MEMORY VERSE: “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” (Romans 10:9).

TEXT: Matthew 1:21; Romans 10:8-13; Ephesians 2:8,9

Salvation is so vital that the whole Bible is full of plain teachings on the subject. Events recorded in the Bible all point to the very fact of salvation through the grace of God. The Jewish history shows God’s plan of salvation. The prophets in the Old Testament had the same truth to emphasize and to remind the children of Israel, Jesus Christ, the Son of God also spent His ministry, explaining and teaching, both in plain language and in parables salvation through grace. The epistles are taken up with the same theme. If salvation is so important that it occupies almost every page of the sacred writings, it becomes necessary to study the subject in-depth so as to know what to do to have the plan of God fulfilled in our lives.

Salvation is so basic and so profound an experience that without it, all religious activities will be eternally worthless. But while some have unshakable assurance of salvation, others there are who are not so sure they are saved from sin. They are troubled with doubts concerning the experience, hence the need to look at the scriptural basis for the assurance of salvation. It is important to study the scripture with the help of the Spirit of God so that we can settle it beyond any shadow of doubt that we have real conviction concerning our salvation. The Scripture is so clear about the meaning, significance and assurance of salvation that no one needs remain in darkness or confusion. False assurance is deceptive and will eventually damn the soul whereas true witness of the Spirit of God and of the Scripture will produce an abiding assurance in the soul. How can one know whether he is saved from sin or not? Can we confirm the assurance from the scriptures? If a person doubts whether he is saved or not, how can we help him? How can one overcome the attempt by the devil to confuse him? If, on the other hand, a person has false assurance, how can we help him from the Word of God?

SALVATION AS FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES

1 Corinthians 3:11; Psalm 62:7; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 6:12;2 Timothy 2:19

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Salvation is the foundation of all other Christian Experiences. It is the first experience one must have in order to be called a Christian. Whatever we have, whatever we do and whatever we receive from God, if we don’t have salvation, we are of all men the most miserable. The church-goer religious person must not be satisfied until he understands, appropriates and claims salvation through grace. To be healed and not to be saved is to go to hell eventually. To have dreams that are continually being fulfilled, to have special revelations that come to pass without salvation is to live on earth with no tangible purpose. To read the Bible and to memorize its verses without the experience of salvation through grace is to live on earth as if one never really read the Bible. If God counts salvation so important, then preachers ought to spend more time examining the Word of God to be able to preach the message of salvation clearly. The very reason the Lord preserved the events recorded in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is to make us understand that we can only be saved through grace. It is not enough to understand how to cast out devils, deliver the oppressed, heal the sick or bring fire from heaven, if we do not understand salvation. Salvation is the foundation and the pillar of Christian teaching. Salvation from sin is made possible through the grace and love of God. We cannot get saved from sin through our works but by exercising faith in what Christ has done to redeem us, the thief on the cross could not do anything except to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE MEANING OF SALVATION

(Luke 1:71, 77; 19:9; Philippians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 9:2 Thessalonians 2:13-15: Romans 1:16; Acts 15:16-11; Matthew 24:12, 13: Romans 10:1, 9, Matthew 1:21; Titus 2:11-14; Acts 4:12).

Salvation can be defined as forgiveness of sin, deliverance from sin and reconciliation with God which comes as a result of repentance from sin and faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Salvation is different from healing, joining a church, renouncing idol worship, changing name. Salvation from sin is so essential that you must be sure you have it to avoid being disappointed on the last day. We are not saved by feeling but by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Outward moral change along cannot substitute for salvation. Salvation includes freedom from the guilt of sin, the power of sin and the consequence of sin. Salvation is aimed not to make us turn a new leaf but to make us live a new life. The grace of God teaches us to deny all ungodly acts or behavior and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11). Salvation makes it possible to live a godly life in the face of temptation, corruption and evil. Some religious people try to preach God through human merits like prolonged fasting, animal sacrifices, religious festivities and pilgrimages, almsgiving to the less-privileged. They try to work their way through to salvation. But there is no salvation in any other except Christ (Acts 4:12).

THE PLACE OF GRACE AND FAITH IN THE WORK OF SALVATION

Ephesians 2:8. 9; Romans 10:13; Revelation 22:17; James 4:6; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Acts 4:33; 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 9:14

Salvation is not dependent upon regular attendance to church or doing the best we can. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). God’s offer of salvation is by grace. Faith is the spiritual mechanism through which man receives salvation. Grace means the favour of God which we receive without any merit or work. Grace is the provision of God for mankind. It is help for the helpless. It is God’s Riches At Christ Expense. Right attitude to the grace of God makes us receive the salvation He provides. Salvation is the object of grace. We do not have to feel good or better to receive salvation. No one earns forgiveness and remission of sins by anything he does, any rule he keeps or by belonging to a religious assembly. This is one of the major Differences between Christianity and other religions. Salvation is not obtained by keeping the Law of Moses. Someone rightly said, ‘grace is the provision of God for mankind who are so fallen that they cannot change their nature, so averse to God that they cannot turn to Him, so blind that they cannot see Him, so deaf that they cannot hear Him, so dead that He Himself must open their graves and bring them to life.’ There are physical traits we inherited from our parents such as height, facial appearance, complexion, color of the eyes, but salvation does not flow in the blood. We do not become saved because we are the son or daughter of a pastor or because our father is born again or our mother is the leader of the women fellowship in the church. It cannot be passed from husband to wife, from wife to husband, from parents to children or from children to their parents. To benefit experientially from what Christ has done for you on the cross at Calvary, you need to, one acknowledge and repent of your sin; two, renounce Satan and all his activities; three, receive Christ as your savior and, put your faith in His atoning work, not in your good morals or good works; four, rely on God to live a victorious life. It is only Christ that can make one a new creature. This brings the inward assurance that you are no more the same as before. Then there is a change of character and conduct.

