March 11, 2006
Newsletter Archives

From time to time we need to have God’s plan of salvation set out in a simple way so that those who are strangers to its message may take it in. The word so commonly used in the Bible of people who are sure of heaven is the word “saved.” Peter told his audience one day, “…we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. And Paul wrote to the Corinthians and spoke of them, along with himself as those “…who are saved.” 1Corinthians 1:18.
The word “saved” in everyday use implies a number of things. Firstly, it indicates danger. When people tell us they have been saved, we wonder what danger they were in. This is also the Biblical use of the word. Because we have sinned against a holy God, He must punish our sins unless they are removed. And, harsh as it may seem to us, His punishment is eternal fire.
Secondly, the word “saved” is not an active word. It is passive. If people are “saved” they do not save themselves. Another person saves them. This is the reason why the Lord Jesus came into the world. Paul wrote, “
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. He died on the cross to suffer for human sin. Almost every person who lives in North America knows this. Or do they? As a fact, it is well known. As a personal experience it is almost unknown.
This brings us to the third point. Unless a person faces the fact that he is helpless to save himself and depends on Christ to take his sins away, he will never be saved. Most people believe that Christ was punished for sins, but they do not see that His death is enough to take away all their sins. Thus people believe they have to do something to help.
In the Bible, Paul told Titus that is was “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us….” Titus 3:5.
The moment we honestly face that we are lost and we trust the Lord Jesus alone to take away our sins, the matter is settled. God’s plan for taking people to Heaven is not really complex. We have made it seem that way by our own false notions. God is willing to save us without our help.

Russ Nesbit