INTRODUCTION: In this article, we want to answer some questions concerning the subject of Salvation. Some of these include; what is salvation, why salvation, who saves, how can I be saved? In another article (The Nature of God), we read that God is the Almighty. He is in control of His creation. He does what He pleases. Mankind cannot thwart the plans of God. Through the Bible we can see that God has always kept His promises. His word is as sure as the sun rises and more so. The subject of salvation is something spoken about by God. We need to go to the Bible to get the information on this subject.

MANKIND'S DILEMMA

In the book of Genesis chapters 1-3 we read about creation and the fall of man. A simple illustration of the fall of man is understood in the account of Adam and Eve. Genesis 2:16-17; "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die." (NASB) Genesis 3:6; "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." (NASB) God had given His word to Adam and Eve; they were not to eat of the fruit. They disobeyed His word and as a result they fell. This is the first sin we read about in the Bible. When man sins, he falls. As you read in the Bible, mankind sinned against God many times. Even today mankind sins against God. Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (NASB)

Punishment is a just recompense of those that sin. God told Adam and Eve, "for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die," (NASB) This is just what happened. In Genesis the third chapter we read that Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden and no longer had access to the tree of life. Which, if they ate from it, they would live forever, (Gen. 3:22&24). Death is a result of sin; not only physical death but also spiritual death. Death is a separation. Sin causes one to be separated from God, (Isaiah 59:1&2). Romans 2:5-6, "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds:" (NASB) God is a just God and one who lives in sin will be punished by God. There are many more passages that speak about this punishment. Because of the intended size of this article, I will not speak of it now.

We can see by these passages the awful state of mankind and the need for something and/or someone to rescue us from the punishment of sin. Romans 5:8-9 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." (NASB) We cannot go into all the details about this passage; but we do know this:

(1) God loves us.
(2) Christ died for us.
(3) Through Christ's blood man can be justified.
(4) Through Christ, man can be saved from the wrath of God.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We see what God has done to save mankind. The Bible teaches that salvation is conditional and there is something that each candidate for salvation must do. Acts 2:37. "Now when they heard {this}, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (NASB) The people on the day of Pentecost heard the gospel message. Their response to the message is the same one that candidates for salvation must have, "what shall we do?"

(1) HEAR THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
Romans 10:17. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (NASB)

(2) BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
John 8:24. "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am {He}, you shall die in your sins." (NASB) John 20:30-31. "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." (NASB) Mark 16:16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." (NASB)

(3) REPENT
This means to change the way you think religiously and spiritually toward God and sin. Turn from sin and turn to God. The people on the day of Pentecost said, "what shall we do?" Peter said, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; . . ." (Acts 2:38). Luke 13:3 says, "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (NASB)

(4) CONFESS
Romans 10:9 says, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;" (NASB) We must confess the name of Jesus Christ, that He is our Lord and He is the Son of God. These are His claims. We must not deny them; for if we do Matthew 10:32-33 says, "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." (NASB)

(5) BE BAPTIZED (IMMERSED IN WATER)
We have read two passages already, Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38. By this act of obedience you will be saved and your sins will be forgiven. 1 Peter 3:21 says, ". . . baptism now saves you . . ." Galatians 3:27 teaches that through baptism one puts on Christ. Romans 6:1-4 teaches that baptism is the way one gets into Christ.

(6) LIVE A FAITHFUL LIFE
(a) Rom. 6:1-2 says, "Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be . . ." No longer live for sin.
(b) Colossians 1:21-23 ". . . if indeed you continue in the faith . . ." We must continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast.
(c) Revelation 2:10 says, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

CONCLUSION

There is a great day coming when God will judge the world. This great salvation cannot be ignored. For if we do, we will be punished. But if we are obedient to the gospel message we will be saved.