Introduction

Before you can study the Bible or understand its concepts, you must realize that spiritual phenomena cannot be comprehended without spiritual birth and spiritual birth cannot be obtained apart from Salvation.

(John 3: 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

(1 Cor. 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(John 4.24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Salvation is as simple as accepting what Christ has done. The work has been accomplished, Jesus Christ offers Eternal Life to everyone who will believe in Him.

(Acts 16:31)... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,

(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

No Christian can live an effective life for the Lord without knowledge of God*s Word. Many people acknowledge the importance of the Bible but never spend much time studying it. Knowing Bible Doctrine is not just for preachers or pastors. It is for everyone.

(2 Tim. 2:15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Every Believer needs a working knowledge of the Scriptures. We must feed on God*s Word if we are to grow spiritually. The Bible is the only reliable source of information with regard to God*s Plan for all ages. It points out our state of sinfulness and our need for Salvation through Jesus Christ. We learn about the character of God and how He deals with man throughout the ages. God reveals man*s destiny and the ultimate destruction of this universe. The Bible is the revealed "mind of Christ. "(I Cor. 2.16) The more we know about the Bible, the more we know about Christ.

This booklet is written to believers for the purpose of building a better understanding of Basic Bible Doctrines and to provide scripture references for the spiritual Concepts being presented. Salvation and Spirituality are two rudimentary doctrines that Christians should be certain of. Yet, in Christian circles, these two doctrines have such diverse presentations that they can hardly be recognized.

Much more detail could be entered into than is covered in this short review. Whenever a more thorough understanding is required, it is recommended that additional study of the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit be undertaken.

Salvation provided through Christ is the foundation Doctrine of Christianity. Without a proper understanding of the Gospel a Believer has no assurance and may not even be saved. Clarity of the Gospel is essential if a Believer is to witness. When presenting the Gospel, false issues make the choice unbelievers face difficult or unnecessarily unattractive. Among Believers, many distortions exist. Ignorance of God’s Word in combination with enthusiastic or over zealous witnesses portray distorted views of God’s Grace. If there is a desire for greater understanding, God the Holy Spirit can reveal truth to those who avail themselves of His revealing ministry.

The Spirituality of a Christian is a concept that is often ignored or blended into a requirement for Salvation. This misunderstood Doctrine gives rise to some of the strangest presentations of Christian Living. Churches and Seminaries emphasize motivational techniques rather than rely on God’s indwelling presence. In today*s Christian Organizations, external measuring sticks have replaced Divine Standards. The Spirit filled life is the only motivation that has eternal reward and at the same time is the only one that cannot be measured by man.

THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

The doctrine of Salvation is obviously the most critical doctrine that anyone should comprehend. Without Salvation, all other doctrines have little significance. The word "salvation" is derived from the Greek words soteria and soterion and has a basic meaning of "to rescue, to save, to deliver". Salvation denotes preservation, and safety from a threatening circumstance. Personal Salvation involves God*s provision necessary to rescue man from his lost condition (Regeneration, Atonement, Justification). Whether we acknowledge it or not, everyone is in need of Salvation if we are to escape an Eternal Condemnation from God.

God*s Salvation for the Human Race is specific and is centered around the unique Person and Work of Jesus Christ. God*s provision through this Plan is not arbitrary but deliberate. Because the character of God can not change (Immutability), the plan must satisfy* God*s Righteousness and Justice before His Love can give Eternal Life. In God*s plan, the penalty for sin for the entire world was paid by Christ*s death on the cross (God*s Justice was satisfied and the barrier was removed). Now through faith in Christ Jesus, God*s Love is able to give man Eternal Life and clothe him in the Righteousness of God. Apart from God*s provision, man cannot approach God or earn His respect. God is absolutely Righteous and cannot have fellowship with or accommodate anything less than Perfect Righteousness. There is no room for man*s imperfection in God*s character.

(1 Sam. 2:2) There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

(1 John 1:5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

In Salvation Jesus Christ bore the punishment for sin (Atonement) and

God imputed Christ*s Perfect Character to those who believe in Christ

(Justification).

(2 Cor. 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Christ is the focal point For Salvation. We cannot become children of God apart from God*s Plan which includes the Sacrificial Death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the Imputation of Righteousness to the Believer, and the Regeneration of the Human Spirit in each recipient of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Everyone needs Salvation.

In Rom. 3:23, two of man*s deficiencies are addressed. First "all have sinned" (Atonement is necessary) "and come short of the Glory of God" (Justification is needed). Each member of the human race is in bondage to sin and is born spiritually dead. Rom. 5:12 (Regeneration is needed)

(Rom. 3.23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

(Rom. 3:10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

(Isaiah 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. 5:12) By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Salvation is Received through Faith in Christ.

Faith requires no merit and is the most basic system of perception (no one is left out). The amount of faith is not the issue, but rather it is the object of the faith that is critical. The merit is in Christ not in the strength of man*s faith. Even "the faith of a child" or as it were "the grain of a mustard seed" is adequate if it is directed toward Christ*s work on the cross.

(Galatians 3:26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

(John 6:47) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

(John 5:2 4) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(Acts 16:3 1) . . .Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . .

(John 1.12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

(John 3:3 6) 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.