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

John 5;24,39: 3:36,15-19; 6: 47; Acts 10: 43; 13:39: Romans 10:9,10; 1 John 1:9; 2:15; 3:10.14; 4:15; 5:1,10-13

Many people unfortunately have not been able to enjoy the Christian life because they lack assurance of salvation. Many struggle with the flesh and sin, rising and falling and are unable to live the victorious life because of their inability to appropriate grace to conquer through faith.

“For Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4). Assurance of salvation basically means a firm and confident understanding that one’s sins is forgiven. It means to be sure that one is born again and is a child of God. Christ came into the world and died to save sinners but many are not able to have the joy of salvation because they lack the assurance that their sins are forgiven and that their names are written in the book of life. Anyone that lacks this assurance cannot overcome sin, Satan, the world and temptations. Assurance of salvation is like a title deed. A man who does not have a title deed to a property cannot make a sure claim to the property. The reason many people confess sin everyday is because they lack assurance of salvation. Others form the habit of answering the alter call every time because they are not very sure that their sins have been forgiven. To them the Christian life becomes difficult and laborious.

The problem with people who lack assurance of salvation is that they place their confidence on feeling rather than on faith. Many think to be sure, one must have a certain kind of feeling. Others feel they must be happy always. Others believe in working their way to salvation through human self-effort like shedding of tears or a great deal of prayer. While genuine salvation experience could produce some of these experiences, they are only the outcomes, not the basis or condition. Salvation is not by feeling but by faith in the atoning work of Christ. It is based on genuine repentance. John the Baptist, Jesus, the apostles and even the Old Testament prophets all preached it. Salvation becomes ours when we repent of our sins and receive pardon, power and grace that Christ gives to those who believe in Him (John 1:12). We must believe that He is the Son of God sent to die for our sins. We must confess with our mouth what we believe in our hearts. If we do, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (4 John 1:9). It is noteworthy that the Bible does not base that forgiveness and cleansing from unrighteousness on crying, rolling on the ground or feeling happy there must be express faith in the Word of God (John 5:24; Romans 8:1; 1 John 5:11,12). By way of analogy, the evidence of the ownership of a property is not one who feels he is but one that has the title deeds, written and sealed with the seal of authority. So is faith in regard to the assurance of salvation. But it is not a dormant, inactive faith but a dynamic faith which produces not only assurance of salvation in our hearts but also fruits of righteousness in our lives.

FRUITS OF SALVATION

Matthew 3:8; Philippians 1:11; 2 Timothy 2:6; Galatians 5:22,23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:9; Ephesians 4:17

The first fruit expected of a truly born again Christian is the fruit of repentance. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” We show that we have been saved from sin by dispensing with ungodly habits. The places of sin we used to visit, we do not go there anymore; the dresses that expose our nakedness which we used to wear, we get rid of them; the indecent and obscene words we used to speak no longer come out of our mouth. We begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness and temperance self-control) Galatians 5:22,23) There is also the fruit of righteousness and holiness. A real child of God will not continue to live in sin. Just as you cannot see the root of a tree because it is buried beneath the surface of the earth, so also your experience may be hidden beneath the soil of time and date. People will eventually come to know it through the fruits of your salvation.

THE TRAGEDY OF NEGLECTING SO GREAT SALVATION

(Hebrews 2:2,3: 10:28,29; 1 Corinthians 10:3-12; Jude 5 ; Hebrews 4:1,11;1 Timothy 4:14).

There is great danger in sinners neglecting so great salvation. The believer is, likewise in great danger if the neglects to give diligent heed to make his calling and electing sure. Our loss will be incalculable and unbearable if we neglect the message of full salvation preached by Christ and by those who received it directly from Him. You can know all there is to know about Jesus Christ and still go to hell if you do not receive Him as your savior and experience the moral transformation that faith in Him brings. We should guard against letting God’s word slip from us whether in times of suffering, deprivations, poverty, sickness, oppression and persecution or joy, progress, prosperity and sound health. If we allow our souls to be driven by circumstances, we will not be able to stay on course. To reject Christ is to reject salvation and, to reject salvation is to reject everlasting fellowship with God in eternity. We need to be careful that we do not allow anything to hinder us from believing the totality of the Word of God. To neglect to watch and pray is to stand in danger of losing those things we have got from the Lord. There are some who calm to be saved but who neglect the warnings of the Scripture, to watch, pray, resist temptation, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world, others forsake the “assembling of ourselves together” while some neglect God’s provisions for Christian growth and maturity. Through neglect, our souls can be lost and there can be serious cracks in our spiritual walls. We may become weak and even backside. We need to watch. Fierce punishment and judgment await the unsaved and backslidden. Sinners and backsliders who die neglecting the blazing light of the gospel will suffer greatly in hell. Hell belongs to those who have rejected the gift of eternal life.