Author: S.E. Abbott
We hear much about the alarming increase of sin, but less as to what to do about it. Sin is a transgression of God’s law which separates man from God.
Salvation means deliverance from sin, being redeemed back to God. God, in His Word, teaches a plain simple way of salvation and why we need to be saved. Jesus taught that those who die in their sins can not come where He is. (John 8:21.) Jesus went to heaven. (Acts 1:11.) Seldom do we find anyone who does not want to go to heaven when he dies. Therefore, if sin will keep one out of heaven, what is sin? “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17. “Sin is the [known] transgression of the law.” I John 3:4. “When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth SIN.” James 1:15. “All unrighteousness is SIN.” I John 5:17. Why then do folks transgress God’s law, sin against His holy name and forfeit their hope of heaven? “God created man in his own image, [pure, holy, undefiled] in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Gen. 1:27. “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 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.” Gen. 2:15-17. But the serpent appeared, beguiled and deceived them, and they transgressed God’s commandment, which is sin, and God drove them from the garden. (Genesis 3.) Thus, by their sin, they lost the moral image of God’s purity out of their hearts and lives, died a spiritual death, and plunged the whole human race into sin. Their posterity were born with that fallen, or depraved nature in their hearts, inherited from their sinful parents. From generation to generation, this seed of sin or sin principle has been passed along.
Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, was the first murderer. He rose up and slew his brother, Abel. “…And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” I John 3:12. Sin was in his heart. It is sin in the hearts of mankind today that causes them to commit murder, because the unregenerated heart is filled with hatred, malice, lust, adultery, envy, jealousy, and disregard for God and man.
God has always loved His creation and devised a plan whereby all could be saved. After the Hebrew nation was in Egyptian bondage 430 years, God sent His servant Moses to deliver them. They were commanded to slay a choice lamb and sprinkle its blood on the doorpost of each dwelling. That night, when the death angel passed through the land of Egypt and slew the firstborn in every Egyptian home, there were no deaths among God’s people who had the blood on their doorposts, for the Destroyer had respect unto the sacrificial lamb, passed over them, and they were saved from physical death by the blood. (Exodus 12.) In Hebrews 9:22 we read, “Almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission [of sins].”
In the fifth chapter of Revelation, the apostle John, while on the Isle of Patmos, being in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, saw many unique visions concerning the past, present, and future of the Church. He said there that he saw a Book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals. (This book contained the plan of salvation.) No man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. This was sad, indeed, and John said he wept much. Then he was shown a Lamb (the Son of God) as it had been slain in the midst of the throne, and He came and took the book out of the right hand of him who sat upon the throne. And they sung a new song saying, “THOU art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, and people and nation.” Praise God for redeeming grace! Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Heb. 9:26.)
In John chapter 19, is given the account of false accusations against Jesus, His trial, suffering, and how the angry mob cried out, “Crucify him! crucify him!” After He was scourged, Pilate delivered Jesus to the soldiers who led Him to Calvary and crucified Him there, nailing Him to the cross—God’s only begotten Son. Verse 30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” A soldier then pierced His side with a spear and forthwith there came out blood and water. (A sure sign of death.) The plan of salvation was indeed now finished. The perfect sacrifice was slain, His innocent blood spilled—the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. But God raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead the third day—He, who was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. (Rom. 4:24-25.)
During His ministry Jesus taught, “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.” Matt. 11:28-29. This invitation is still held out to every soul. Among all nations of people today there is great unrest, both temporally and spiritually. The carnal weapons of warfare can never bring rest and salvation to the human soul. But praise God, He has made a way. “For 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 3:16.
Today there is much unbelief and disrespect for God and His Word. Few people are being saved. Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached repentance, the way of salvation, meaning to regret or feel sorry for sin, to realize one’s lost condition and become willing to turn from sin to God with a broken and contrite heart. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out….” Acts 3:19. “Wherefore he [Jesusl is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:25. “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
When a soul becomes sick and tired of the sinful life, becomes hungry for God—a hunger which nothing of the world can satisfy—then turns to God with a broken and contrite heart, complying with God’s terms to be saved, God will blot out every sin, by faith in the shed blood of Jesus and fill that soul with joy and happiness which no words can express. That soul then feels God’s presence within—fellowship with God, a sweet soul rest. Paul said, “Old things pass away, and behold, all things become new.” Such an experience we earnestly desire to retain, although Peter gives a warning in I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant [watchful]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” When Jesus sent the seventy out to preach, He said, “I give you power.” (Luke 10:19.) Knowing that He must leave them, and that they would need power to be overcomers, He said, before His ascension, to His disciples, “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. The disciples (120 of them) were assembled together in the upper room, waiting for that promise. Suddenly the Holy Ghost came and they were all filled, and began speaking in other languages and preaching the gospel. (Acts 2.) Remember that Peter, during Jesus’ trial, denied his Lord because of fear, but now being filled with the Holy Ghost and power, he boldly preached to the multitude, “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 Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38-39. Zacharias, filled with the Holy Ghost, prophesied, saying, “That he [God] would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.” Luke 1:67-74. Praise God for complete salvation!
Many are being taught to join the church of their choice, and thereafter they are ready for heaven. How sad! God’s Word does not teach “church joining,” but deliverance from sin and being filled with the Holy Ghost which eradicates the “sin principle” and fills the heart with divine love. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Titus 2:11-12.
Reader, if you are not saved, seek the Lord for salvation and be ready to meet Him when He calls for you.
Salvation is the Sweetest Thing
Salvation is the sweetest thing
That mortal ever found;
My soul can never cease to sing,
Such love and peace abound.
Salvation is omnipotence,
Combined with love supreme,
Come down in pity, so intense,
To rescue and redeem.
Salvation flows from Father’s heart,
A stream of holy love;
It covers me with glory bright,
And wings my soul above.
Salvation is a perfect plan;
It heals the saddest one
Who seeks the Father’s boundless grace
Thro’ His beloved Son.
Salvation! oh, that word so great!
It thrills my heart with joy;
To me it is a rich estate,
No foe can e’er destroy.
—D. S. Warner
