Salvation why and how?

Before reading this article we would like to strongly suggest that you to have a Bible in front of you, either in print or on a website.  There are numerous Scriptures that are cited throughout this article, while only a few are quoted.  These Scriptures are all essential and have been selected to highlight the points being made.  After you’ve read a paragraph with referenced Scriptures, we encourage you to stop and look up the cited verses before continuing through the article.  This will allow you to full appreciate the essential truths being presented. Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong?  Perhaps as a child you stole a piece of candy or maybe you have told a lie.  Maybe you have done something even more severe.  Whatever it might be, you be confident that you are not alone, for many people have assuredly done the same.    In doing something such as stealing or lying, you have sinned.  The Illustrated Bible Dictionary explains that sin is done “either by omitting to do what God’s law requires or by doing what it forbids.”[1]  Unfortunately sin is something that we have all inherited from our father Adam. (Rom. 5:12)  It was not until after he sinned that he bore children.  Having become imperfect (sinful) by disobeying God, he was not able to produce children without sin.  Sin was passed on to all of Adam’s children, including each of us, and so we are deserving of death.  The apostle Paul, in writing to an early church in Rome, explained that “the wages of sin is death.”  (Rom. 6:23)  The source of this sin proves to be in our father Adam; for God explained to him that if he disobeyed he would die. Adam had the choice, he chose to disobey God, and so he brought death upon us all. (Gen. 3:11-19) When the apostle told those in Rome that “the wages of sin is death,” he did not stop there, leaving them without hope.  He reassured them, explaining that “the gift of God is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”  God has promised to give his servants life that will not end.  But if we have all sinned and are deserving of death, how can this be? The words of Jesus Christ have been recorded within the Bible, where he explains that God took action to bring life to those deserving of death.  He said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”  (Joh. 3:16-17)   When Adam fell into sin, God did not intend to eternally condemn mankind to death.  He had a plan to restore mankind so that we would no longer die.  This plan would be accomplished through sending his son into the world.  When God sent his son into the world, he sent him as a human being. (Heb. 2:14) The difference between him and us though is that he was perfect, without sin.  (Heb. 4:15)   By him willfully offering his sinless life up as a ransom, he provided what was necessary to bring about the redemption of mankind. (Mat. 20:28)  He initiated the New Covenant by pour out his blood in death, through which God has forgiven our sins.  (Jer. 31:34; Mat. 26:2 How though can you benefit from this sacrifice?  Recall again John 3:16 where we read that it was by “believing into him” that people would receive life.  If we believe in him, we will also then believe in the one that sent him. (1Jo. 2:23) This belief is not simply a passive thought, where you merely acknowledge his existence.  We know from Scripture that even the demons, who are opposed to God and Jesus, do this. (Jam. 2:19)  The belief that is necessary and is truly considered faith is an active belief, where we have a true love for God and Jesus, where we practice our faith. (Jam. 2:14-25; 1Jo. 5:3) With a true, active faith, we have the promise of eternal life.  We are instructed to know the Father and the Son, and by doing so, in getting to know them through true faith, we will receive everlasting life. (Joh. 17:3)  But how can you do this?  You can come to truly understand the personalities of both God and Jesus by reading about them in the Bible.  You can come to see how they have dealt with others in the past and what they will do in the future to both those that serve them and those that choose to disobey.  You can develop a close, personal relationship through prayer.  In prayer you can express your personal thoughts and feelings; you can express your desire to repent of your former sinful course and to follow them.  (Mat. 6:9-13; Act. 26:20)  If you have not yet come to follow God and Christ, we invite you to do so.  God desires none to be destroyed, but he wishes for all to repent, including you.  (2Pet. 3:9)  By doing this, not only will you find a true peace today (Isa. 48:18), but you will have a confident outlook in this troubled world.  You will have an assurance, that if you endure to the end, not turning away from God, you will have everlasting life.  (Mat. 10:22; 24:13) [1] Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible, Herbert Lockyer, Sri., Editor, with F.F. Bruce and R.K. Harrison. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), 994.