LESSON ONE

THE BASICS OF SALVATION

John 3:16-"for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...".

Salvation is the state of being saved from SIN and Death. 1Tim 2:4 tells us that

God would rather have all men to be saved. It is his will, it is his desire.

Question: Why do all men need to be saved, where we in some kind of danger?

Certainly we were. Gen 3 tells us just that.

Man without God is dead; Living physically but dead (Eph 2:1-5), separated from

God, alienated and at malice or enmity in his mind towards God.

Such a one is and will be eternally separated from God (second death). It is a sorry

state. It is the state of every unbeliever. This is the problem of the world.

Scriptures say the world lies in the sway of the wicked one (1John5:9)

The natural man is in the bondage of sin and death. He is satan's lawful captive.

Rich or poor, beautiful or not, famous or otherwise, he or she is doomed (Heb 2:3)

Question: How does the sin of one man affect all humans?

The principle to creation is that everything produces after its kind (Gen 1:11, 25)

It is the principle of procreation. Adam in his sinful and death state had to

produce offsprings after his kind. (Gen 5:3, Rom 5: 12-14) Offsprings whose

desires, capabilities and propensities is towards sin, offsprings who eventually

die. Romans 5:12 says Death passed to all men.

PATHWAY TO SALVATION
The situation is not all bleak. There is hope and abundantly so. You remember the

Genesis account? Well, though man fell, God had already made a way of escape, a

way of freedom, a pathway to Salvation (Gen 3:15). This speaks of JESUS (GOD in man).

God in his infinite wisdom and foreknowledge had prepared his SON to come save man

from this depravity. Matt 1:21, John 3:16, John 1:29, Rom 5:8, 2 Cor 5:17-21

Man sinned, it would take man to suffer the penalty or take the punishment for

sin, so God became a man (1 Tim 3:16, John 1:14, John 1:29) to save man. Jesus paid the price

the law demanded. The soul that sins dies (Eze18:20). He became the ransom, the substitute.

Question: So how exactly do I get saved?

The moment i believe Jesus took my place once and for all by his death (The

finished work on the cross), I am saved! (John 1:12, Acts 16:30-31, Romans10: 9-10).I become

what the bible calls a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) A brand new

person, reborn, redeemed, regenerated, delivered, righteous, a sheep, king and

priest, a saint! (2 Chron 6:41, Psa 37:28, Acts 9:32, Romans 15.25)

Receiving all that God did for us in CHRIST saves us from SIN (Punishment of sin)

and death (eternal separation from God)

Salvation is God's gift to man. All we do is receiving. (Romans 6:23, Eph 2:8)

THE PLACE OF WATER BAPTISM

A man gets saved ONLY by receiving what lesus did on his behalf.

Question: What then is the place of water baptism?

Baptism symbolises our cleansing in Christ, signifying our death and resurrection
with Christ, and total separation from the world. This is why it is carried out after

Salvation. It shows the person being baptised is saved. (Acts 8:26-38)

Just as the circumcision of Abraham symbolised his faith and surrender to the

Lord, so does baptism symbolize our act of faith and surrender to God.

SUMMARY

Man fell in the garden

Christ came to save man

The saved man is baptized in water as a symbol of surrender to God

Salvation is God's gift to man

Question: Are You Saved?