Let’s start with my story, shall we?
I was in a discipleship class talking about the topic ‘Salvation’ about 2 years ago and we were asked to share our salvation journey (from sinner to saint). People shared powerful stories of how they have been saved. But I was born into Christianity, my parents took me to church as a baby and so I grew up in the church. I have always been involved in many church activities so why would I or anyone think I wasn’t saved.
When it got to my turn to share how I got saved, I had nothing to say. I uttered these words ‘my salvation isn’t very dramatic, I have been a Christian since I was born’, a sign of pride right there that I didn’t even know existed in me.
Immediately a playback about the crucifixion of Jesus movie just popped in my head, I could literally see Jesus’s face and body full of blood and ripped skin, with the crown of thorns piercing into his head, and as he dragged the cross along, he stopped and looked straight into my eyes and said these words ‘I went through all this drama and you say your salvation was not dramatic?’ I thought I was saved but Jesus questioned my salvation.
What? This got me thinking, I became concerned that I might not be saved as I thought because I could not remember ever inviting Jesus into my life, I may have but not remembering this very important step in my Christian journey was a serious issue.
I may have prayed that prayer along with others who went for altar calls but I could not remember ever feeling so sorry for my sins and asking Jesus to forgive me and save me so I always said my salvation was not dramatic. Realising that I have been relying on my parent’s faith, it was about time I really got to know Jesus at a personal level.
On the judgement day, I would not want Jesus to say ‘depart from me, I don’t know you‘ so I decided to start all over again by asking Jesus to come into my life and oh my God, what a difference that made. The Holy Spirit started revealing sins in my life that I did not consider sins but they were and he wanted them gone. This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship with the most important person on earth, the Holy Spirit.
The word of God became very real to me. The Holy Spirit taught me (I call it decoding the bible) and I understood scriptures better. I felt a burden lifted of me, I’m liberated, the depression, anxiety and darkness is no where to be found. Unexplainable joy, increased faith that nothing is impossible with God, and so on and so on. I can confidently say that my soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and I have escaped (Psalm 124:7). It is an amazing experience and you have to experience it yourself to understand.
My passion for souls increased because souls are the heart beat of God who does not want people to die in their sin. I wanted to share this experience first with Christians who might be in similar situations and also non-believers, to save souls from going to hell out of ignorance. Hosea 4:6 says, God’s people perish for the lack of knowledge.
This blog was birthed out of this new experience. What have you got to lose? Nothing, well maybe some bad company (which corrupts good manners) but if it is time for you to cross over to the freedom side do not postpone it. You stand to gain everything in life here on earth and also in heaven. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things will be added to you.
What is salvation?
Salvation is an escape from harm, deliverance from danger or a restoration of a defective item to its original state. God originally made man in his own glorious image to rule on the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). He made angels man’s servants.
Lucifer (Satan), the angel in charge of worship in heaven was jealous of man who God had created from dust. Angels are made from light and it is obvious that light is greater than dust. Lucifer was not ready to serve man who was made a little lower than himself and tried to cause man to become defective by sinning against God knowing very well that God hates sin. He also wanted to become like God himself and so started a rebellion in heaven and on earth.
The fall of man from his glorious state is recorded in Genesis 3. Man lost his relationship with God as they were sent away from the the garden of Eden, the presence of God. Man felt an emptiness that nothing could fill and begun finding the way back to reconcile with God. This resulted in many religions and spiritual practices.
In his mercy, God himself had to reach out to save man. The whole bible from Genesis to Revelation, provides an account of series of the actions taken by a loving father (God), to rescue his beloved children from malfunctioning and its consequence, eternal death.
The whole bible from Genesis to Revelation, provides an account of series of the actions taken by a loving father (God), to rescue his beloved children (human beings) from eternal death.
Salvation and the holiness of God
God is holy and can not dwell among sinners. God loves and welcomes sinners who repents, but he hates sin. A sinner will be consumed by the holiness of God, that is why it is very important that a person is pure, holy and sanctified before approaching God. In some religions, people have to wash themselves in a special way and go through some rites before they can approach their gods.
