Steps To Salvation

For many their everyday religious experience doesn't even come within a hundred miles of the "golden rule" which instructs us: "And as ye would that men should do to YOU, do ye also to THEM likewise" (Luke 6:31). They have not been taught; nor have they taken the time to search the Scriptures to learn that Bible Salvation is a constant walk with God, daily growing and maturing in our relationship and gaining more victory over the influence of the World and the things of the World in our fleshly bodies.

At the beginning of our study we stated that "Salvation" implies "deliverance from [saved]" or "Victory over" the influence of something or someone in our lives which causes us to act contrary to the Word and Will of God. Many profess Salvation but one is caused to wonder WHAT they have been delivered [saved] from and WHAT they have victory over! They continue living the same kind of lives they always lived, with no indication of the "new creation - new nature" which the Bible speaks off. Somewhere they have stopped short of "believing unto the Salvation of their souls" (Hebrews 10:39). They have failed to "follow on to KNOW the Lord" (Hosea 6:3) and heed Jesus' exhortation to "Continue in His Word" (John 8:31).

If they follow the Bible's "Steps to Salvation" the end result is the 'birth" of a "new you" in your soul. Jesus said in John 3:3, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see [understand] the kingdom of God." In the 1st. Epistle of Peter 1:22-23 we find more insight into the "new birth" through these Words: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." One thing is certain - if you ever experience Salvation from the Lord, you are a "changed" person - the nature of your soul is changed, your desires are different, You feed daily on God's Word (the Bible), lining up with it's precepts, your motives and objectives in life are different and God is "number One" in your life.

Many attempt to avoid facing the FULL issue of Bible Salvation by saying, "Oh, I believe in God; I'm not so bad; I'm just as good as the other fellow". But that has NOTHING to do with Salvation - Salvation is a "personal" transaction between YOU and GOD - God doing it, and you hearing, recognizing, receiving and acting on [responding to] what God has done and recorded in His Word. The Apostle said, "He that is of God heareth God's words:" (John 8:47). And what's written for one is written for all! St. Paul said: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).

Before proceeding to the discussion of "The Steps To Salvation" - the out-working of God's Salvation in our lives, let's read these few Scriptures which speak of Salvation.....

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. (Psalms 116:13). 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). For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; (Romans 1:16). For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. (2nd Cor. 7:10). Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12).

Salvation is a living life-changing experience between the repentant sinner and God. Beginning in time it climaxes in eternity. It's an experience that comes to the believer in three distinct steps or phases. (1) Justification; (2) Sanctification and (3) The Baptism of the Holy Ghost (the new birth). Every born-again believer experiences this in his/her life. This is God's work in them.
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