Walking With JesusSample

A Need for Salvation

To sin means to “miss the mark or purpose”. Many people believe that you only need to be a good person to go to heaven. This is not the case. We have been born into a fallen world and into sin.

We all know that you do not need to teach a child to be selfish and to sin because they naturally express their sinful nature. We sin because we are born sinners and we, therefore, need a change in nature and not just a change in behaviour. In order to change the fruit of an apple tree from apples to pears, you cannot just remove the apples from the tree. You would have to replace the entire tree.

Sin results in the following:

• Slavery (Romans 6:17)


• Guilt and condemnation (James 5:12)


• Spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4)


• A lack of hope and purpose (Ephesians 2:12)


• Spiritual death (Romans 6:23)


• Separation between man and God (Romans 3:23)

Sin separates us from God and as a result, we need to be reconciled to Him. There is nothing we as humans can do to be reconciled with God.

Sin entered this world through Adam and Eve. God’s command was clearly given to them (Genesis 2:16-17) and they chose to rebel against it. Read Genesis 3:1-3 to see their reaction.

The consequences of sin are death and separation, but what is God’s answer to our sins?

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God is a God of love and His love towards us is unconditional. There are no strings attached. His love is evident in the fact that He sent His only Son to die for us. He made a decision to love us even when we were not looking for Him.

Scripture refers to salvation as a process, which starts with us receiving a “new nature” or being “born again”.

Reflection questions (write your answers in a journal):

• What did Jesus do on the cross? (see 1 Peter 2:24 and Galatians 3:13-14)


• Do you think you can earn salvation by doing good works?


• Do you think you can only get saved once your sin is sorted out?

Testimony:

I grew up in a Christian home and went to church every Sunday. Although I was a good person, I still did not know God. Going to church or being a good person is not enough to qualify for a relationship with God.