You Need a Savior

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Genesis 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Job 34:15  All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

God's Salvation

Salvation is God's willingness to forgive, which is grace. The only stipulation is that we believe in and follow His Son.

Matthew 9:13  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 18:9-14  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Holy Spirit's Guidance

We think of the most extreme examples of sin, like murder and theft. Jesus spoke of the most subtle examples. If we think it in our heart, we have broken the commandment. The point being that no matter how insignificant our sin may seem to us, we are guilty of breaking the whole law. If we don't keep the sabbath according to the letter of the law, we are breaking the sabbath. That is why we need to be like the publican and not like the Pharisee. We need to fall on the mercy of God, and not glory in our own self righteousness.

Matthew 5:21-22  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:27-28  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

My Holy Spirit guided conscience tells me not to murder. If anger creeps up in me, even for the slightest moment, I've already failed. I would never cheat on my wife, but I am naturally attracted to the beauty in other women. Even if a thought crept into my mind for a second before I reject it, I've already failed. I am guilty of the whole law.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Confidence in God's Son

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus, God's own Son. We can confidently come to Him in repentance and say, "I know I am a sinner, Lord. Thank You for Your tender mercy."

If I am truly loving my neighbor, I won't murder, steal, lie, cheat, or covet. Not coveting is the key. Coveting is selfishness and is the root of all evil.

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I John 3:23-24  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Jeremiah 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Entering God's Kingdom

God is the answer to the existential question, "Why are we here?" No matter how long we may live in this physical creation, it isn't a nanosecond of eternity. The reason we are here is to find out how to enter there. Most never find that answer, but I will give it to you for free.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Influenced By the Original Lie

Where will you spend eternity? Have you ever thought about it? There is one belief common to most every religion; the belief that we have immortality in some form. It is the belief that we never really die, but that some part of us is immortal either as: a spirit, an angel, reincarnated, or some variation. What does the Bible say?

Genesis 3:1-5  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die : For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The one thing that sets man apart from animals is the knowledge of good and evil, or conscience! Animals don't have that knowledge. It is that knowledge and our propensity to embrace the evil and eschew the good that leaves us unfit for eternal life. This is why you and I need a savior. Satan has managed to perpetuate this lie in the minds of men ever since. Even much of Christianity holds to this lie by saying at the death of the body, the soul goes either to heaven or hell to spend eternity. Is the real you a spirit trapped in a physical body?

Matthew 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul : but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God is the one able to destroy body and soul in gehenna, the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death (Revelation 21:8). Jesus was telling us that if we lose faith because of persecution, we will lose our life, “both soul and body.” The following passages leave no doubt as to the finality of death.

Psalm 146:3-4  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Ezekiel 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son in mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beast; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

James 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

The Hope of Salvation From the Second Death

The Bible is very clear on the meaning of death. Death is just what our logical mind would tell us it is had we not already been influenced by the lie. If we are thinking the second death is any different, Malachi 4:1-3 clearly describes it.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6  For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Although he lived many centuries before Christ, Job looked forward to the hope of salvation from death.

Job 14:1-14  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Job was aware of the promise of salvation; he expected that he would receive it. He knew that he would be dead for a long time before his “change” would come. Job, like everyone else whoever lived and died, returned to the dust.

Ecclesiastes 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

The spirit came from God; it will return to Him again. The book of Genesis tells us that God formed a man from the dust of the ground, breathed the breath of life into him (spirit), and he became a living soul. To put it plainly, God used the elements of the earth to create a body, infused it with spirit, and it became a person. The spirit isn't that person, but is the power from God which quickens and sustains life. When the spirit returns to God at death, it is no more that person than when it was “breathed” into the body at conception.

James 2:26 ...the body without the spirit is dead,...

Ye Must Be Born Again

Except for in the mind of God, we didn't exist before we were born. Why would we continue to exist after we die? Therefore we must be “born” again, if we are to exist again. The way to be born again is to be resurrected.

I Corinthians 15:53-54  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

With the exception of Jesus, no one has yet been resurrected to eternal life. Jesus said,

John 6:39-40  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

What is Salvation?

Salvation is like the word salvage. To salvage is to save something that would otherwise be discarded. That is why we need to be saved, because otherwise we will be discarded in death.

From what are we being saved? It goes all the way back to the beginning of man in the story of Adam and Eve.

Genesis 2:16-17  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 5:5  And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Death is that from which we need to be saved. Death is the discarding. Each one of us commits this same sin in our own lives. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents us taking to ourselves the knowledge of good and evil. In other words, we decide for ourselves what is good and evil, instead of trusting what God says. In effect, becoming our own god and breaking the first commandment.

Exodus 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This faith that saves us isn't our own will, but is a gift of God.

Romans 10:6-9  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God's Grace

Grace is forgiveness. Without forgiveness, none of us can be saved. Jesus provided the pardon by being our scapegoat. He voluntarily took the blame for all of us. But if we want to be forgiven, we have to be forgiving. If we don't forgive, we won't be forgiven.

Matthew 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Romans 4:1-8  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Matthew 16:13-18  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Romans 6:23  …; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 20:29-31  Jesus saith unto him [doubting Thomas], Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Acts 4:11-12  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Grace is God's willingness to forgive. It is His mercy. It is only by God's mercy that anyone will be saved. He doesn't have to save anyone. Even the most benevolent person whoever lived is still a failure when it comes to being worthy of eternal life. It isn't our goodness that saves us. It is God's mercy, which is His grace.

God only extends that mercy according to the faith that He gives us. If we have faith in Jesus and spend the rest of our life in service to Him, it is still only because of God's mercy that we will be saved. If we don't serve Him at all, like the unprofitable servant, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Romans 9:15-16  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

We are only saved because our sins are forgiven. That is what grace means. It is because of our faith in Jesus that we are forgiven. If we expect to be forgiven, we have to practice forgiveness.

Matthew 6:14-15  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The big, little word "if" has a lot of power behind it.

Grace goes right along with turning the other cheek and loving our enemies. Faith without works is dead. Dead faith cannot save anyone.

Supporting Verses:

Hebrews 12:1-2  …let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

II Thessalonians 2:13-15  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

I Corinthians 15:20-26  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by 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. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Matthew 16:24-26  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Hebrews 2:9-18  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Luke 2:10-12  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

John 14:5-11  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

John 8:48-58  Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Exodus 3:13-15 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Revelation 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:...

Revelation 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Isaiah 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.