The Need For Salvation
All men have broken God’s law; the Bible calls this sin. As a result of sin mankind is incapable of meeting God’s perfect standard of righteousness. God’s word says, All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
Notice the two aspects of sin indicated by the two verbs. First, all have sinned [past tense]. When Adam—the first man God created—disobeyed God, the whole human race was affected. Each person born into this world is estranged from God.
Second, man’s sinful condition is proven by the fact that all continually come short [present tense] of God’s glory (his own perfect standard). Therefore, none can claim to be without sin. There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10).
Notice the two aspects of sin indicated by the two verbs. First, all have sinned [past tense]. When Adam—the first man God created—disobeyed God, the whole human race was affected. Each person born into this world is estranged from God.
Second, man’s sinful condition is proven by the fact that all continually come short [present tense] of God’s glory (his own perfect standard). Therefore, none can claim to be without sin. There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10).
The Basis Of Salvation
All men are deserving of eternal punishment, but God provided a way of salvation. God the Son became a man in the person of Jesus Christ and died as a substitute for sinful men. The Scripture says, “For God demonstrates His love towards us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Christ was sinless and under no condemnation of his own, but he willingly bore the penalty of mankind’s sin on the cross. “For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ], who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21).
Having borne the sins of mankind, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4). His resurrection is proof that his payment for man’s sin was sufficient. The price of man’s sin has been paid. Romans 4:25 affirms this truth.
The word “for” occurs twice in this verse and both times it indicates the reason for the action of the preceding verb. In both cases it could be translated with the word “because.” The Apostle Paul said that Christ was “delivered [to the cross] for [because of] our offenses, and was raised again for [because of] our justification (Rom. 4:25).
Christ died on account of our sins and rose again because of our justification. The word “justification” means to be declared righteous. He rose because his payment had been sufficient. Sinners could now be declared righteous (justified) by God on the basis of Christ’s death.
Christ was sinless and under no condemnation of his own, but he willingly bore the penalty of mankind’s sin on the cross. “For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ], who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21).
Having borne the sins of mankind, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4). His resurrection is proof that his payment for man’s sin was sufficient. The price of man’s sin has been paid. Romans 4:25 affirms this truth.
The word “for” occurs twice in this verse and both times it indicates the reason for the action of the preceding verb. In both cases it could be translated with the word “because.” The Apostle Paul said that Christ was “delivered [to the cross] for [because of] our offenses, and was raised again for [because of] our justification (Rom. 4:25).
Christ died on account of our sins and rose again because of our justification. The word “justification” means to be declared righteous. He rose because his payment had been sufficient. Sinners could now be declared righteous (justified) by God on the basis of Christ’s death.
The Condition Of Salvation
In order for someone to be declared righteous by God, they must meet the one condition of salvation. That condition is faith in Christ. "For by grace you are saved through faith..." (Eph. 2:8a). Faith includes believing the facts of the gospel. Christ (who was, and is, God in the flesh) died for our sins and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
However, saving faith is more than merely believing facts about Christ. It is accepting the person of Christ. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God..." (John 1:12a). He is the risen Savior and Lord who must be accepted by faith as such. "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
A "lord" has authority over others. When one accepts Christ as Savior, they must also accept Him as Lord. He cannot be accepted as anything less than what He is. Those who accept Christ do not always obey Him as they should. They often fail due to their struggle with their sinful humanness; however, they must accept Him as Lord.
The gift of eternal life is not received apart from the person of Christ and His Lordship. Saving faith requires a complete change of mind about Christ that the Bible calls "repentance" (Luke 13:3). Many accept the fact of Christ's death on the cross, but fall short of saving faith in that they do not accept Him personally. If you have not taken this step of faith, please do so today.
If you have any questions or concerns about salvation or would like to speak with someone about Jesus Christ or your salvation please feel free to contact us either by email or by phone.
However, saving faith is more than merely believing facts about Christ. It is accepting the person of Christ. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God..." (John 1:12a). He is the risen Savior and Lord who must be accepted by faith as such. "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
A "lord" has authority over others. When one accepts Christ as Savior, they must also accept Him as Lord. He cannot be accepted as anything less than what He is. Those who accept Christ do not always obey Him as they should. They often fail due to their struggle with their sinful humanness; however, they must accept Him as Lord.
The gift of eternal life is not received apart from the person of Christ and His Lordship. Saving faith requires a complete change of mind about Christ that the Bible calls "repentance" (Luke 13:3). Many accept the fact of Christ's death on the cross, but fall short of saving faith in that they do not accept Him personally. If you have not taken this step of faith, please do so today.
If you have any questions or concerns about salvation or would like to speak with someone about Jesus Christ or your salvation please feel free to contact us either by email or by phone.
