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Salvation Part 1 - Need for a Savior
Salvation is the ransoming or redeeming of mankind from his own predisposed condition of sin against God. For this to happen we must understand three key principles which make Salvation necessary. Sin, Righteous and Justice or Judgement. God convicts us of these three things even though we try to cover up guilt or look the other direction.
Sin can be defined in several different ways. The most common way is disobedience to God. We are disobedient through acts of disobedience and also by failure to obey. Even the smallest sin is enough to separate us from a totally righteous God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one. Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
This last scripture is important because it indicates one of the results of sin. If we “fall short of the Glory of God”, then we cannot attain to right standing with him on our own because of our sin. It cuts us off from him.
Righteousness God is a totally righteous God. There is absolutely no wrong doing (sin) to be found in Him. Being totally righteous and without fault, he hates sin. Hi is light. He is pure. We are convicted of His righteousness when we are in His presence.
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the ______________ judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Justice / Judgement
.God is totally righteous. We are totally sinful. There is not one good thing in us that can earn God’s favor. So our eternal destination is separation from God. He cannot look at sin. He cannot be in the presence of sin. Sin is destroyed in God’s presence. Therefore, if we have sin, even the least little bit of disobedience, we cannot stand in God’s presence. We can have NO relationship with him at all.
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Isa 3:13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
33:20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways
The Dilemma - Death We understand that God is totally righteous and We are totally sinful by deed and nature. The two can never live together. Being totally separated from our creator is called death, thus…
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is not the end though. God has made a way for us to be reconciled back to Himself. This is based not on our attempts to please him, but on His righteousness. Based on HIS good works. He truly wants us to be called his children. He has provided a way for our reconciliation to him. Part 2 of this study talks about our reconciliation to the Father through his son Jesus Christ.
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