A Key Word of the Bible
Benny B. Bristow
If you were asked to name some of the key words of the Bible, probably somewhere near the top of your list would be the word “Salvation!” In fact, from almost near the beginning of the Bible until it closes, salvation is an important word.
Immediately when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they had a pressing need for salvation. Therefore, when the Seed of woman (Genesis 3:15) was promised, He was promising salvation.
Noah and the Flood
In Genesis 6, we are given an awful picture of the human race in the days of Noah. The picture was so bad that God decided to bring a destructive flood upon the earth. However, before He did so, He asked Noah, a man who “found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8), to preach an important message. What was the title of his sermon? It was Salvation! Other than the eight members of his family, did any respond? No, only these eight souls chose salvation. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7). The Apostle Peter recorded: “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5).
In later years, God chose a special nation through the seed of Abraham and through which His Son would be born. However, the time came when this nation became slaves in Egypt. They cried out to God for salvation, and God, through Moses, delivered them. From man’s standpoint, Israel had an impossible enemy to conquer, but with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27). What a joyful salvation they must have felt when they saw that God had destroyed their enemy in the sea! Moses records: “Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained” (Exodus 14:28).
The years went by and the time came for the Son of God to also become the Son of Man, and to dwell upon the earth (John 1:14). An angel was sent to Joseph and announced that Mary had conceived of the Holy Spirit. Then the angel stated the purpose of this special One: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
It is true that Jesus did many marvelous things during His ministry, but all these things only complimented His real purpose. Jesus forever settled His purpose for becoming flesh and dwelling upon the earth when He said, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Thus, Jesus had one purpose for every sermon that He taught—Salvation!
Therefore, mankind’s greatest need on earth in all generations is salvation through Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, millions do NOT have this as their purpose for living, and this is the reason why the broad way is filled with lost people (Matthew 7:13).
What is the most important question that can be asked today? The New Testament records this question in three different places.
The believers on Pentecost asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). They were asking what they needed to do to be saved!
Saul of Tarsus, the chief of sinners, asked Jesus, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). This man was asking what he needed to do to be saved!
It was a frightening thing to the Philippian jailer when a miraculous earthquake opened all the doors to his prison. However, when he realized that no prisoners had escaped, he asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
All three of these examples are asking what to DO to receive salvation. What was the answer to them, and the answer to all today? There are really two answers:
If one is asking what can I do to earn salvation, the answer is NOTHING, because salvation is a gift from God “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8).
If one is asking what can I do to obey the gospel to get into Christ where the blood of Jesus saves, then there are things that sinners must do to be saved.
One must become a believer as was told the jailer. One must repent as was told the believers on Pentecost (Acts 2:38). One must make the confession unto salvation as Paul instructed the Romans to do (Romans 10:9,10). Then one must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins as Peter commanded those on Pentecost (Acts 2:38), and to get into Christ, as Paul taught the Galatians (Galatians 3:27). Finally, one must be faithful until death as Jesus told John to write to the church Smyrna (Revelation 2:10).
Those who have not obeyed these commandments from their hearts (Romans 6:17), have not found the Salvation that God has provided in His word!