(Rom 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Salvation Requires a Spiritual Birth.

When Adam sinned the spirit of man died and remains dead for all humanity born in Adam. If man is to regain fellowship with God man must be Spiritually Regenerated. This rebirth of the human spirit is accomplished by God the Holy Spirit at the moment of Salvation.

(John 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

(John 3:6,7) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Salvation is a Gift Given in Grace.

Since man cannot work for Salvation (incapable of earning it), it is provided as a gift in Grace by God and is undeserved by anyone. In Grace we are undeserving and at God*s mercy. In Grace God gets the glory not man. In Grace Salvation depends on God not on man.

(Rom. 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Eph. 2:8,9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation is the Work of God.

In Salvation God does the work for man rather than man doing the work for God. Man is helpless and incapable of earning it. Salvation can only be accepted by faith in Christ*s work on the cross. To work for Salvation would be relying on human ability or virtue rather than on God*s provision. Consequently, human works added to faith is not faith in Christ but faith in human works, or human power, which is contrary to grace. Salvation is as simple as accepting what Christ has done. The work has been accomplished. Jesus Christ offers Eternal Life to everyone who will believe in Him.

(Titus 3:5,6) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Salvation is entirely the work of God. We are spiritually dead, totally depraved, separated from God, and totally helpless to do anything about it. We cannot even understand the Gospel apart from the revealing ministry of the Holy Spirit. A spiritually dead person can only respond to the invitation to Eternal Salvation. His response must be believing in Jesus Christ.

(1 Cor. 2.14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(John 3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

(1 Cor. 2:10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Salvation is an Invitation from Christ.

We do not invite Christ to save us, we accept what He has offered. With Salvation Christ originated the offer. We must recognize and accept the gift. Christ is doing the giving. We are bankrupt and without assets to give or attract. Christ is in the position of authority, not us. His invitation is valid and real.

(John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

(Matt. 11:28) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

(Isa. 55: 1) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Salvation is Only in Christ.

Christ is the Unique Person of the universe. He is fully God and fully man. In order for God to provide Salvation and die on the cross, God had to take on the form of man. God can not die (Eternal Life), God could not be confined on the cross (Omnipresence) and a man had to be the substitute. Jesus Christ became that man conceived by God the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (outside of the curse of sin). There is no other person or solution that can provide for man*s Redemption.

(Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

(1 Tim. 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, l am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Salvation is Permanent.

God performed the work required for Salvation. Because Salvation does not depend on our performance or maintenance to survive, it is safe "reserved in heaven for you". We receive what God did by faith (no merit) and it is perfect and secure. It would take someone grater than God to undo what He has already done.

(1 Peter 1:4,5) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(Rom. 8:38, 39) For l am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(John 10:28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Salvation is the Starting Point.

In order for us to have fellowship with God we must have spiritual capacity. The Spiritual Birth provided by God the Holy Spirit at the moment we believe in Christ gives us the Spiritual platform for fellowship with God. Our Spiritual growth proceeds through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and becomes a basis for Eternal Reward.

(1 Cor. 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(2 Cor. 5:12) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

(Rom. 8:16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

(Peter 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

(2 Tim. 2:15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Salvation Separates Humanity.

No issue in life has more impact than our attitude toward Christ. It is in this regard we are urged to repent (change our minds about Christ). On the basis of our attitude toward the Saviour, The Lord Jesus Christ, we are separated for eternity. Everyone that has the capacity to choose, selects their destiny based on their attitude of Christ*s death on the cross. Man does not pay for it, Christ paid the debt. Man must recognize his helplessness and receive the wonderful provision given in Grace through Christ Jesus.

(1 John 5:12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

(Matt. 10:34,35) Think not that lam come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For l am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

(Matt. 13:38) The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

God Desires Salvation for Everyone.

It is God*s wish that everyone be saved, yet God honors the free will of man.

(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(John 6:40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

(Ezekiel 33:11) . . . . As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; . . . .

(John 3:17,18) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(1 John 3:23) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ

Salvation is Available to Everyone.

When Christ died on the cross, He paid the sin debt of the entire world. For Salvation, the issue is no longer sin, but rather our attitude toward Christ. Christ removed the barrier and in its place Christ stands as the object in whom we must trust for Salvation. Since Christ paid the debt, sin is no longer the basis for going to Hell. It is the rejection of Jesus Christ*s provision and the attitude of self-sufficiency by man that becomes the indictment.

(1 John 2:2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

(Col. 2:14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

(John 3:16) 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.

Provision for Salvation is Complete.

As Christ hung on the cross, taking our place, He was judged by God the Father. The sins of the world, past, present and future, were laid on Him. While the Lord Jesus Christ never once opened His mouth in response to the physical abuse He received, He screamed out under the Judgment of the Father for sin. When the Judgment was complete Christ uttered these words "it is finished". In the Greek it is "TETELESTAI" which equates to "paid in full" and was used when a debt was completely satisfied.

It is therefore in arrogance or in ignorance that we might try to earn Salvation through some effort on our part. Human effort directed at Salvation is an insult to God. We can only receive what He completed on the cross.

(Rom. 4.4,5) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

The harder you work for Salvation the further you go from it. Christ completed the work on the cross. Accept the payment Christ made and begin your Christian Way of Life.

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