THE SALVATION JOURNEY
THE SALVATION JOURNEY
A Journey of Knowing God, Understanding Sin, and Receiving New Life in Jesus Christ
Have you ever prayed the sinner's prayer?
• Maybe you have heard someone say, "Accept Jesus," "Give your life to Jesus," or "Pray the sinner's prayer." But what does that really mean?
• Why do we need salvation?
• What happened between God and humanity?
• Why did Jesus have to die?
• What does it mean to be "born again"?
• And how can you know that you have truly received salvation?
Let's walk through these questions step by step.
1. KNOW WHO GOD IS
Before we talk about sin, salvation, or ourselves, we must first understand who God is.
God is the self-existent God. He did not begin to exist. He has always existed.
Before there were mountains, earth, people, angels, animals, or anything else, God already was.
God is an incredible creator. He has created the heavens, the earth, space, time, seasons, angels, human beings, and the world of materials, animals, fishes, birds, and everything that is visible or yet to be seen.
Psalm 90:2, NKJV
Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed
the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
1 Timothy 6:16, NKJV
who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light,
whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Revelation 1:8, NKJV
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord,
"Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty."
2. CREATIONS
2.1 God Created Angels
In the order of creation, God, the self-existent one is Spirit, Angels are spirits, human beings are souls, animals are flesh and grass is grass itself.
Angels are spiritual beings created by God. Angels were created as ministering spirits.
John 4:24, NKJV
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Psalm 104:4, NKJV
Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
Hebrews 1:7, NKJV
And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And
His ministers a flame of fire."
Angels are not gods. They are created beings who serve God and carry out His purposes.
The Bible specifically identifies angels such as:
• Lucifer
• Gabriel
• Michael
Lucifer - Initially, one-third of them served in worship under Lucifer, the son of the morning,
who later became an adversary - Satan.
Satan rebelled against God, other angels joined his rebellion, and God remains sovereign over His creation.
Isaiah 14:12, NKJV
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
Ezekiel 28:14-15, NKJV
You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst
of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
Gabriel - Another one third served under the command of God as messengers
to deliver messages, specifically under the angel Gabriel.
Luke 1:26, NKJV
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee
named Nazareth…
Michael - The remaining one third comprised defending and offending angels,
led by the angel Michael. Michael is identified as an archangel.
Jude 1:9, NKJV
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed
about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation,
but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
2.2 God Created Human Beings In His Image
Man was created in Godʼs own image and likeness.
Genesis 1:26-27, NKJV
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.
Human beings have a unique place in God's creation, to have a unique relationship and responsibility toward God and creation. Everything God created were intended for man to inhabit and have dominion and authority over. Creation was not meaningless or accidental. God created it with purpose.
Isaiah 45:18, NKJV
For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed
the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.
2.3 Understanding Spirit, Soul, And Body
Man was created in God’s own image and likeness, in a tripartite form consisting of spirit, soul, and body, reflecting the triune nature of God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Man is a soul that has a spirit and lives in a body. However, through disobedience, man lost his relationship with God and his spirit died, resulting in him becoming a mere human being.
1 Thessalonians 5:23, NKJV
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole
spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 2:7, NKJV
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
The spirit originates from the breath of God, which establishes a connection and communication with the spirit world. But due to disobedience, the spirit becomes dormant and devoid of life. As a result, although man still has physical breath, he is spiritually isolated from God.
The soul has three compartments: the Mind, Will, and Emotion.
• Mind - is responsible for reasoning and processing information
• Will – for making decisions and choosing
• Emotions – for experiencing feelings such as joy, sadness,
love, rejection, anger, and sorrow.
Furthermore, the Mind can be further divided into two divisions: Dreams & Visions and Imaginations.
Finally, the body, on the other hand, enables us to move, see, hear, touch, speak, travel, interact and express ourselves.
2.4 God created Adam and Eve
God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, to test their
innocence, loyalty, freedom, and holiness. This period is also known as the Dispensation of
Innocence or the Dispensation of Freedom, highlighting different aspects of this time. In heaven, God only accepts what has been tested and found complete in its goal and
vision.
Dispensation of Innocence - This period emphasizes that they were innocent of any sin or sin nature during this time. Adam and Eve had not yet experienced sin. They had not yet rebelled against God. This is sometimes described theologically as “unconfirmed creaturely holiness”. They were created innocent and holy, their obedience had not yet been tested, to see if they would remain faithful to the Word of the Lord.
Dispensation of Freedom –
This period emphasizes their freedom from sin; they were not enslaved to sin. Adam was
the key person during this dispensation, as God revealed His will, divine economy, and
divine administration through him.
Genesis 2:16-17, NKJV
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden
you may freely eat; 17] but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
3. DECEPTION
3.1 Satan Deceived Eve
Satan, the adversary, expressed his rebellion and resistance against God by subtly influencing mankind with the spirit of disobedience. He approached Eve through the serpent and raised queries, eliminating any room for doubt, by transforming into a talking snake.
Genesis 3:1-5, NKJV
3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God
had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of
every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit
of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and
you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
During their period of innocence, Adam and Eve were unable to comprehend the imminent danger posed by Satan's question. They disregarded God's command not to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan first created doubt about God's Word, then contradicted God's Word and then presented disobedience as something desirable. They were deceived by Satan and relinquished the authority and freedom they had over everything in their world.
