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| Salvation |
| What is sin? In the bible, the word sin can be viewed in two ways: 'transgression' and 'missing the mark.' We 'transgress' against God when we go beyond the limits or boundaries of what God has set for us. We may have started out doing good or what is right, but then stray out of the boundaries of what is right. We 'miss the mark' when we fail or ignore the commands of God. In Romans 3:23 we are told that none of us are perfect, that we all make mistakes, and we have all sin. Though God wants to have a personal relationship, we are separated from him by the sin we commit. Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." Not only does sin separated us from God, but the punishment that sin deserves is death. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..." This death is spiritual death and it is death by being cut off from heaven and God for eternity. But God truly wants to have a relationship with you and he very much wants you to live. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." Many people believe that if they perform enough good works or deeds they will be saved, but this is not a relationship with God. In Romans 4:2-5 we see that Abraham did not earned his salvation through his work or deeds, but because he believed in God. The wages of sin are death and we are all guilty of sin, how can we be saved. According to Hebrews 9:22 there has to be the shedding of blood for there to be atonement and reconciliation between man and God. In Old Testament times, this atonement was done by sacrificing an animal, but with the New Testament we have the perfect lamb whose blood can always reconcile us with God. In 1 Peter 1:18-19 and 3:18 we see that it is Christ's blood that is our atonement for our sin. Jesus' blood is like a check that will pay for our sin, but for us to cash the check we must first believe in Jesus. John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." This belief in Jesus does not come through science or worldly sources, but through faith as we see in Ephesians 2:8-9. To repent of your sins is not just about asking for forgiveness but is the turning away from sin. Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out... Romans 10:9-10,13 "...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...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Once you have become saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you and you will be in a relationship with God. 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" If you are not a Christian, we pray that this will help lead you to a relationship with God. Your local church would be happy to visit with you and help answer any questions that you might have. |
| Beyond the dictionary definition that salvation is "the act or state of being saved" is the Christian understanding that salvation is a personal relationship between you and God. There are many that profess a belief in God but they also believe that God is only watching from a distance and does not get personally involved with people. Hopefully, this lesson will show otherwise and that a greater relationship with God can be established. |
| Introduction: Sin: All have sinned: Separation from God: God is needed: Salvation not by works: Atonement: Believe in Jesus: Repent: Confess: New Relationship: Conclusion: |
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