Doctrine of Salvation
This study is stated based on the fact that the Bible is the inspired word of God and is completely true. All references will be from the King James Version. This will explain what must be done to be absolutely sure that you are going to heaven when you die, or if the Lord returns, whichever comes first.
I. The Need for Salvation
God created man in his image for his honor and glory (Proverbs 16:4, Isaiah 43:7). When he created man, he made man perfect. He also gave man a free will. When Adam chose to sin in the garden of Eden, he became sinful, and all his children were born with a sinful nature. Since God is holy (He is without sin, and cannot tolerate sin, 1 Peter 1:16), he was separated with man. Because of sin, the earth was no longer perfect, neither was man. All of the children of man are sinful (Romans 3:23, Psalms 51:5, Romans 5:12)
However, God created us and he loves us and wants us to be with him (John 3:16, 1 John 4:19). He had to make a way so that we could get to him, because our sin hinders our fellowship with God. Romans 6:23 says that: "The wages of sin is death," or the payment, reward for sin is eternal, spiritual death (Separation from God forever in hell). There can be no excuse, all sin must be payed for.
II. The Way of Salvation
Some think if they do enough good things, they will outweigh the bad things and God will ‘let them in’ to heaven. It doesn’t work that way. All sin must be payed for. No matter how much good we do, it will not meet God’s standard of holiness (Isaiah 64:6). God came in the flesh to die for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ was born of the VIRGIN Mary. This is important because, remember all the children of man are sinful. Since Jesus was both God and man, he lived a sinless life. When he was crucified and died, he took the sin of the world upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). He experienced death and hell for us so that we wouldn’t have to. Now the good part: After three days, Jesus rose from the dead proving that the payment for sin was complete (1 Peter 3:18). Whoever will accept this gift will be righteous in the eyes of God, because God will see the complete payment of Christ instead of our sin.
III. Assurance of Salvation
This is the big one. It seems to be of the popular opinion today that you can lose your salvation, or you must be saved more than once. This is not Biblical. And I intend to prove it by the word of God. This is under the assumption that you have truly been born again.
First of all, some people think you can DO something to lose your salvation. This means you are basing your salvation on your works. Ephesians 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. Also, if our salvation was based on works, no one can be saved because Rom 3:10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. Nothing we do can change the fact that we are saved. This does not mean we have a license to sin, however, because God will judge us.
Secondly, when Jesus died on the cross, he died for ALL sin in ALL times, past present and future. When you accept him, all your sins are covered.
Third, when we are saved, we have eternal life. Eternal means it can never end.(John 3:15-16, Rom. 6:23, John 17:2)
Finally, the Bible clearly says that we can know that we are going to heaven.
I Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I hope this has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, or any ideas about how I can improve this study, please e-mail me.