Salvation

Christianity

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Salvation is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ in accordance with the New Testament of the Bible.

The recognition of sin

The first step is the fact that mankind is sinful in nature; everyone does things which are contrary to God's will. In God's eyes, stealing a paper clip is just as sinful as stealing a car. The Apostle Paul neatly summed up the condition of man:

As it is written: There is none righteous, no not one;

There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God."

They are all gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable, there is none that does good, no, not one."

Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips;

whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;

their feet are swift to shed blood;

destruction and misery are in their way,

and the way of peace they did not know.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

But we know that whatever things the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be under judgment before God,

because by the works of the Law none of all flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law is the knowledge of sin.

But now a righteousness of God has been revealed apart from Law, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;

even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, toward all and upon all those who believe. For there is no difference,

for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Letter to the Romans, 3:10-23)

A holy and just God will not allow sin in His presence, and on that basis alone mankind is excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven.

The after-effects of sin

If the average man was to die at this moment, he would face judgement.

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement. (Letter to the Hebrews, 9:27)

Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (Gospel of John, 5:28-29)

The man facing judgement would stand before God's throne, where his life would be reviewed.

And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation, 20:12)

Every single moment of this man's life would be exposed, from cradle to grave. There would be nothing hidden.

For there is nothing hidden which shall not be revealed; nor became covered, but that it might come to the light. (Gospel of Mark, 4:22)

But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. (Gospel of Matthew, 12:36)

If the man's name was not found in the Book of Life, he is denied entry into God's Kingdom.

Then He also shall say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. (Gospel of Matthew, 25:41)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life. (Gospel of Matthew, 25:46)

And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation, 20:15)