What is Salvation

Salvation is deliverance (freedom) from the authority and control of sin. According to the Word of God, you will be saved from enemies – Luke 1:71, sin – Romans 10:1, 9-10, bondage – Acts 7:25 and sickness and disease – Acts 4:12.

Salvation comes from the Greek word, soteria, which means deliverance. Salvation, in the New Testament, refers to eternal and temporary deliverance from Salvation is a gift available to all who repent (change their attitude and direction toward sin) and believe on Jesus. Romans 10:9-10, prepares you to confess Him as your Savior and Lord.

Why Must I Be Saved?

You should be saved because God loves you and wants you to be saved (John3:16, 1 Timothy 2:3-4). Jesus died for your sins so that you can have the abundant life of prosperity and health!

Does being saved mean I’m perfect? Absolutely not! But you are forgiven (Romans 3:23-24).

Will I Be Tested?

Yes! Satan will tempt you as he tempted Jesus in Matthew 4:3-11, but you can count it all joy when you fall into various temptations and know that the trying of your faith works patience (James 1:2-3). Patience, when it is finished, will leave you perfect (complete, mature), wanting nothing.

James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”

What Does Salvation Cost Me?

The blood of Jesus Christ paid the price of salvation. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the apostle Paul says that you are not your own, but you have been bought with a price. Jesus paid the price for you to receive the gift of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What Does Knowing Jesus Have To Do With My Salvation?

Jesus is the only way to the Father according to John 14:6. Acts 4:12 says,“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

What Really Did Happen When You Asked Jesus To Come Into Your Life?

You Are Forgiven – You’re Starting Fresh!

The first thing God did when you made Jesus Christ your Savior was wipe the slate clean. (1 John 1:9/Hebrews 8:12/Jeriemiah 31:34).

What was wiped away? Sin, your disobedience to God, which would have separated you from him forever. Everything you have ever done to offend God has been erased! Your failures have been forgiven.

How can this be? Because when Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty for all your sins, past and future.

Of course, God doesn’t want you to sin anymore. He has put his Holy Spirit in you to give you the desire and the ability to overcome sin. (1 John 5:4-5, 1 John 4:4). But, if you should fall short, just admit to him your failure and turn away form sin. (1 John 1:8-9). By doing this, every day can be a fresh start!

You Became God’s Child – You’ve Been “Born Again” Into God’s Family!

When you accepted Jesus’ payment for your sins, God’s Holy Spirit came into you and made you spiritually alive! That’s what it means to be born again.

(John 1:12/Romans 8:14-17).

Think of the awesome privilege of just being in your new family!

Scientists try to discover the secrets of nature, but HE made it all. And this very same Being, God Almighty, says he is your Father.

This overwhelmed the apostle John. He spoke for all of us when he exclaimed, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1-2).

Your new Father has already made provisions for the rest of your life.

He has given you His Word, the Bible, to show you how to “grow up” in your new life with him. He has issued an open invitation to come and talk to him regularly in prayer. And he has created a family of brothers and sisters, fellow Christians, who will encourage you. (Hebrews 10:25).

You Have Eternal Life – You Will Live In God’s Loving Presence Forever!

One of the most wonderful gifts God gives his children is eternal life with him. When you leave this life through physical death, immediately you will be with him in a glorious new life in heaven. (John 3:15-16). But the full, abundant life God gives you doesn’t start when you die. It starts right now!

Before you gave your life to Jesus, it was like you were traveling alone, doing your best to find the right path. You had no map and most of the time you walked in dense fog. Whether you realize it or not, you weren’t sure where you were going with your life or even exactly where you were.

But God knows. And his plans for your life include a specific, eternal purpose, one only you can fulfill.

Each day let God guide your way. His route will be perfect for you. With him in control, you will discover a peace that is beyond all understanding in this life. And you’ll have the joy of knowing you will be with him forever.

What’s Next?

God promises you that as you come to him, HE will teach you his ways. However, there are certain things you need to do. These are practical steps that draw you to God and allow him to teach you.

Prayer – Talk to God!

Most citizens of a country do not have access to its leader. But his sons and daughters do. Similarly, through Jesus Christ you have access to the throne of the King of Kings any time you need it.

