The Saviour's Gift

SALVATION means to be rescued from sin and its punishment and set free to know, love, and serve God. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:34,36).

ALL PEOPLE have turned away from God and broken the law of God. The Bible calls this sin. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

LEFT TO OURSELVES, there is no rescue, and the justice of God requires our eternal damnation in the terrors of hell. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

VICTORY over sin was obtained when God sent His Son Jesus to earth. Jesus obeyed God's laws perfectly, yet He died to pay for the sins of all who believe. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

ADMITTING that our sin has put us in a desperate situation is the first step in our rescue. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8,9).

TAKING the free gift of Jesus' payment for our sin makes us "not guilty" in God's sight. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

IN GRATITUDE for such love, we follow Him in obedience and sacrificial service. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).

ONLY JESUS has provided the way to salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

NOW is the time to see your need of Christ and to make your decision for Him. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

How do we receive salvation? Salvation is a gift, pure and simple. God offers us salvation on the basis of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us. We receive God's gift through repentance and faith—by turning from our own ways to God's way: believing God's truth that Jesus is the Son of God who died for you and rose again.

—Adapted from "What is Meant by Salvation?" Used by permission of The Tract League.