Riff's Christian Journal

Salvation is mentioned a lot these days and many will say that it is something that everyone needs. However, it is rare that you will hear from “what” do we need salvation and “why”. So, lets take a brief look at this.

You should know that we all are sinful people. We do bad things because of our sinful nature, not that we are sinful people because we do bad things. In sin are we conceived and with this sin nature are we born. Think about it, how many people need to be taught how to do bad things? None! We do bad things because we are bad. No matter how good we think we are, in Gods sight our goodness is nothing more than filthy rags.

God tells us that there is none good, no not one. Jesus said that there is no one good but God. So, if there is no one good that means that we are all bad, evil, wicked; each to his own level. The question is, how does God feel about the wicked?

In Psalms we read the following:

Psalm 5:4-8 (New King James Version)

 ⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
         Nor shall evil dwell with You.
 ⁵ The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
         You hate all workers of iniquity.
 ⁶ You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
         The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

In addition, in Romans we read these verses:

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Romans 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath?

In short, God not only is angry with the wicked, but He also hates the wicked, and because of His righteousness and the fact that He wants us to be holy He must punish us and He will do so when He releases His wrath upon us.

However, God also has made a way for us receive salvation from the wrath to come. In Romans, again, we read the following:

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Now we see that salvation is from bearing the consequences of our sinfulness, which is facing the wrath of God as our punishment (the “from what”) because of our living in disobedience to Him (the “why”).

What most people don’t want to do, however, to receive this salvation is to submit to Jesus as Lord of their life and so be saved by Him as their Saviour. Jesus said:

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

And, in speaking of Jesus, Peter said the following:

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

It is only by Jesus can we be given this salvation. If you think I twist the truth read this from the gospel of John:

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

In this passage God is telling us that only by His Son Jesus does this salvation come to those who will believe on Him. To believe on Jesus is to submit to Him as Lord, and, when you do, you are saved.

Read this from Romans:

Romans 10:8-13 (New King James Version)

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

In short, “salvation” is being saved from (what?) facing the wrath of God because (why?) you are a sinful person living in disobedience of God. And this salvation can only be found in Jesus.

You can know this salvation and you can know it now. Admitting that you are a sinful person, living in disobedience to God, cry out to Him for forgiveness and submit to Jesus as Lord. Having done so, you can then say with other Christians the following:

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

You really have no other choice. God does not give you any other choice:

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Does Gods wrath abide on you? It all depends… on what God does next…