What is it?
Salvation refers to being saved by God from the consequences of our sin. God sent his son Jesus into the world to live a perfect life. Jesus then died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for all people. Since Jesus Christ took on all the sin of the world, we have the opportunity to receive God’s gift of salvation. Without Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we would have no hope of being saved.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Why do we need it?
At the beginning of time, God created Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect garden where they could eat from any tree except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. With a little persuasion from Eve, they both took fruit from the tree of good and evil and ate it. From that point, sin was brought into the world causing every person to be born with a sinful nature. We are not perfect. Based on our sin, we should be punished. In order to live eternally with Christ, we must be made perfect and blameless in his sight. If we want to be protected from the harm and destruction we should have to go through because of our sin, then we need God’s gift of salvation. Since sin separates us from God, we need to be saved so we can be reconciled to God.
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22)
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
How do you get it?
The gift of salvation is not something we can obtain by our works and own power. Salvation is a gift from God that is given to those who believe. In order to be saved, you must first recognize yourself as a sinner and see that you need to repent and change your ways. You have to realize that you will never be perfect, and you need a savior. You must truly believe that God not only sent his son Jesus to die for us, but that he raised him from the dead three days later. You must understand that Jesus took your sin when he died on the cross, and that Jesus Christ is your savior. The belief, profession, and having complete trust in Christ allows you to receive salvation.
”If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10: 9-10)
“I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life.” (John 6:47)
”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
If you want to truly understand God’s character and how amazing this gift of salvation is, then I encourage you to start reading the Bible for yourself. Not only does it give you hope, but it reassures you that those who are saved have an incredible future in store for them.