Salvation

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In being translated to the Kingdom of God, that is, to the Light, we are bought out- literally- from the kingdom and power of darkness. We see the theme of light vs. darkness over and over in the Gospel and epistles of John.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

The reason that we need salvation is that we are condemned, born in the flesh, and walking in darkness. We need to be rescued, because we are caught in the darkness. More than that, according to the scriptures, we are actually dead spiritually in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 1:1-3) and children of wrath. The fact of the matter is, we are all under condemnation because of sin, and that is why we need salvation! Here is the free offer, and the reality as we see it in the book of John:

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The reality is that we are condemned already, because as we have noted previously, we are all under sin. We do not have to do anything to be condemned, we are already condemned. We must cover a huge topic related to salvation and our life in Christ: repentance. The word repentance is a concept that has to do with a literal changing of our mind as well as the direction we are going. We are all headed on the broad road of sin leading to death. Salvation is a rescue from this road that seems right to men who are blinded by the god of this world. Repentance is a change of mind granted by God as He rescues us from the kingdom of darkness.

Matt 7:13-14 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There are two ways that man can go, but both are assumed that they lead to life, but the fact is that there is only one way that leads to life. Everyone that you know is either on, or has been on the broad road which leads to destruction. Those who are on it are for the most part unaware of their need to experience salvation. They are comfortable, happy, enjoying their life. They may even believe that they have a relationship with God. They may be moral people, good family people, loving people, kind people. They may be good according to the world’s standards of righteousness. Many of these people are religious, and they are seeking to please whatever god they believe in. The reality is, however, that they are marching in lock-step with the world, unaware of the coming judgment. They need salvation, even though they do not know it and likely do not believe it; they need to be rescued from certain death and certain judgment.

Salvation is the entering into the straight (narrow) gate, then the process of choosing the right direction over the wrong direction. The question is, how does one enter in? Salvation means that we are incapable of entering in, we need to be brought in, we need rescue! The narrow gate is hard to find! We do not know we need to find it, and in and of ourselves, we are incapable of finding it! How then, can we be saved? We must look to God.

Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Salvation is totally by God, based upon His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus through His shed blood, and not based upon anything that is done by man. It is God to whom salvation belongs. It is God who clothes us with salvation and righteousness. The free offer of salvation is for all who will believe, all who will look to Jesus and be saved. It is given on the basis of grace through faith.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8-10 (KJV)

We are saved by grace through faith. These are not works that we do; we are incapable of either. Grace is unmerited favor. In other words, we don’t deserve it. It is a gift. It is accessed through faith, this is also given us by God. No we are not puppets, this does not negate our responsibility to respond. In other words, while it is God who clothes us with righteousness, we must put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us the ability to respond, we must respond. However, we do not get to brag about salvation, for it is Christ who saved. He did all the work, we simply received the free gift. There is no boasting, all we can boast in is how good of a Savior He is.

My wife bought a guitar online a couple of years ago in hopes that my daughter Grace would pick up the guitar and learn how to play. The simple reality is, Grace was just not interested. The gift was available, Wendy was even willing to help her learn, and even get lessons for her. Grace was not interested, and therefore not committed to it. However, our Son Eddie was, and he picked up the guitar and wanted to learn it. He could have never afforded a guitar on his own, so he took the gift meant for his sister. Indeed, he took the gift and made it his own. Over the years as he has received training and has purposed to master the guitar, he has become quite good at it. But without the guitar, the books, the training, his effort would be meaningless. He took the gift and he used the gift. Not a perfect illustration, but we can make a comparison that without Christ making the way to God through his blood, we could work all we wanted and practice religion all we wanted and not be saved from sin. We must receive the gift from the giver, and take hold of it for ourselves. But without the gift and the giver, our effort would be meaningless.

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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: John 1:12 (KJV)

Eph 1:4-7 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 2:8-10 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Peter 1:18-19 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

2 Corinthians 5:21 21 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.

2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.