What is Salivation and the Steps to Salvation?

What is Salvation?

In this Bible study we aim at achieving these two aims:
(i.) To help us understand the meaning of salvation,
(ii.) To teach us steps to salvation
What is Salivation? Salvation means “to be saved, to be delivered, to be liberated”. It is from the Greek word σωτηρία, transliterated sōtēria. According to Thayer’s definition sōtēria means deliverance, preservation, safety, deliverance from the molestation of enemies. Salvation is the total work of God in bringing men from the state of sin to the state of glory through Jesus Christ the God-man (Romans 5:8). Salvation is not just the deliverance man from eternal death but it also means deliverance from physical danger but we are focusing on the salvation of the soul in this study.

WATCH PART 1

Man was originally created to live in the glorious Garden of Eden but he fell into disgrace and shame when he disobeyed God by eaten the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
Upon their fall God pronounced judgment against them, which also affects all their descendants. The fallen nature of Adam and Eve was passed on to all mankind, hereby making all humans sinners.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
It is wonderful to know that before God pronounced their judgment he made the plan of their salvation, as found in the promise of the seed of the woman (Jesus Christ) who “shall bruise” the head of Satan (Gen. 3:15) through His redemptive Death on the Cross of Calvary.
God values the soul of man dearly because man is created in His own image and likeness, and the most essential part of man, which is the soul, came from God (as breath, as seen in Gen. 2:7). As a result, God gave His Only Begotten Son to die for man for the redemption of mankind (John 3:16). The ultimate salvific plan of God for man is the deliverance of man from the eternal fire of Hell so that man can inherit the Paradise of Heaven.

Romans 5:8-12 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”.

STEPS TO RECEIVING SALVATION

1. Hear and believe the Gospel, Confess Jesus publicly:

The first step so far is to hear the message of salvation and believe it. The human heart is like soul. If it does not receive seeds it will remain bare. The Word is the seed and the sower is the preacher (Mark 9). If you have not saved, whether you go to Church or not, if you want to repent you have to go for the rich quality of Word that can pierce through your heart and cause it to yield totally to the Saviour’s call for repentance.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”(Romans 10:14)
Second, you have to believe the message. Not everyone that hears the Gospel repents. Some people give excuses each time they hear the call to receive salvation. They hear but do not believe. Jesus Christ once said:
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).
If you must be saved then you have to believe the Gospel. If there is no belief in the Word there is no salvation.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”(Mark 16:16).
It is not enough to believe but you have to confess it publicly too.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rom 10:9-10.

2. Acknowledge your sins and Repent of them:

There are some people who believe that they are good people because they live morally good lives. To them they need not be delivered from sin and its consequences. But the Bible makes it very clear:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
Again John stressed this same truth in I John 1:8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Through one man, Adam, all sinned: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” Romans 5:12.
Until one realizes this fact they will not see the need for repentance in order to escape the wrath of Him who will soon judge all mankind. When you recognize the poor situation of your soul you begin to stretch out your hands to the Saviour for salvation.
Repentance is a positive change of mind to turn from living a sinful life and start living a holy life.
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:37,38).
Until someone repents he is not saved, even if they are religious. Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5-8). This deliberate decision to stop living in sin is follow by the process of sanctification and spiritual formation through which such one is transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

3. Water Baptism

Water baptism is very important. Water baptism represents the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is an initiatory ceremony in which new converts are admitted into the Church, the Body of Christ. Water baptism is a command from the Lord Jesus Christ:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19, 20.
This is exactly what the Apostles did. When the hearers of Peter’s sermon they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter replied and told them,
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:37,38).
Remember the teaching of Jesus Christ. He said in John 3:5
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

4. Make the Lord Jesus Christ your LORD and obey God’s Commands

Many people want Jesus Christ as Saviour but not as LORD. These set of people want Jesus Christ to save them but they don’t want Him to be their owner, controller and master. This is what Lord means! Lord means “He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master. The possessor and disposer of a thing. The owner; one who has control of the person, the master” (Thayer Definition).
The moment you accept to follow Jesus Christ you should be ready to submit your independent will to Him. You are free to call Him Lord but if you do not submit your will to Him and do His will you will not enter Heaven.
There is a cost in following Jesus Christ. Nothing must get preeminence in your life except God and His will (Luke 14:26- 33). As a servant you must take up your cross daily and follow Him (Mark 8:34-36). You must not follow yourself or another master because no one van serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).
We must obey everything He commanded us:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19, 20).

5. Be filled with the Holy Spirit

When you accept Jesus Christ into your life He gives you His Holy Spirit. When you get born of the Spirit, the Spirit lives in you from the moment you give your life to Jesus Christ. One of things that guarantees your sonship is the birth by the Holy Spirit and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your body. It is the Holy Spirit that gives you the right of sonship:
John 1:12 says “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”.

Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
You need the Holy Spirit to enable you worship Him.

The Holy Spirit and the grace of God help you to obey God’s commands. Being is more than just being saved from Hell Fire and going to Heaven after this life on earth.

Conclusion

When you receive the gift of salvation you get admitted into the kingdom of God, which enables you to enjoy all the benefits of the kingdom here on earth.
If you are not saved please make up your mind today and receive Jesus Christ into your life now. We are here to help you find your way into the Kingdom of God. God bless you as you do so in Jesus’ name. Amen.