Some people suppose that the offer of salvation is similar to other big-ticket items. Beds, refrigerators, and automobiles cost more than most people can afford, so stores often offer these products for no money down. Customers can enjoy these products for a year or so before beginning the dreaded monthly payments that slowly but surely drain their bank account. Likewise salvation costs nothing up front, but those who receive Jesus as Savior should eventually pay the price of making Him their Lord.
But this is backwards, for receiving salvation is the opposite of purchasing a car or couch. Unlike them, salvation is affordable to all. It does not lie beyond anyone’s price range (for Jesus has paid our debt to God), but it does demand that we put all our money down—and everything else that we are and have (Matthew 19:21).
Jesus explained that all who want to follow Him must “turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me,” for only those who lose their lives for His sake will save their lives (16:24-25). This makes sense, for it’s hard to argue that Jesus is our Savior if He’s not also our Lord. How can we claim that He has rescued us from sin if we remain enslaved to it?
Augustine explained the cost of salvation this way: “Give yourself, and you’ve got it. What are you worrying about? Why are you in such a sweat? You aren’t going to have to go looking for yourself, are you, or to go and buy yourself? Look, it’s you, who you are, what you are; give yourself for that thing, and you’ve got it.”
The gospel is free, but it doesn’t come cheap. It cost Jesus His life, and if we wish to receive His great salvation, it will cost ours too.
More:
Don’t begin until you count the cost. . . . You cannot become My disciple without giving up everything you own (Luke 14:28,33).
Next:
What aspect of your life—a relationship, possession, talent, or activity—do you need to release to Jesus? Empty your pockets and enjoy the fullness of His salvation.
R R Kelkar on July 6, 2010 at 2:25 am
Mike, I liked your post, but I have several questions:
1. What exactly is salvation?
2. Is it the same as eternal life?
3. Or does it have a component in this earthly life too?
4. Is it different from being ‘born again’?
5. Is receiving salvation a onetime event?
6. Or does one have to keep working on it?
7. How does one make sure that salvation has indeed been obtained?
8. Having obtained salvation, what happens to one’s sinful nature subsequently?
9. Or does one keep struggling with sin in spite of salvation?
I would appreciate being enlightened on these points, for my own sake and also for explaining to people from other faiths who have their own ideas about salvation. It is not my intention to go into any argument or raise any controversy.
lindagma on July 6, 2010 at 6:29 am
I’ll give it my best shot as I understand it R R.
Salvation is recognizing that Jesus is the Son of God. That He came to this earth, through birth to a virgin, impregnated by the Holy Spirit, to bring us back into fellowship with the Father through His death and that He rose from that death in 3 days.
Eternal life is the promise we have been given as a result of establishing that relationship with God.
Once we have experienced Salvation, and it is a one time event, we have two natures to contend with while we are still on earth. The old sinful nature, encouraged by Satan, and the new nature of being more like Christ, blessed and guided by the Heavenly Father.
The degree of how much you continue to sin or not sin depends largely upon which nature you feed. If you continue in your old ways, spending time in your old activities and friendships, then that is what will dictate your behavior. If you spend time with other believers, be in daily prayer and reading the word, participate in church activities and work, your focus will be on the things of God.
God has a purpose for each of us before we are even born and, therefore, we remain here on earth to fulfill that purpose. Because Satan is still loose, attempting to “be God” and get as many in his camp as possible, he will do whatever he needs to do to hinder our effectiveness. He can’t read our mind or heart the way that God can, but he does recognize our weaknesses and he will prey on those to cause us to stumble. In this respect, yes we will struggle with sin until the day we take our last breath. Again, depending on how much we “feed” our new self, will depend on how successful we will be in dealing with the temptation to sin.
As for how we know we are saved… that can be a difficult one but if you are truly repentant, recognizing how unworthy we are, and trust that Jesus is the Son of God, asking Him to save us, Jesus promises that “no-one can pluck us from His hand.” Sometimes our ego gets in the way and we don’t think we are “so bad”, but the more we get into the word, the more we recognize how much we need a savior.
