What does salvation mean? Salvation means to be saved or delivered from destruction, danger, or great calamity. When the bible talks about salvation, it is talking about deliverance or to be saved from going to hell. The Bible tells hell is inside of the earth and was created for Satan and his angels. Hell is a place of great torment. After people die, the souls of those who are not saved are cast into hell until the day of judgment. Then their physical body is reunited with their soul for judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” After judgment, those who are not found written in the book of life (saved) are cast into the lake of fire- Revelation 20: 11-15.
Sin and death entered into the world through Adam (the first man created). Every person born after that has sin born into their body and they will die. They cannot help but sin; it is their nature because it is born in them. Romans 5:12 says, “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.” Everyone is a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” We owe a penalty for our sins which is by our death- first our physical death and then eternally where our soul endures such torment that it is termed as death. Romans 6:23 says, “But the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” If God is a loving, kind God then why does He require a payment for sin? see: Who God is: Love video
After the death of the physical body, the unsaved soul lives a spiritual death, a torment, in a never ending fire (hell) to pay for their sins against God. After this life, however, the only opportunity to reconcile the penalty for sin has ceased and therefore the unsaved remain forever in a state of debt. The payment will never be resolved- resulting in everlasting torment.
God could allow everyone to die and go to hell for their penalty of sin because of the choice of Adam, but in his great mercy, He made a way for man to be reconciled unto Himself. He chose that the payment for the penalty of sin should be the blood and death of an innocent (sinless) man. If everyone that is born has sin in them how can you have a sinless man? So God went even further and supplied a sinless man for us, to die for our sins in our place. Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” God loves us so much that he sent the best sacrifice possible which is His only begotten son. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever should believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Romans 5:8 says, “That God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God did not have to send his son Jesus to die for our sins, therefore this is a gift that He is giving to us. We must accept this gift to be saved.
Heaven is a place that is invisible to us, where God and his angels live and where the people that are saved go after they die. Many people in this world believe they have to work their way to heaven. If God gave us a gift, then why do people think we have to work for it? If you ask most people in this country how you get to heaven they will say, "if I've lived a pretty good life and done more good things than bad, I should get to go to heaven." Salvation is simply not based on what a person can (works) or cannot do. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (our righteousnesses are the good things we try to do) are as filthy rags.” Because sin is living in our bodies and we are separated from God because of the sin, no good deed of ours can be seen by Him as good. Therefore, any good thing we do is not recognized by Him so there is no way we can work our way to heaven. Many people believe that there are other ways to heaven and that there are different saviors (see Why are there different religions?). But the Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” God made only one way to reconcile men to Himself and that is through His son, Jesus. There is no other way to be saved.
People are accountable to be reconciled to God (Acts 17:30). Romans 1: 17-21 explains that people are without excuse, that the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen. Unfortunately, many people reject this fact. John 3:17-21 says that every one that does evil hates the light (Jesus) neither comes to the light because their deeds would be reproved. Romans 2: 14,15 explains that we have the laws written in our hearts and our conscious bears us witness. Titus 2:11 says that the grace of God has appeared to all men. This leaves us with no excuse. Many people do not understand or they do not want to accept with the fact that if they just doing nothing (not receive God's free gift), they are condemned to hell already (John 3:18). Salvation is a choice. God gave us free will to choose. But there is no middle ground; it is one side or the other. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Also, when we're born into this world we're born into sin and Satan is our father- not God. John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The only way to not be a child of the devil is to be born unto God- to become sons of God. John 1:12 "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".
How do we become a child of God? We must have faith. Faith is believing in things that we cannot see (see: Definitions). We must believe that God is real. We must believe that God sent his son Jesus to die as payment for our sins. We must believe that God raised him from the dead. We must believe that without Him (accepting His gift of salvation) we will die and go to hell. John 5:24 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” We must believe in God and His truth with our whole heart. We must believe so much that we are repentant.
What is repentance? It is simply to change one's mind about something. To change a decision and make a different decision. Repentance brings a heart of change and of surrender. You must surrender your life to God. You must die to yourself (to having your own way) and be willing to follow Him and His ways. The heart has to be totally committed to God and to Him changing your life. Most people do not want to give up their life, they want control of it. Matthew 10:39 says "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
What must I do to be saved? If the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are new to you, read the book of John in the bible. This will help you understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Then, you must except that you are sinner. You must accept the fact that as a sinner you owe a penalty for it, which is death (a spiritual death in hell). You must believe and accept the gift that Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for your sin. You must be repentant which is changing your mind about who you are, your sin, and turning away from your sins and old way of life. Believe and trust that God will save you by His son Jesus. No works connected. Just believe. Baptism isn't part of salvation or saying a prayer. It is simply believing. This is the gospel by which we are saved: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures"
You now have a relationship with God that is just beginning. Dedicate yourself to developing your relationship with Him. Prayer, learning His word, and being around other Christians is a crucial point to developing that relationship.
