Salvation

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Salvation
by PJ Salas

"The Lord is near to those who are of a broken heart; and He saves those who are of a contrite attitude."  "Depart from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Psalms34:18,14.

Good News the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The gospel message is God's plan of salvation. It begins within us, when our heart breaks with the pain of sin, and we feel genuinely remorseful, seeking God with a humble attitude, then we have forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ.

The salvation that Jesus brings moves us to depart from sin which is evil, and to seek His peace that we live peaceable with God, and with each other as far as possible, without reverting back to sin and comprising God's principles. (Romans12:18).

Surrender

As we surrender our life to Christ He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and creates in us a clean heart. Jesus inspires a right attitude in us, and makes us a new creature in Him (2Corinthians5:17); and He affects us in doing good to others.

"For the grace of God shines forth, giving light, bringing salvation to all people; teaching us to refuse ungodliness and worldly longings, to live righteously, godly, and wisely in this present world."

"Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, so that He could redeem us from all sin, and purify to Himself a special people, zealous for good works." Titus2:11-14.

In the Beginning

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  "Then God saw everything He made, and indeed it was very good." Genesis1:1,31.

When God created the earth, it was perfect, there was nothing wrong with it; but that did not last. Sin entered our world by disobedience to God.

God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but they disobeyed. In disregarding the Creator's command to eat not from a certain tree, sin came into our lives (Ge3:1-24).

Deceived

God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate from the prohibited tree they would die; but Eve, beguiled by satan, doubted God. satan in appealing to Eve, baited and incited her, insinuating God was keeping something from her, and that she would not die. Eve believed satan and ate from the forbidden, and Adam ate also.

Eve chose to disregard God's command in eating the restricted, and Adam went along with it; and we have been dying ever since.

Death

In choosing to believe satan over God the first couple chose death over life, and satan over the Creator; and six thousand plus years later we still choose satan's lies over the Lord and His truth.

Although Adam and Eve brought sin and death into our world, we have all participated in sin ever since (Romans3:23; 1John1:8).

Sin

Whoever commits sin is acting lawlessly, for sin is lawlessness. (1John3:4). Sin is the rejection of God's governance in our lives, the refusal to accept His Word, and live in obedience to Him and His truth. And because sin separates us from our Creator, the Lifegiver, we die.

Eradicating Sin

Repent and be converted so that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts3:19). Through God's plan of salvation, He enables us to be free of sin through Jesus, who died to take away our sins, and the penalty of those sins.

Death is the result of sin, a natural consequence. And because we all have sinned (Romans3:23) eternal loss is the experience of all who do not turn away from sin.

To turn away from sin means to turn to God, to seek His forgiveness and help to change. By opening our hearts and inviting Jesus to come into our life and change us, we are turning to God.

Jesus Enables

Christ comes into our life and teaches us how to live without sin. Jesus not only takes away the penalty of sin, which is death; but, He also strengthens and enables us to live without sin. Praise be to God.

Through Jesus Christ, who died in our place, we have eternal life (John3:15,16) through the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians1:7).

Forgiveness

With Jesus there is forgiveness. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John1:9). Through Jesus' incredible gift of Himself, He takes away our sin (Jn1:29). We can be forgiven, free to live a life of hope and help in Christ.

In our Savior, the Lord Jesus, we have forgiveness with God. Through His sacrifice, forgiveness is ours if we seek it sincerely. "(Jesus) In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, by the riches of His grace" Ephesians1:7.

Hope in Jesus

By the grace of God's love we have an everlasting consolation and good hope. (2Thessalonians2:16). In Jesus, there is hope. In holding on to Christ, in clinging to Him and believing Him, in depending on Him, and looking to Him, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews12:2), we have hope through faith in the Savior.

By Faith

Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved, for by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus, it is God's precious and loving gift to us (Romans10:13;Ephesians2:8).

We accept and receive God’s gift of salvation by repenting of our sins. To repent is to be truly sorry for our sin, and to seek Jesus for help. It necessitates change. Through belief and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can receive and accept God’s gift; but we must believe in Him, and trust Jesus to give us the ability to change.

Receiving Salvation

With our heart we believe unto righteousness, and with our mouth we confess our sin, and we receive God's salvation. (Romans10:10). We receive eternal life by giving our self to Jesus. Surrendering to Christ means confessing our sins, and believing in our heart, that Jesus will save us; and He does!

Lifegiver

Jesus is the answer to our every need and longing; and deep within it is Jesus we desire. We spend our lives searching for this and that, hoping to be filled-up and satisfied; but truthfully, only Christ can genuinely satisfy. Jesus brings lasting satisfaction. He is everlasting love.

From Jesus comes authentic purpose and meaningful reward. He is the Lifegiver, the very breath we breathe. (Genesis2:7). Without Jesus we are nothing, literally. But with Him, we are everything we need to be, and more!

Invitation

Open up your heart to Jesus, and let Him come into your life. Surrender to the Savior. Don’t delay. The promise of tomorrow is uncertain; and more importantly, without Jesus life is of no lasting value. Even when things seem to be going as they should, if we are not in the will of God, if we are not living in His truth, it is vain.

Life with Jesus is the most excellent and significant reality of the highest kind; it is a life of great worth and import. In Christ, there is hope and help to live as God would have us live.

Trust In Jesus

Jesus loves you, deeply! Trust in Him. Believe Him. Put your faith and confidence in Christ. He will not disappoint you. People hurt us, they disappoint us, but Jesus never does.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs3:5. Jesus is calling to you, open your heart and let Him come into your life. "My child, give Me your heart, and let your eyes observe My ways." Proverbs23:26.