Salvation.
It's a word we use often, yet many people—even Christians—don't fully understand what it means. If you stopped ten Christians in the parking lot and asked them to explain it in plain English, you'd probably get ten different answers—and a lot of awkward pauses.
So let's actually talk about it. What does a promise made over 2,000 years ago have to do with your life today?
Before we talk about what salvation is, let's first talk about what it isn't.
Salvation isn't a reward for being a good person. It isn't something we earn through good deeds or by trying our best. You can't earn it, and honestly, that's good news, not bad news.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says it clearly: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Salvation is a gift. Not a paycheck. Not a reward. A gift you didn't work for and can't take credit for. To better understand it, let's go back to the beginning.
A quick trip back to the beginning
Again and again, people failed. Yet again and again, God promised that a Saviour would come.
Back then, getting close to God wasn't easy. There were priests standing in the gap, offering sacrifices on people's behalf. There were prophets relaying messages because most people didn't get to hear from God directly. Access to God was limited.
Then Jesus showed up. And everything changed.
Jesus was the Saviour God had promised from the beginning.
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God, once and for all. Because of his sacrifice, we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins or for purification. Through his shed blood, we can receive forgiveness for our sins and be set free from the things that separate us from God.
We no longer need a human mediator to stand between us and God and speak on our behalf. We can now come directly and boldly before God our Father in the name of Jesus, our Great High Priest and Mediator (Heb. 4:14-16).
So how do we receive this free gift of salvation?
Romans 10:9-10 tells us, "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."
So receiving salvation is quite simple: ✅Acknowledge. ✅Confess. ✅Invite.
ACKNOWLEDGE that Jesus Christ is Lord, that he died on the cross for your sins, rose again, and is seated at the right hand of God.
CONFESS your sins. Be honest with God. Admit that you have fallen short and ask him for forgiveness.
INVITE Jesus into your life. Make Him your Lord and Saviour, and choose to follow him.
The Bible tells us that heaven rejoices when even one person turns to God. So every time someone gives their life to Christ, there is celebration in heaven. THAT'S how much God loves us!
He isn't waiting for you to slip up so he can push you away. It's the opposite. He keeps giving us opportunity after opportunity, because his heart is set on drawing us close, not keeping us at a distance.
Don't put this off
Friend, if you're reading this and haven't yet invited Jesus into your life and accepted him into your heart, don't keep putting it off.
Come to him today. He's waiting for you. He's been calling you for a long time. No matter what you've done, his arms are open.
If you're ready, you can say this simple prayer right now, wherever you are:
"Jesus, I believe you’re the Son of God who came to die for my sins and to give me the gift of eternal life with you. I repent from my sins past and present, and I invite you into my heart to be my Lord and Saviour now and forever."
That's all you need to say to become a new person in Christ. Behold, old things have passed away, and all things have become new!
Come to him while you still can.
#becomingavessel
If you prayed this prayer, send me a quick message — I'd be delighted to follow up with you on next steps. You can also learn more about becoming a Christian here.
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