For a more detailed understanding, see our video: Salvation
Sin and death entered into the world through Adam (the first man created). Every person born after that has sin born into their body and they will die. They cannot help but sin; it is their nature because it is born in them. Romans 5:12 says, “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.” Everyone is a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” We owe a penalty for our sins which is by our death- first our physical death and then eternally where our soul endures such torment that it is termed as death. Romans 6:23 says, “But the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” If God is a loving, kind God then why does He require a payment for sin? see: Who God is: Love video
After the death of the physical body, the unsaved soul lives a spiritual death, a torment, in a never ending fire (hell) to pay for their sins against God. After this life, however, the only opportunity to reconcile the penalty for sin has ceased and therefore the unsaved remain forever in a state of debt. The payment will never be resolved- resulting in everlasting torment.
God could allow everyone to die and go to hell for their penalty of sin because of the choice of Adam, but in his great mercy, He made a way for man to be reconciled unto Himself. He chose that the payment for the penalty of sin should be the blood and death of an innocent (sinless) man. If everyone that is born has sin in them how can you have a sinless man? So God went even further and supplied a sinless man for us, to die for our sins in our place. Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” God loves us so much that he sent the best sacrifice possible which is His only begotten son. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever should believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Romans 5:8 says, “That God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God did not have to send his son Jesus to die for our sins, therefore this is a gift that He is giving to us. We must accept this gift to be saved.
Heaven is a place that is invisible to us, where God and his angels live and where the people that are saved go after they die. Many people in this world believe they have to work their way to heaven. If God gave us a gift, then why do people think we have to work for it? If you ask most people in this country how you get to heaven they will say, "if I've lived a pretty good life and done more good things than bad, I should get to go to heaven." Salvation is simply not based on what a person can (works) or cannot do. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (our righteousnesses are the good things we try to do) are as filthy rags.” Because sin is living in our bodies and we are separated from God because of the sin, no good deed of ours can be seen by Him as good. Therefore, any good thing we do is not recognized by Him so there is no way we can work our way to heaven. Many people believe that there are other ways to heaven and that there are different saviors (see Why are there different religions?). But the Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” God made only one way to reconcile men to Himself and that is through His son, Jesus. There is no other way to be saved.
People are accountable to be reconciled to God (Acts 17:30). Romans 1: 17-21 explains that people are without excuse, that the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen. Unfortunately, many people reject this fact. John 3:17-21 says that every one that does evil hates the light (Jesus) neither comes to the light because their deeds would be reproved. Romans 2: 14,15 explains that we have the laws written in our hearts and our conscious bears us witness. Titus 2:11 says that the grace of God has appeared to all men. This leaves us with no excuse. Many people do not understand or they do not want to accept with the fact that if they just doing nothing (not receive God's free gift), they are condemned to hell already (John 3:18). Salvation is a choice. God gave us free will to choose. But there is no middle ground; it is one side or the other. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Also, when we're born into this world we're born into sin and Satan is our father- not God. John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The only way to not be a child of the devil is to be born unto God- to become sons of God. John 1:12 "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".
How do we become a child of God? We must have faith. Faith is believing in things that we cannot see (see: Definitions). We must believe that God is real. We must believe that God sent his son Jesus to die as payment for our sins. We must believe that God raised him from the dead. We must believe that without Him (accepting His gift of salvation) we will die and go to hell. John 5:24 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” We must believe in God and His truth with our whole heart. We must believe so much that we are repentant.
What is repentance? It is simply to change one's mind about something. To change a decision and make a different decision. Repentance brings a heart of change and of surrender. You must surrender your life to God. You must die to yourself (to having your own way) and be willing to follow Him and His ways. The heart has to be totally committed to God and to Him changing your life. Most people do not want to give up their life, they want control of it. Matthew 10:39 says "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
What must I do to be saved? If the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are new to you, read the book of John in the bible. This will help you understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Then, you must except that you are sinner. You must accept the fact that as a sinner you owe a penalty for it, which is death (a spiritual death in hell). You must believe and accept the gift that Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for your sin. You must be repentant which is changing your mind about who you are, your sin, and turning away from your sins and old way of life. Believe and trust that God will save you by His son Jesus. No works connected. Just believe. Baptism isn't part of salvation or saying a prayer. It is simply believing. This is the gospel by which we are saved: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures"
You now have a relationship with God that is just beginning. Dedicate yourself to developing your relationship with Him. Prayer, learning His word, and being around other Christians is a crucial point to developing that relationship.
For a more detailed understanding, see our video: Salvation