Some people feel great exhilaration upon acceptance of Christ.. others do not. That can be instrumental in causing those who do not to question the reality of their salvation. Basically, if you love Jesus, you will want to live your life in a way that pleases Him. Even though you are not sinless, God sees the heart and the desire to be sinless.
My personal testimony is that I accepted Jesus as my savior at 16. Because of a number of circumstances,at 25 I lost faith and did not come back until I was 35. Looking back over those 10 years, I can see how the hand of God protected me and kept me from going to far. The most important thing is to be connected with a strong Bible teaching church that will guide you through your growth, challenges and understanding of your relationship with God.
I hope this helps.
dr.lightsey on July 6, 2010 at 10:37 am
lindagma:
Your response is simple (understandable) and yet imformative. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in reading your response. Thank God for using you and thank you for being obedient to God’s leading. I know if more people heard the gospel in terms and in the way you have shared, a lot of misconception could be avoided.
May God continue to use and bless you.
mike wittmer on July 6, 2010 at 4:57 pm
R R. Kelkar:
I’ll try to answer your questions here:
1. What exactly is salvation?
Salvation means to be saved from sin and death by trusting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf.
2. Is it the same as eternal life?
Eternal life would be a very important benefit of salvation.
3. Or does it have a component in this earthly life too?
Salvation and its benefits do begin now. We are rescued from the power of sin, but not from its presence until Jesus returns.
4. Is it different from being ‘born again’?
Being born again (or regeneration) is the initial moment of our salvation.
5. Is receiving salvation a onetime event?
Yes. However, we don’t always know when that moment occurred. But just as we know that we’re physically alive not because we have memorized our birthdate but because we are breathing, so we know that we are spiritually alive but our life in the Spirit.
6. Or does one have to keep working on it?
With God’s help we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12-13). This refers to the sanctification part of our salvation–growing in the holiness which Christ has achieved for us. But our justification, or acceptance with God, is entirely God’s gift to us in Christ.
7. How does one make sure that salvation has indeed been obtained?
We find reason for confidence by the change in our lives. Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruit. But since our fruit will likely be less than perfect, we find ultimate security by looking to Jesus, who forgives even the sin in our best efforts.
8. Having obtained salvation, what happens to one’s sinful nature subsequently?
Our sinful nature has died with Christ (Rom. 6; Gal. 2:20), but because we are still sinners, we will continue to struggle with our sinful nature until Jesus returns. This struggle is real, and yet we are living a lie when we do this because we are ignoring our new nature in Jesus.
9. Or does one keep struggling with sin in spite of salvation?
The struggle is real–but every time we sin we remember that we are forgiven for that sin and that sin no longer defines us, for we are in Jesus.
little light on July 6, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Let me just share a few thoughts and may the Lord
Bless the thoughts that are shared
1 What Is Salvation
This is best explained by the angel at the birth of our Saviour ” call His Name Jesus for He shall Save His people from their sins. Our salvation is not a just one time event, the Holy Spirit brings in a realisation first, convicts us of our sin, points us to our Saviour and we repent and are Born again into Gods family, Justified fully through Calvary etc
2. Is it the same as eternal life
John 17; 2 In Jesus words this is eternal life that they may know you the only true GOD and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.Eternal life is a life of knowing Him, as Paul says That I may know Him …. Oh that our hearts may hunger after Him and knpw Him more and more. Eternal life can also be referred to a quality of life , a life of Knowing Him more and more.
3. Or does it have a component in this earthly life too?
Yes it does have, .
Is it different from being ‘born again’?
Being Born Again is Step 1 and the process of working out our salvation (phil2) begins
The rest of the questions are answered so well by Mike.
Regarding the overcoming sin issue, it is like how the Israelites had to fight Canaans giants, they did it with the Lords help, Jericho fell with shouts of praise, and so forth. We also have to overcome ,
Put to death the flesh and this is done by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
But when the Israelites were at the Red Sea , they did not do anything , they just entered into what God did, so is it at the time we are Born again, By Grace we are saved through Faith it is God’s gift to us,
R R Kelkar on July 6, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Thank you, Mike, lindagma and little light, for spending your time and effort to write such detailed and meaningful comments. I am really obliged. I do communicate with people of other faiths, and it is necessary for me to have clarity on the basic concepts of my own faith.