Salvation

Salvation is only thru the Blood

We want to dedicate this to all those that are confused about Salvation and what the Bible says about it, so let’s start at the beginning with the background – The Book of Genesis.  God tells us in Hosea 4:6 “…that His people perish for the lack of knowledge” so it is imperative we all know about Salvation and our only way to Eternal Life with God.  (John 3.3, 14:6)

• Adam was Created as a son of God in the Garden.  Eve came out of Adam and is the mother of all men. (Genesis 2:7, 2:21-23)
• Eve was deceived by Satan, but Adam consciously followed Eve in sin.  Hence Adam sinned deliberately which led to the fall of man.   Adam was ultimately responsible for Eve and obeying God.  (Genesis 3:1-6,12-13,17)
• When Adam sinned against God and His command, mankind died: spiritually at first, but literal death then entered man’s body due to Adam’s sin. (Genesis 2:17)
• Because Adam sinned and fell, all mankind that comes from Adam and Eve (all of us) are born into sin before we even sin. We are born sons of Adam. (John 3:18, Romans 5:12)
• When Adam and Eve realized they were “Naked” they tried to cover themselves with leaves.  This is the first religion, man trying to cover himself in his own way. (Genesis 3:7)
• But God having a different idea killed innocent animals and covered them with the skins, hence the first teaching that the shedding of innocent blood would temporarily cover sin – preparing for us a pattern for the permanent innocent blood sacrifice of Jesus to take away our sins forever.  (Genesis 3:21)
• It was at this time God told Satan that the seed of the woman (Jesus the Messiah) would defeat him. (Genesis 3:15)
• Cain and Able knew what God wanted in a sacrifice, but only Able followed God’s command.  Cain stubbornly went against God and thought he could offer God whatever he (Cain) chose.  (Genesis 4:3-5)
• Move forward to Noah’s time: Noah took 7 clean animals each in to the Ark while only taking 2 of every other animal.  Noah knew God required a blood sacrifice for a sin covering. (Genesis 7:2-3)
• When Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac as God instructed, we are told that God provided Himself a Ram as a substitution sacrifice in place of Isaac.    Isaac was a type (a future picture) of “Jesus” about 2000 years before Jesus was sacrificed as the perfect substitution for our sin on a Cross at the same location in ~32 AD.

Now God knew before the foundation of the world that man would fall and since God wanted a people for Himself He would need to make a way for man to be permanently reconciled to Himself.

• God knew He would need a perfect human sacrifice to take the penalty of man’s sins once and for all and the only perfect sacrifice was the God-man Himself – Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer.  (Hebrews 9:26, 10:26; 2Corithians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Rev. 5)
• This is why Jesus came to earth and this is the Gospel: “that Jesus died for our sin according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures”. (1Corinthians 15:1-4 – the definition of the Gospel; Colossians 1:19-22; Romans 3:23-24)

Since all mankind are born sinners, we are told in John 3:18 “we are judged already”.  Yes, every one of us deserves judgment for our own sin.  We are born sons of Adam and are in need of reconciliation to God. This is why Jesus said He didn’t come to judge the world the first time – we are judged already being born into sin!!     BUT, when Jesus returns the second time, He will judge the world – all those that have not accepted Him.  (John 3:17-19, Genesis 3:20)

• God tells us there are no men that live up to His standards. (Romans 3:10-12; 3:23)
• God tells us while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.   This means you cannot believe the lie that you must improve yourself before you come to Jesus.  That is exactly what Satan wants you to think. Jesus came for the sinner. (Romans 5:8, Matthew 9:12-13)
• We are all deserving of the punishment for our own sins and spending eternity in Hell, BUT the difference between the sinners going to Hell and the sinners that are heading to Heaven is that when you come to Jesus and are Born Again the punishment for your sin is paid for by Jesus, no matter the sin. (Romans 5:9; John 3:36; 1 John 1:9)

