Salvation – What does it mean for you and your life?

Jesus’ blood was shed on the cross.  He rose from the dead three days later.  You may wonder why he died on the cross.  

It all started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Life (Genesis 3 NIV).  Everyone knows good and evil because of this act.  We are born as sinners.  All kinds of sins you can think of happen on Earth.  We are impure in God’s eyes.  Jesus’ blood covers our sins once we accept Him as Lord and Savior.

God created Adam and Eve for a relationship with Him.  After sin came into the world, God destroyed the earth a few generations later because most people on earth were wicked.  He had Noah build an ark and He had Noah get two of every animal into the ark.  Once God told Noah to get his family into the ark, He flooded the earth.  

After God dried up the earth, Noah and his family along with the animals walked off the ark.  Noah set up an altar to God and burned offerings to God (Genesis 8).  In Genesis chapter 9 verses 8 through 11, the Lord made a covenant with Noah and his sons.  He told them He would never destroy the earth by water.  In verses 12 through 16: 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

How does Jesus fit into this?

God wants to build a relationship with you and you with Him.  Since sin was brought into the world, God created a chosen people through a man’s family.  Abraham (previously known as Abram) and his wife Sarah (previously known as Sarai) were chosen to have many descendants.  God gave his descendants the land of Canaan, where Abram had settled when he was 75 years old.  God promised Abram at the time that he would have numerous descendants who would live in the land.  God changed their names by the time their promised son was born.  Abraham and Sarah were an older couple by the time God blessed them with their son Isaac (Genesis 21:1-6).

Jesus was born through Abraham’s lineage to a virgin named Mary.  Joseph was his earthly father (Matthew 1:17).  Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  God spoke to Joseph in a dream about this.  In Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 through 24: 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth.  At 30 years old, Jesus was baptized by His earthly cousin, John the Baptist.  From the river, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and fasted for forty days.

He started His ministry, picked disciples, and taught them the truth about what God was doing through Him  Jesus called out the Sadducees and the Pharisees because they followed the law and their unbelief in what they were seeing through Jesus’ miracles and parables.  The Pharisees plotted his death because of Jesus’ boldness.  After three years of ministry, Jesus was tortured and nailed to the cross for no reason.  His enemies chose to kill him because He stood up for His Heavenly Father and taught the truth about sin.  They refused to believe that Jesus was the Son of God or the one who would cover their sins.

He rose three days later.  Jesus appeared to his disciples and taught them instructions about the kingdom of God for forty days before went back to heaven.

What is salvation about?

Jesus will return one day and God will destroy the Earth with fire.  Judgment Day will take place at that time.  Many people who don’t believe in Jesus Christ and refuse to believe in Him will go to Hell – a forever judgment in the eternal fire, which is called the Second Death.

Before all that will happen, God wants you to repent and admit that you are a sinner.  He wants you to believe that His Son, Jesus Christ died on the cross for those sins.  You believe that He rose from His grave three days later and defeated Eternal death for all those who believed in HIm.  Once you pray to God the Sinner’s Prayer and be baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you’ll have Eternal Life in Heaven with God and His Son, Jesus.  Of course, you also agree to be a disciple of Jesus Christ – spread the Word of God and live as Jesus lived.  You will be turning away from sin and give your life to Jesus Christ.  Your life is buried in Jesus’ death when you get baptized.

The Sinner’s Prayer

God, I know that I am a sinner.  I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died so that I would have eternal life with you.  I ask You to forgive my sins.  I invite You into my heart and accept Your Son, Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

What happens afterward

Once you prayed to God the sinner’s prayer, you are now a believer.  If you already attend church, go to the elders and ask to be baptized.  If you are not in church, reach out to a friend you know attends church and make arrangements to get baptized.  

Once you are baptized, you’ll receive the Holy Spirit – the third of the Trinity, who will guide you on your Christian walk.  Find a church home that teaches the Word of God.  Continue to pray, read your Bible, and meditate.

This is only the beginning of your life.  Welcome to the Family of God.