This was the same in the days before Jesus Christ, where only the high priest was allowed to enter the most holy place where the ark of the covenant (symbol of God’s presence) was. The high priest had to undergo ceremonial cleansing prior to approaching the most holy place. Those who disobeyed died, not because God was wicked and killed them but because sin and evil can not live in his presence. A typical example is Uzza.
And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 1 Chronicles 13:9-10.
Why is salvation a big deal?
If you do not believe in life after death, then you may never really think about your salvation. Not thinking about something does not mean the thing ceases to exist. Heaven and hell are real. Like insurance, you must secure your eternity, decide today where you would like to spend eternity.
It is a personal decision, no one can decide on your behalf. Whatever you choose, God respects it and does not force anyone to choose him.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
If you choose not to let Jesus in when you hear the knock on the door of your heart, he will keep knocking but will not stay there forever. If you do not choose him before you die, it will be too late to change your mind, like the rich man in Luke 16:19-27.
God however, does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner (Ezekiel 33:11). God is so good, he gives everyone the opportunity to make this very important decision at some point in their lifetime. However, do not wait till your death bed to make this decision. Do not keep post ponding it to another day., as you might never get that opportunity again.
Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15
Who needs salvation?
Everyone needs salvation. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. We deserve to die because of our sins, but God loves us so much and provided a temporary solution of using the blood of animals as sin offering in the Old Testament.
A sinner will present an animal to the priest, place their hand on the animal and confess their sins. The priests sacrificed the animal on the altar of God as an atonement for the sinner. Anyone who disobeyed this instruction remained a sinner (spiritually dead) and cut off from God.
While foreigners in Egypt, the Israelites applied the blood of a lamb to their door posts as instructed by God. The angel of death passed over them when he saw the blood and their obedience resulted in their salvation (Exodus 12).
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
Jesus is the permanent solution that God had planned for mankind. Rejecting him is rejecting God and heading to eternal destruction (hell), a place prepared not for human beings but for disobedient angels, of which Satan is the head.
Just as by one man’s disobedience (first Adam), all men became sinners, so also by one man’s obedience all men are made righteous.
How can you get salvation?
This is as easy as ABC. Check out the ABC of salvation by Aryn the Libraryn. We can obtain salvation only through Jesus, the lamb that God provided to take away the sins of the world.
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by many, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 (ESV)
Good works alone does not lead to salvation. Accept the free gift of the eternal life that God provides through Jesus.
Jesus is the only way, the truth and the life. No one comes to God except through him Jesus.
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’. Romans 10:9-10
Salvation Prayer
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:19
Confess this Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ I believe that you are the son of God, and that you died for all my sins and God raised you from the dead (Romans 3:23-26; 10:9, Hebrews 9:27-28). I repent and choose to turn away from all my sins today and receive your forgiveness (Revelation 3:20). I accept you as my Lord and Saviour (Acts 16:31). Please come into my heart and reign in my life. Thank you, Father God for making me your son/daughter through Christ, In Jesus Name Amen!
Congratulations! You did it. You are now a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your life will never be the same again. You can now experience the fullness of the glory of God and live life to the best as God originally intended it. Let the mind of Christ be in you. In every situation consider what Jesus would do and do it!
Next steps after salvation
- Grow your faith – Develop your relationship with God by daily prayers and reading of the word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
- Join a church – Be part of the body of Christ, the church. Find a church which stand by the principles of Jesus not worldly standards. Do not forsake the assembly of the brethren.
- Get baptised – Be baptised as a sign of declaring Jesus publicly, dying and resurrecting with him.
- Be filled with God’s power (the Holy Spirit) and speak in new tongues, a heavenly language.
- Testify/witness – You have witnessed the love of God through salvation, help someone to also find Jesus. Share your testimony. Jesus said, you shall be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. We have a ministry of reconciliation.
YOU ARE NOW FREE INDEED. OH WHAT A FEELING!
