Salvation
Renee Spencer
Salvation, a simple word with a simple meaning. If you ask many people what this word means they could tell you. The word salvation means preserving from harm or unpleasantness. Another word that came from the same root is savior. Savior means a person who saves someone or something from harm or unpleasantness. The meanings are different, but have the same idea. The Christian meaning of the word salvation is the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil. A difference in words but so similar in context.
The word salvation has a strong meaning in my personal life. I gave my heart to Christ as a child, and decided to completely live for Him as a teenager. Though I was never involved in deep sin, His salvation still had to save me from my sinful nature.
We all need salvation no matter how old we are. We are all born with a sinful nature. No one can escape the curse of sin placed on them, but there is a remedy for this curse. This remedy was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He came to earth to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin. In the Old Testament men would atone for their sins through the death of an animal. The animal was the acceptable sacrifice for sin, but when Jesus came and died on the cross He was the acceptable sacrifice for all of eternity. That means that He took my sins and your sins on Himself and gave His life so we could live.
God’s plan from the beginning was for all men to have eternal life. He created man in His image and gave them a will of their own. He made us so that we could decide for ourselves whether or not we would live for Him. He also knew that men would choose to go against Him and thus sent His only Son to die. If Jesus wouldn’t have come to die for us the price would be too high for us to pay. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This means that the price of our sin is death. All men deserve death, eternal death. Christ came so that all men could have eternal life. He doesn’t wish for all men to be lost for eternity so He gave Himself so we could be found. It says in John chapter 4 verses 2 and 3 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Heaven will be our eternal home if we give our hearts to Christ and live for Him.
You may be wondering how you can receive this gift of eternal life through Christ. The Bible says in I John1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This means that all we have to do is admit our sin and ask Him to forgive us and He will forgive your sins and transgressions. Some believe that giving your life to Christ is a hard thing, but it is as simple as asking. When you ask Him to take your sin He removes it and throws it into the Sea of Forgetfulness and remembers it no more.
Some people believe that if you ask Christ to come into your life once, it will be good for all eternity. Well my friend that is not the way it is. Once you turn your life to Him you have live every day for Him and never look back. It is your responsibility to keep a relationship with Him and live to please Him every day of your life. No, salvation does mean the road will always be an easy one, but with the help and grace of God you can make it.
Renee is a junior in high school at RCA. Her involvements in the ministry include writing for this blog, singing in the Ambassador Youth Choir, and working full time with her parents, Brian and Susan Spencer, on the Ambassador Puppet Team. Renee lives in Riverdale with her parents and three siblings. Renee faithfully attends Riverdale Assembly of God.