What is salvation?
Salvation: is the state of being saved or protected from harm, especially from sin and its consequences.
At the beginning of creation, God shared an intimate relationship with Adam and Eve, who lived fully in His presence. In the cool of the evening, God would come to meet them in the Garden of Eden and speak with them (you can read this story in the Bible, in Genesis chapter 3).
Disobedience and Sin
As the relationship between God and Adam developed, He told them something extremely important. We learn about it in:
Genesis 2 : 16-17 (NLT)
«But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.»
Unfortunately, Adam and Eve disobeyed the divine commandment, they became sinners, and all of humanity has inherited this condition.
This disobedience led to a separation between God and Man. And being separated from God leads to spiritual and eternal death. We observe that the first negative emotion a person feels toward God after sin is fear.
Genesis 3 : 9-11 (NLT)
« Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked"
Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” »
Sin is a word that many people prefer to avoid today so as not to feel guilty, a subject often pushed aside as though it did not exist. Yet, in God’s eyes, this is precisely where the real problem lies.
- Can we say that sin has definitively severed our relationship with God?
- If so, how can our sins be forgiven?
- And how can our relationship with God be restored?
The Answer to the Problem of Sin
Have you ever been in conflict with a person or organization to the point where you had to call in a mediator to restore peace?
Because, yes, sin is a real problem for God. It has created conflict and a huge gap between Him and us.😔
The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all human beings have sinned and, consequently, fall short of the glorious presence of God. 😭
We can see that the Bible also says in:
1 John 1:8-10 (NLT)
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts."
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and humanity. He came to restore the relationship that had been broken. God the Father is holy, and in our current state, we cannot be accepted by Him. That is why Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, came to take away the sin of the world.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)
«For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity : the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.»
Being Born Again
The Gospel according to Saint John, chapter 3, verses 1 to 13, provides a description of this. Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, came to Jesus at night, intrigued and seeking answers about the miracles He was performing.
"Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. Jesus also emphasizes being born of water and the spirit."(you can read the whole chapter by clicking HERE).
What does it really mean to be "born again"?
It is the regeneration of our spirit, once dead because of sin, but which comes back to life when we open and give our heart to Jesus Christ.
How does this take place?
First step:
- Recognizing our spiritual state before God,
- Allowing Jesus Christ, the mediator, to step into the conflict of sin that separates us from God.
Second step:
- By confessing our sins, and asking Him for forgiveness,
- By accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,
- To receive water baptism as a symbol of God’s grace and of new life in Christ.
Third step:
- By developing an intimate relationship with him,
- And by adopting a Bible reading plan, and talking with Him on a regular basis.
Romans 10: 9-10 (NLT)
"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."
From the very moment these steps are taken, our spirit is renewed by the power of God the Holy Spirit. It is then that our true purpose comes to light.😂
The Bible declares in:
John 3:16 (NLT)
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
We regain our status as children of God. The broken relationship is thus restored. We can once again experience deep intimacy with Him and feel fully alive.😄
God becomes our Father again. How wonderful!
Every human being is called to experience the new birth. For it is a miracle initiated by God Himself. Whatever your beliefs, this experience is accessible to all, and its life-changing effects are very real.
What is the difference between Jesus Christ and religion?
Jesus Christ is not a religion but a person. Some may argue otherwise, since He is recognized as the founder of Christianity, an Abrahamic monotheistic faith.
However, religion can be understood as a human construct, often driven by the desire to ease one’s conscience. It typically consists of rules, rituals, traditions, and philosophical systems, and it frequently presents salvation as something to be attained through good works.
While good works are commendable and carry moral value, no matter how virtuous they may be, they cannot serve as the foundation of salvation according to God’s standard.
The Bible is very clear on this, salvation is offered to every human being not because of their own actions, but when they place their faith not in themselves but in the redemptive work accomplished by Jesus on the cross.
The Bible, in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8-10, reveals.
Thus, salvation is a GIFT, received through faith, and not a reward obtained through human effort.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of GOD not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Christianity is the only faith that presents God the Holy Spirit as a person with absolute transformative power.
The very term 'Holy' shows that this work is beyond any human intervention: it is purely divine. The Holy Spirit is not just a teaching or words, but the concrete manifestation of God’s power, as the Bible affirms.
It is a profound action that penetrates the mind, soul, and heart of anyone who chooses to submit to it.
I must respectfully emphasize, this is not a religion, but a 💗 to 💗 relationship with Jesus.
So, what are you waiting for?
If you have any questions on this or any other topic, or if you would like to receive advice, please feel free to contact me by clicking HERE.