The Bible is God’s message to mankind about salvation. It is not a book about the salvation of the whales or bald eagles, but rather the salvation of the soul of man. The most important possession that every human being has is his/her soul. Because that is true, each one of us should be interested in what God’s book says about our salvation.

The Bible declares that the God of heaven, our Creator, is the God of man’s salvation. Numerous times the Psalmist spoke of God as his salvation. For instance, we read, "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation" (Psalm 25:5). ". . . leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation" (Psalm 27:9). "Help us, O God of our salvation" (Psalm 79:9). At the same time, the scriptures speak of "the salvation of God" that He offers to men (Acts 28:28). Thank God that He graciously extends His salvation to us, as it is written, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11).

Through whom does God make His salvation available to lowly man? The New Testament’s answer, of course, is that the Father provides salvation to mankind through His Son, Jesus the Christ. 1 John 4:14 declares that "the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." By the grace of God, Jesus died for every man (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus’ death on the cross is the only provision that God has made for the remission of man’s sins. God’s plan is for man’s salvation to be obtainable through the blood of His Son: "In whom [Jesus, rdc] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Let it be clear to all that Jesus the Christ is not one of many possible saviors. Rather, He is the one and only Savior! Of Him Peter declared, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

How does man learn about God’s great salvation? A: Through what the Lord calls "the gospel of salvation" (Ephesians 1:13). The gospel or teaching of Jesus is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). Through that wonderful message God makes known His plan for mankind, and through that powerful message He changes man’s thinking and saves souls.

The Bible clearly states that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23). All sinners stand in need of God’s salvation. What is required on our part if we want to be on the receiving end of God’s salvation? A person must believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus Himself said, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18). Then, a person must also be willing to repent of every sin that he/she has committed. Why is repentance a must? Because the Lord God "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). One must also be willing to confess his/her faith in Jesus. We read of one man, a eunuch from Ethiopia, that plainly said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). One that is willing to repent and confess his faith is moving in the right direction, but there is still one more action that stands between such a person and salvation. That action is water baptism – the complete immersion of the body in water. What is the purpose of baptism? "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Baptism’s purpose is to wash away sins.

Following water baptism, which puts one into the Christ (Romans 6:3), God requires that a Christian faithfully serve Him all the days of his life. It is God’s will that His children be steadfast and always abounding in His work (1 Corinthians 15:58). Being a Christian is a life-long commitment.

-- Roger D. Campbell