Receiving God's Provision of Salvation

Jesus is God's free gift of salvation to the world. God's salvation can be received when people repent from their sins, confess Jesus Christ as the Lord and saviour and place faith in him. Romans 10:9 - If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. The followings are discussed: Repentance from Sin; Confess Jesus as the Lord, and Receive Salvation by Faith.

Repent From Sin: The only way to eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. Those who are against Christ are also against God, because any message that is contrary to the one revealing the loving and saving nature of God as given by Christ is meant to deceive people. Christ's message transforms life and leads to purposeful living that aligns with God's will. Peter spoke out this reality and made the Jews understand they had crucified both the Lord and Christ. Peter's message about wickedness of the heart seeks that people return to God for genuine repentance and righteous living which are requirements for salvation (Acts: 2:36-38). These requirements can only be sustained in Christian life through the power of Holy Spirit. Believers must seek Holy ghost baptism in the name of Christ.

Holy Spirit enables Christians to live out their faith and gives the power to overcome enticement to sin (Acts: 39-41). He gives the power to turn away from behaviours that destroy right relationship with God.

Confess Jesus as the Lord: Paul clarified between obedience to Law and Faith in God. Faith in God requires a standard of righteousness that can never be achieved through obedience to the Law. It is through faith we can truly please God. Faith is of the heart, and brings about a complete attitude and inners desire to honour God (Romans 10:5-9). Righteousness is attached to faith, and faith involves obedience to God. Salvation comes to those who witness for Christ and believe in the power that raised him from the dead.

Those who want to be saved must Confess Christ as the Lord and Saviour and place trust in him. Believers in Christ are assured of salvation and victory over challenges to faith (Romans 10:10-13; Isaiah 28:16). Christ is the gift of God for our salvation.

Receive Salvation by Faith: Good work is not adequate to earn God's salvation. We can earn salvation only through faith in Christ (Galatians 2:16; 3:21-26). Those who have faith in Christ will find it easier to do good and live a righteous life. The Bible has made it known that the Law is inadequate to pursue righteousness. It can only give the awareness about sin, but can't prevent sin. Thus it is inadequate to pursue salvation. Faith in Christ leads to spiritual enablement to overcome and reject sin. Life can be changed completely through faith in Christ.

Good works follow salvation. People are saved to do good and become righteous before God through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10). Some people may think their good deeds can make them righteous in the sight of God, even without having faith in Him. Such thought will make people trust in themselves rather than God. If God is not involved people can't see the need to pursue eternal goals. Lesson texts: Acts: 2:36-41; Romans 10:5-13; Galatians 2:16; 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:8-10.