So you ask, how do I get “Saved” from paying the penalty for my sin?    You have to be Born Again, (John 3.3) which is accepting what Jesus did for you on the Cross paying for your sin, admitting you are a sinner, repenting of your sin, changing your old ways and becoming obedient to Jesus and His commands.  NO works will get you to Heaven: not baby baptism, not joining a religious organization or church, not trying to be a good person (which you can’t be in God’s eyes), not just loving everyone around you, not giving money to the poor, not doing community projects, etc.   It is only by an obedient Faith in Jesus and no more or no less! (Romans 10:9-13, John 14:6, Hebrews 7:25)

Now you ask what happens when I am Born Again?    When you are Born Again you become a son of God instead of son of Adam to which you were born.   You are adopted into God’s family.    You receive your inheritance of eternal life with God forever.   You receive the guarantee of resurrection and eternal life thru a down payment and that down payment is the Holy Spirit coming and living in you, changing you and guiding you.   For an inheritance to be paid it takes the death of the person Willing you that inheritance and that is what Jesus did on the Cross!    (John 14:17; Romans 8:14-16, 23; Romans 15:13; 1Corinthians 2:12-14; 2Corithians1:22, 5:5; Ephesians 1:4-6, 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:9; Galatians 4:4-6; 1John4:13)

Once you are Born Again you will begin to see God change you from the inside with your cooperation.  Old things are not interesting or desirable any longer.  You want a new community of Christian brothers and sisters, who are now your REAL brothers and sisters.  You will develop a desire to know the Word of God, the Bible.  This is usually not an overnight process, but it can only begin after you accept Jesus and are Born Again.   (Matt 12:46-50)

When you are first Saved you are saved from the Penalty of sin- you are “justified” and gain eternal security.   That leads to you being Saved from the Power of Sin over you in this fleshly body when you rely on Jesus and request His help.  This is the process of Sanctification, the process where you become more “Christ-like”.  Then when you die and go to Heaven you are Saved from the Presence of Sin, Glorification.  (Romans 5:1, 6:5-7)

When Jesus became sin and died to sin for you and me, it was a permanent one-time payment.  Innocent animals were no longer needed to die for a temporary covering of sin, as sin was now permanently paid for – for those who accept the free gift and believe.    Jesus paid for your sins ~ 2000 years ago before you were even born – those sins you committed in the past, those sins you committed today and those sins you will commit the rest of your life.  (Hebrews 7:24-28, 9:27-28, 10:10, Romans 6:10)

You have a choice while on this earth: Do you accept Jesus and follow Him so you can spend Eternity in Paradise with Him (also called Heaven) OR do you just want to live how you want to live on this earth until you die.     By not accepting or even rejecting Jesus you are choosing to spend Eternity separated from God in Hell paying for your sin yourself – also called the Lake of Fire in eternity after your judgement.

God’s perfect Love gives you the choice of eternal destinations before your last breath.   If you choose Jesus, earth is the worst place you will ever live BUT if you do not choose Jesus, earth is the best place you will ever live.    Seriously think about your future, as you now know what God tells us.  All men are held responsible for the level of information they received during their life time.  After your last breath, and you surely don’t know when that is, it will be too late.  Everyone will face Jesus in Judgment after death, either on their way to Heaven or on their way to Hell.  There are no other options for man.   (Philippians 2:10, Romans 4:11)

If you have come to the end of yourself and finally realize it is only thru God that can you change your life then maybe your heart is ready to accept Jesus and what He has done for you on the Cross.  You might get alone with God and Pray from your heart.

Here is a suggestion:

“Heavenly Father, I have come to the end of myself.  I know I am a sinner and want to repent.  I want to accept what Jesus did on the Cross, taking the punishment I deserve for my sins so I can be reconciled to you Father God.    I want to have a relationship with you Father God and live my life for You.  I want to be adopted in as a son of God and desire to receive the Holy Spirit within me to change my heart from the inside and guide me thru-out the rest of my life.    I humbly come before you in repentance and ask You to take hold of my life and give me a hunger for the things of you Father.    I pray this in the name of my new Savior Jesus Christ.”