Romans 1: 16-17 states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” The gospel of salvation is the word of God, that tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ had paid the price for all of our sins. This was God himself who came down to die for our sins. He came as the Lord Jesus Christ and purchased our salvation through his blood. We read in John 1: 10-13, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We are told in John Chapter 1 that the Creator was the person who came to die for our sins – “He was in the world, and the world was made by him”. He walked on this planet that he made, and “the world knew him not.”That is why his blood is precious. His blood gives us eternal life because only God can give eternal life. Ephesians 1:7 states, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” By faith, we ask the Lord Jesus to forgive us our sins. 1 John 1: 9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you believe that the Lord Jesus has paid the price for all of your sins, you have eternal life. John 3:15 states, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” You are now free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8: 1-2 states: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” There is no salvation through any other means. Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

We read in Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The Lord is very much interested in having us saved. Isaiah 1:18 states, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” We read about the story of the thief on the cross who became saved just before he was put to death in Luke 23:39-43. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, ” Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” The thief somehow knew that this person – whom he referred to as “this man” , was not just a mere human being. He then called Jesus “Lord” , and knew that he had a kingdom that was beyond death.

The salvation provided by the Lord Jesus, through his death and resurrection, is for the redemption of every human being that will believe in him. We also read about life hereafter in Luke 16:19-31, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously everyday: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

If you do not have salvation at death, the regret is immediate. The rich man, in hell, was in torments. He was still able to converse, he could see, he could taste, he could feel, he could remember the type of life he had on earth and he could make a request for the salvation of his five brothers that had not yet died. He knew they were not saved, as he stated he did not want them to “also come into this place of torment.” If you have salvation at death, the reward is immediate – to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 2nd Corinthians 5: 8 states: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” As 2nd Corinthians 6:2 says, “now is the day of salvation.” It is while we are still alive on the earth that we can ask for salvation, as it will be too late after death.

Matthew 16:26 states, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” The Lord has not only saved us from our sins, but in the redemption, we also have our healing. Psalm 103:1-5 states, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” As this scripture says, let our souls, and all that is within us, bless the Lord. As a result of salvation, the Lord leads us in a life of righteousness. Ephesians 2: 10 states: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We read in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ” Colossians 3:s9-10 states, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Ephesians 4:22-24 brings out the same fact: “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Philippians 3:9 states, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” We read in 2nd Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Colossians 1:13 states, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

We have the peace of God in our souls as a result of salvation. Philippians 4:7 states, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Here is another scripture regarding the peace of God. Isaiah 26:3 states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” The Lord Jesus brings out the fact we find rest in him. Matthew 11:28-30 states, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In salvation, we have the promise of living with the Lord Jesus in eternity. John 11: 25-26 states, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?” Ephesians 1: 13-14 states, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

The Lord Jesus did many mighty works when he was on the earth. Matthew 14:14 states, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” Matthew 20:34 states, “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.” We read in Luke 13:16, “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Matthew 8:16-17 states, “When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND BARE OUR SICKNESSES.”

Acts 10:38 states, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” The Lord Jesus has not ceased from performing his mighty works through the believers. Mark 16:20 states, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” We read in John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” We are the Lord’s witnesses. There is joy in heaven over one person that comes into salvation. Luke 15: 10 states, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Revelation 22:17 states, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The coming of the Lord draws nigh. He will change our bodies to be like unto himself. We read in Philippians 3:20-21, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

We also look forward to his appearing. 2nd Timothy 4: 6-8 states, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 states, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Another scripture that affirms, we will be changed to meet the Lord when he comes back is 1st Corinthians 15: 51-58. It states: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Colossians 3:2-4 states, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” In salvation, we have the joy of the Lord in our souls. Isaiah 12:3 states, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” We read in Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

J.O. Thomas

www.gospelwordministry.com