When we say that Jesus is our “Savior” we don’t mean that He was given us comfortable lives or that we are somehow superior to everyone else in the world. When we say that Jesus has “saved” us we mean that He has rescued us from the judgement that we deserve for our sin and has given us instead a home in heaven and loving relationship with Him on this earth.
The Apostle Paul said it this way in I Corinthians 15: “Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel… by which also ye are saved… 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:”
THE PROBLEM OF SIN:
Paul wrote that the Jesus offers salvation by dying for our sins. This means two important things: first that we are sinners and second that our sin must be paid for. Romans 3:23 tells us that every man has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are all condemned because no matter how much good we do, none of us is perfect. We have all fallen short of the righteous standards of God. In the well-known “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus explained that to even speak an angry word is equal to the sin of murder in the eyes of God and to even look with lust at woman is equal to the sin of adultery. God is perfectly just, so a crime against the law of God must receive it’s just punishment which is death and eternity separated from God in hell (Romans 6:26). We have all sinned and we all deserve eternity in hell if God gives us justice. This is really bad news!
THE PROVISION OF THE LOVING SAVIOR:
This is where that term “salvation” enters the story. God, being perfectly just and holy but yet loving us with an unimaginable love chose to send His Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. He lived a perfect, sinless life, and then offered His own life as a sacrifice to satisfy the justice of God on our behalf. What that means is that our “fine” has been paid, in a manner of speaking. God can now legally “dismiss our case” because Jesus suffered to pay the penalty that we owed for our sin! Not only that, but after He was crucified, He was buried, and then He rose again from the grave to prove that He is God and that He does indeed have power to offer us forgiveness and cleansing for our sin!
THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE SINNER:
Now that our sin has been paid for by Jesus Christ, what’s left to be done? Do sinners have to be baptized, attend church, give money, or do some other good work to receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for them on the cross? No. The Bible tells us that receiving this gift from God is as simple as faith. If you believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and if you turn from your sin to choose Him as Lord in heart, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 – “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.”
Not only will you be saved from eternity in hell, you will be given a new home and destination in heaven with God for eternity, and the Bible tells us that those who are saved are adopted into the very family of God! That’s what it means to Jesus as your Savior!
Romans 8:11-17 – “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you… For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
If you’ve never made the decision to choose the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, won’t you do that today? If this explanation of salvation does help you come to know the Lord as your Savior, please call or email us and let us know about it! If you’re not sure you understand and would like more information about salvation or about any other Bible topic, email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to talk with you more!