“Salvation Through Jesus.  What does it mean and How Do I Receive It?”

O.k...  We really want to make this as simple as possible.  Problem is, it really is simple (in the Bible) but some people mess the whole thing up.

It’s kind of like this:  We live in this world the way it is right now.  The way it is? Well, if anyone has lived long enough and other than on a desert island, we know there are problems.  There are serious problems.  There are things that happen that can be really frightening.  There are things that happen to us that hurt so deep that, we’ll, leave it at that.  And there are things we have done that we can’t forget and really hurt too.  You know.  No matter what the world says, let’s be truthful.  There is a problem called “sin.”  And from this, every single problem that exists goes on because there is that problem.

With that is a knowledge inside, which the Bible speaks about, of conviction.  In other words, people know inside the problem of sin even if we have been lied to about it or never taught the word.  And we know inside there is a problem as a result of that with God.  Humans know there is a God.  Some may say they are an atheist.  But down inside they know.  And every time we see one of the terrible costs of sin, death, we are reminded of that problem we have and fear is inside.

In fact every religion will say there is a problem that a person has to somehow get out of the result.  The difference is: How.  If it were so simple as something people have to do, then after all these years why has no one figured it out?  And for those who say they figured it out, why does sin keep happening?  Why is death still there?  Why is hurt still there?  Why is guilt still there?  Why are there wars, tears, and any and every kind of suffering?  Why, if it is in the power of a human or humanity to stop it?

Quite simply the reason is that sin and the problems from it and our condition we were born in to in this currently fallen world, well, it’s impossible for us to save ourselves from by anything we do.  Again, look at the evidence.  We, you and I (all people) live that knowledge every day.  We indeed a lot of times block the issue out or it can get too much to bear.  Hopelessness is one of the results.  Fear can overwhelm.  It is NO way to live.  And in a way, you could say we are all dying to live!

So if there is something that is impossible for someone to save his or her self from, what has to happen?  Someone else more powerful has to do it for us.  That someone is the One who created life, life perfect and wonderful and without sin or death or tears or any suffering, the way it was before people believed the lie of that old serpent and sin came about.  That someone is Jesus.

Now hang on, please.  If the name turns someone off, you’ve probably heard a lot of junk, a lot of lies about him.  The same serpent who told lies when humans fell into sin is still there doing lies and through people, people who are afraid, people who are running….

If they have the answers instead of him, why do they still do what they supposedly could beat?  Oh, some say there’s no such thing as sin.  Look, call it anything you want.  You know what you felt when it happened to you and you know what you cannot shake inside from what you have done.  And even accepting the lie that there’s no such thing as sin in reality doesn’t take the fear away on the lonely night with the storm out there, or the storm in the heart.  We need some truth.  Sure, they all say they have it.  But let’s take a look.

Everyone who says they have the answer, they all have something in common.  It all has to do with something a person has to do or change.  Again, if that’s the idea, why does it all still go on?  Also, all the other supposed answers out there give no ultimate and absolute promise of rescue, salvation, perfect hope, so forth….  They may say they do, but none can identify the moment you have reached that perfection.  None of them can say, “Now you’ve made it.”  Even the supposed Eastern Enlightened Masters that Hollywood seems to worship today, and people like the UN and every Green movement and musician and star and so forth flocks to and adores, even these have always said they are still trying, still reaching toward that nirvana kind of thing.  In other words, a work in progress.

If God is love then, why make it such a mystical kind of investigation, some kind of hunt, or some kind of test or frankly hopeless thing never reaching perfect hope?  The God they all universally talk about is one which says to a crippled child, “Keep trying.  Keep working at it.”  Problem is, no one has, is, or will reach the impossible goal.  We need rescue.  We need not to save ourselves, but be saved.

It’s like if you ever saw one of those news stories of someone in a flood and the waters of a river have rushed over their banks.  Someone has been trapped in the fury in their car.  They are about to drown.  The waters are too powerful to swim against.  But someone comes along to do for them what they cannot do for themselves.  A helicopter comes along, hovers, lowers someone on a line who puts a life jacket and line around the person who is dying, and that person is pulled up to safety.

The One True God who is love has not left it to us to do the impossible.  He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who in the beginning (One God, Three Persons) with the Father and the Spirit created the heavens and the earth.  And with his power, and holy, and just, with his love made the decision to pay the price in our place, in my place and your place, and for anyone and everyone so that WHOEVER believes will NOT perish, but HAVE Eternal Life! (John 3:16)

This is love:  Not that we loved God, but God loved us, while we were still sinners and gave his Son Jesus to take our place and bear our sins because he knew the only way possible to take away what kept us separate from him was to take it upon himself and pay the price.  And the Creator who became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1) is coming again.  And at that time we all will be raised, and those who have believed to everlasting glory with him in heaven and earth renewed, when there never again will there ever be any sin or suffering or tears or death or any problems.

He has rescued us.  And we want to share that joy and peace with you of knowing, “It is finished.”  Those are the words he cried out on the cross for us all to know that the price was paid to rescue and ransom us from the slavery of unbreakable chains of sin, death, the devil and everlasting condemnation.   It took a God thing, for the human thing which was our sin.

So when the Bible says, there is no other name under heaven revealed to man by whom we must be saved but that of Christ Jesus our Lord, it is His Love which has provided the means, and for you and me, the world.  It is a free gift.  You don’t have to earn it.  We can’t.  It is grace from God, not works, but mercy, saving love, grace which took it all on himself in our place.  And what happens when you are handed a gift?  Take it.  “Believe.”

That’s simple.  Others as we said really cloud it up.  Oh, there’s the life that is to be had that flows from that new life we have been given, and new ways of thinking and so forth.  All the other stuff flows out of the change God makes to our desperate condition when he rescued us.  Some make that causing of our salvation.  It’s not.  Jesus did it for us.  It is finished.  But if you want to learn more, there’s a lot to share of Good News.  For now, to keep it simple, go ahead and pray.  He’s listening.  “Jesus, help me.  I believe.  Help me with my unbelief.”