved?
What is Foreknowledge?
In the Bible God said He had Foreknowledge of us. What does the mean? What did he foreknow about us that has to do with our Salvation?
Who are God's Elect?
God chose who would be saved.
Explain Predestination and Free Will.
How can we have both at the same time? If everything is predestined, what does it matter what we do? Do we have any control?.
What does it mean to be Called?
The Bible says God would have all men be saved. But the Bible also says many are called but only few chosen. What does this mean?
What is Justification?
What does it mean to be Justified? How are we Justified?
What is Sanctification?
What does it mean to be sanctified? How are we sanctified?
What is Glorification?
What does it mean to be Glorified? How are we Glorified?
What is Calvinism?
What do Calvinist beleive? What must I know about Calvinism? How does it affect my salvation?
What is Arminianism?
What do Arminians beleive? What must I know about Arminianism? How does it affect my salvation?
What is Lordship Salvation?
What is important to know about Lordship Salvation theology? How does it affect my salvation?
What is Lordship Salvation?
What is important to know about Non Lordship Salvation theology? How does it affect my salvation?