You actually have the right to come before the ruler of the universe and visit with him, (Hebrews 4:16). To share with him your intimate thoughts, desires and fears. After all, you’re his child.

Talk to him. That’s what prayer is, simply talking to your heavenly Father.

(Luke 18:1)

You don’t have to be on your knees or in a church when you talk to God. You can pray anywhere.

You can talk to God in the midst of your daily activities, but you also need to set aside a quiet time free of distractions to be alone with him every day Use this time to read His Word, the Bible, and to talk to him. As you do this, you will begin to grow in your new life with God.

Bible Reading – Find Out What God Says!

The Bible is the main way God has chosen to tell us about himself.

(2 Timothy 2:15/John 5:39/Acts 17:11). It’s also the main way God has chosen to tell us about ourselves, who we are, his promises to us for now and for the future and how we are to live successfully.

More than 30 men wrote the Bible over a period of time from about 1400 B.C. up to approximately A.D. 90.

These men wrote chronicles of history, poetry, and letters to other people and more. But each one wrote, as he was inspired in a special way by the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Though written as 66 individual works, they fit together as a comprehensive whole, the Bible, God’s Word to us.

Learning what God says in the Bible is a very important part of your new life.

How To Read The Bible!

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek. Today you can choose from a number of different English translations.

Start reading!

The book of John is a good place to start. You may want to follow it with the book of Luke, the book of Acts, and then the rest of the New Testament.

First, read each passage or book like you would anything else.

You may want to begin by first reading a book of the Bible straight through from beginning to end.

Then go back and read it again more closely. What does each passage say about God? What does it say about you?

Ask God to show you how various passages apply to your life.

Fellowship – Join With Other Born-Again Christians!

God has just plugged you into the most spiritually powerful entity on earth. (Hebrews 10:25)

When you gave your life to Jesus Christ you became a vital part of God’s family. And there’s more to God’s family than most people ever imagine!

One of the images the Bible uses to describe God’s family, the Church, is a body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The Bible says Jesus is the head and each person who has truly given his or her life to Jesus makes up a part of the body. Everyone is dependent on other and everyone has something to contribute to the entire body.

You receive strength and encouragement from others in the Church. But you also give something vital to the whole. That’s one reason why local church involvement is so important. And why the Bible says not to neglect meeting together.

But the Church does more than help the individual members. Together, as members of one body, the Church has tremendous spiritual power against the evil in this world.

How To Find A Good Church!

First ask the Lord to guide you. (Matthews 7:7-8)

Then, look for a church where the people love Jesus Christ and serve him as Lord, and where the doctrine, teaching and practice of the church are in accordance with the Word of God.

Beware Of Churches That:

1. Place Jesus Christ as less than or not equal to God the Father.
2. Revere a book other than or in addition to the Bible.
3. Place an undue emphasis on one person, leader or founder.
4. Emphasize salvation by works rather than as a free gift through faith.

Control members and require service to the organization or leader rather than voluntary service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your Responsibility As Part Of God’s Family!

God intends for you to contribute to the family of God in a unique way. Along with fulfilling your unique role, you and every other member of God’s family have a responsibility to:

1. Draw close to God through prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Only then will you recognize and use the gifts God has given you in the ways God intended to make an eternal difference in the lives of others.

2. Pray for your church, your pastor, other believers and people who need to give their lives to Jesus, both locally and worldwide.

3. Give of your time and talents. Participate in at least one ministry activity through your church or a ministry. It may be stuffing envelopes or sharing Jesus on the street. As you give of yourself, you will be blessed and will continue to grow in your relationship with God.

4. Give of yourself materially. The Bible teaches that we should give at least a tenth of all we receive to him. Giving him the first 10 percent is our recognition that all we have comes from God.

A Sinner’s Prayer

To Receive Jesus as Savior

Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess right now, and realize that I am a sinner. I repent of all my sins. I make a 180-degree turn away from all my sins. I change my heart, I change my mind, I change my direction and I turn toward Jesus Christ. I confess with my mouth that God raised Jesus from the dead, and I believe in my heart that Jesus is alive and operates in my life. I thank you Father that I am saved, in Jesus’ name, Amen!