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what is salvation?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15

Recommended supplemental studies:
Baptism
Godhead

What Is Salvation?

Maybe you've heard the term "saved" in the religious world and found yourself wondering, "What does that even mean?" or, "I didn't think I was in any danger. What am I being saved from?" Being "saved" refers to safety for your soul after death, to receive peace forever in Heaven rather than having to endure the tortures of Hell.

The Bible tells us that we are all born into sin.

Rom 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Sin is not just lying, murdering, adultery, or the "big wrongs" that common sense tells us are bad. To sin is to simply miss the mark, and the result of missing the mark is to not share in the prize.

* Sin: To miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), to err. - Strong's Concordence

But sin is no small deal. Because we are sinners, we are destined to die, so to have any hope we must do something about our sin.

Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our actions have very real consequences, not only for this life, but for eternity.

Rom 2:11-12
For there is no respect of persons with God.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

This judgment will not be temporary. The outcome will determine eternity, and there are only two options: Heaven or Hell.

Click here for a detailed study on Eternal Judgement.

Rev 20:11-15
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

God can be found when you seek him.

John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Accepting God is the first step toward understanding him. To accept him we need to realize that he is a spirit and we cannot communicate with him through rituals or physical objects.

John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

John 4:23-24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

It would be easy to look for more than one way to be saved and then take the easiest route, but the Bible is clear that there is only one way. To look for another way would be useless because it does not exist.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Eph 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Since there is only one way, we must look to see what that way is. Jesus is the mediator between us as humans and God who gives salvation.

1 Tim 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Jesus is the savior (messiah).

John 4:25-25
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Jesus was God manifest in the flesh; the Son of God. Sent to earth to die for our sins.

1 Tim 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Click here for a detailed study on the Godhead.

It Is through Jesus that we have the gift of eternal life. When he died on the cross, he paid the price for our sins through his blood.

Rom 5:8-9
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Since the price for our sin is paid, the thing we must do to receive the promise of this eternal life is accept the gift of salvation. We do this through repentance and baptism in Jesus' Name.

Acts 2:36-41
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

Throughout the Bible, anyone who believed that Jesus was the son of God and the perfect sacrifice could be baptized and receive salvation. The same is true today.

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Baptism is defined in Strong's Lexicon as "to be wholly overwhelmed by a liquid."

Acts 8:35-38
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

When we repent and are baptized, our sins are washed away. We start a brand new life at that point. In God’s eyes we are new creatures no longer carrying any of our old sins into our new life.

Rom 6:1-4
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Click here for a detailed study on baptism.

Once we start our new life in Christ, we must maintain it, or it is possible to fall back into an unsaved state. When we make mistakes, we have to seek forgiveness. When we do, God will be merciful to us because of our relationship with Him, and because of his love for us.

John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Click here for a detailed study on faith & works.

Continuing our life in Christ is not always easy, but it is a struggle that we must face every day with commitment.

1 Pet 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Luke 9:59-62
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

In addition to commitment, following Christ takes action. Just believing and committing our thoughts is not enough.

James 2:19-24
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

All of the commitment and action to maintain a life in Christ will be worth it. Jesus will come again, and reward those who have been obedient.

Rev 22:12-14
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

We do not have to wait until Jesus returns to be comforted though. The Holy Ghost is a portion of God's Spirit in us.

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Knowing all of this, we must be careful to remember that we are not good enough to earn salvation. Alone, none of us could conquer sin or death. Only by allowing God to do It through us can we have victory. That Is God's gift because of his amazing love for us.

Eph 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Now that you understand what Jesus did for us, would you like to receive God's gift of salvation? The first step is to repent and get baptized in Jesus' name.

If you would like more information or if you would like to be baptized - don't wait! Contact us now!

(for FAQS about baptism, click here)

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Christian Fellowship Church of Norfolk serves the Hampton Roads, Virginia region including: Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Portsmouth and North Carolina. We have military outreaches and fellowships around the world!