JESUS IS THE ANSWER TO SALVATION
There are so many problems in the world today. Most of these problems are physical in nature, with some having spiritual implications. The greatest issue people have is sin. The late and beloved gospel preacher, Gus Nichols, used to say, “Sin is so bad; it has the hiss sound of a serpent, sssinnn.” Paul wrote, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). The Corinthians were told, “For since by one man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21, 22). Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
What is this thing that is so bad, called sin? 1 John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Chapter 5, verse 17, informs us that “all unrighteousness is sin:…” Paul gives us a partial definition of unrighteousness in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 calls unrighteousness the “works of the flesh”, further defining sin as “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Romans 1:18-32 broadens the list, by saying, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness:…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lusts one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Some are “ignorant of God’s righteousness” (Romans 10:3), making themselves unrighteous. They “have not all obeyed the gospel.” All “that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:…shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-16). John the Baptist, immerser, pointed to Jesus as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). Jesus the Lamb does what no animal sacrifice could ever do, remove sin by His blood. (Hebrews 10:4; 9:12, 22). Jesus, in allowing (Matthew 26:53) Himself to be nailed to the cross (John 19:17, 18), willingly and deliberately shed His blood for the remission of sin (Matthew 26:28; John 19:34), and to purchase the church. (Acts 20:28). In so doing, Jesus exhibited supreme love. (John 15:13).
“The faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3), that is, which was once for all time given, “the gospel of Christ:…the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16), “the doctrine of Christ” ( 2 John 9-11), “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), “the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21), has been fully delivered (2 Peter 1:3), and was not to be changed by an apostle or angels. (Galatians 1:6-9). Neither are we to change God’s word. (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18, 19). Thus, was heaven’s work finished, allowing for these truths to be written: “For by grace are ye saved” (Ephesians 2:8, 9), “being now justified by his blood” (Romans 5:9), and saved by His engrafted word (James 1:21), which is the sanctifying truth. (John 8:32; 17:17).
Our salvation is now in our hands. Peter said, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). Paul wrote, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12). The Ephesians were informed that they were saved by grace through faith when they walked in, did, what God had ordained for them to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10). That is why Jesus pled, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
What works did God ordain for us to walk in to be saved? This is not a new question. Those on “the day of Pentecost”, upon hearing the gospel of the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and that He is “both Lord and Christ…were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2). They were told, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Verse 38). “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (Verse 41).
Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:1, 2), after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, asked, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). He was not told that he was saved at the moment he fell to the earth, and called Jesus, Lord, showing faith in Him. He was told, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” (Acts 9:6). Notice, Saul bowed before the Lord and called him Lord, but he was told that he still had something that he MUST DO! God sent Ananias to Saul to tell him what he MUST DO. (Acts 9:10-18; 22:16). Observe that Saul was told what he MUST DO, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Saul “was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19), but “immediately” obeyed the words of Ananias that he MUST DO from God. (Acts 9:18).
The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). He was told, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway.” (Verses 31-33).
An Ethiopian eunuch read from the scroll of Isaiah as he was riding along in his chariot. (Acts 8:27,28). However, he did not understand what he read. (Verses 29-31). He was reading from Isaiah 53, as our Bibles divide it. “Philip…began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (Verse 35). This man who had not understood now understands and believes, and, upon seeing water, asks, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Verse 36). Philip responded, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” (Verse 37). The eunuch confessed his faith, saying, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Verse 37). Philip “commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water,….” (Verse 39).
From these few cases of conversion we learn that they heard the word of God, by which faith is produced (Romans 10:17). Believers in God (Hebrews 11:6) and Jesus (John 8:24), must repent of sin (Acts 17:30, 31; Luke 13:3, 5; Matthew 3:8), confess faith in Jesus Christ as God’s son (Romans 10:9, 10; Matthew 10:9, 10), and be buried, immersed, in water baptism (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:1-6; Acts 8:38, 39), for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), to wash away sins (Acts 22:16), to be saved (Mark 16:16), to put on Christ (Galatians 3:26, 27), and enter the church. (1 Corinthians 12:13).
The saved are told, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10; Mark 13:13). Faithfulness means “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11, 12). Read also Galatians 5:22-26; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Matthew 5:1-12; and more.
JESUS IS THE ANSWER to salvation from sin. He is YOUR answer! He is the only way to the Father. (John 14:1-6). If you have not done these things, and from studying these facts, you have come to believe with all your heart that they are right, get in touch with the one who gave you this tract immediately. “Today” (Hebrews 3:7, 13, 15; 4:7), “now is the day of salvation.” ( 2 Corinthians 6:2).
It Is Written 