3.2 Adam and Eve Disobeyed God
Just as Eve ate the forbidden fruit, so did Adam. They did not die immediately, but they experienced spiritual death. They lost their relationship with God and their understanding expanded to discern good and evil. They faced the consequences of disobedience, including separation, nakedness, and fear. Woman, deceived by Satan, believed that the forbidden tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
Genesis 3:6-7, NKJV
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also
gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were
opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and
made themselves coverings.
Before they committed sin, they had glorious bodies. The breath of life illuminated their
physical bodies gloriously, preventing them from seeing each other's physical bodies.
Man is created lower than the angels is a soul, with a spirit living in a body.
God warned them about spiritual death, not physical death. As a consequence,
they experienced spiritual death, which led to the death of their spirit due to their
disobedience to God's command.
4. SPIRITUAL DEATH
Due to Adam's sin, every human being born from Adam has a dead spirit, soul, and a
perfect body. The Bible states that in Adam, all die. While in their unconfirmed creature
holiness, they failed to fulfil what God commanded them. God spoke to them about spiritual death,
not physical death. Currently, many people try to reach God through their soul and body, unaware that their spirit is dead. From Adam till today whoever is born from a woman, the spiritual death is transferred. Their soul convinces
them that they have prayed, worshiped, or are living in harmony with God. However, they are unable to understand the Word of God in spiritual terms due to the deadness of their spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:22, NKJV
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Romans 5:12, NKJV
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin,
and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned
Romans 3:23, NKJV
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The death that we inherited through Adam will be overcome by the life brought by Jesus
Christ. In the above verse, we see two aspects: death and life. With the spirit of man, we
worship God in truth and spirit. With our soul, we reason, make decisions, and experience
joy or sorrow. With our body, we move and express ourselves. God is searching for people of this kind. A spirit that is dead can never establish communication with God.
5. SPIRITUAL REBIRTH
A person can be physically alive and intellectually active while being spiritually separated from God. We can be religious, can pray, attend church, sing worship songs, know Bible verses, can try to be a good person. But none of these things can erase sin. Because salvation is not something we could earn. It means that spiritual truth cannot be truly received and lived by human wisdom alone. We need God's Spirit.
Romans 6:23, NKJV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
According to the law, the wages of sin is death, but the most incredible gift you can ever receive is the salvation of Jesus Christ, which grants eternal life. He died on the cross to save you from eternal damnation. For those who believe, their sins are forgiven through the shedding of Jesus' blood, as our life is in the blood. Since the wages of sin is death, receiving life back requires redemption. Jesus' blood redeemed us from eternal death.
John 4:23, NKJV
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
In order to restore communication and relationship with God, Jesus became a man and
made propitiation on behalf of humanity.
He came into the world with a mission from God the Father in the same form of man
who is also created as little lower than the angels to propitiate man’s sin.
Hebrews 2:9, NKJV
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the
suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God,
might taste death for everyone.
Natural birth is physical in nature and has an expiry date. Spiritual birth, on the other hand,
is eternal and has no end. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, about the
concept of being born again. He told him not to be surprised when he said that one must
be born again.
John 3:5, NKJV
Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Sin has a consequence. But God offers a gift. That gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
5.1 Eternal Life through Jesus Christ
Jesus said that your spirit must be alive in order to inherit eternal life. To initiate the process of being united with Christ, being in Christ, or being born again, you must confess Jesus as your savior after repenting of your personal sins, both past and present, in the name
of Jesus.
1 John 1:8-10, NKJV
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
When you believe in the name of Jesus and repent, God grants you the privilege to become His son or daughter. This spiritual birth is not through natural means, but through being born of God.
John 1:12-13, NKJV
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.
6. SALVATION
When you confess Jesus as your personal Savior, after receiving the gospel of your salvation and believing in it, the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, will make your spirit alive and restore communication and relationship.
Ephesians 1:13-14, NKJV
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit
of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The Word of God teaches that every knee shall bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now is the time to humble yourself before the Lord God and accept Him. Confessing and believing are necessary for this process. Your name will be written in the book of life at that moment.
Romans 10:9-11, NKJV
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
Revelation 3:5, NKJV
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before
My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 20:15, NKJV
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
THE CALL TO REPENTANCE AND NEW BIRTH
Do you know that if you do not experience rebirth through repentance and accepting the lordship of Jesus, you will be judged by God and condemned to the lake of fire?
Dearly beloved,
• Do you recognize that you are a sinner?
• Do you understand that you are carrying a dead spirit within you?
• Do you feel the emptiness of your heart?
• Do you want to turn away from sin?
• Do you understand that you cannot save yourself?
• Do you recognize your need for Jesus?
• Do you want to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
• Do you want to be born again?
If your answer is YES, repent of your present and past sins by submitting yourself to God in the name of Jesus. Pray to the Father by kneeling down, confessing your sins, and forsaking them, so that you may receive the mercy of God. Your dead spirit will be made alive by the Holy Spirit, and you will become a child of the Most High God.
THE SINNER'S PRAYER
A prayer does not save you simply because you repeat certain words. Jesus saves. The prayer is a way of expressing your repentance, faith, surrender, and confession.
If you sincerely believe, you may pray:
Dear Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness in my life. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, bringing forgiveness and freedom. From this moment, I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit, please come and bring life to my spirit and deepen my relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus, please take control of my life and make me a child of God. I declare in the name of Jesus that Jesus is my Lord and Savior.
Lord, I thank you for entering my life and saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen!
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER RECEIVING CHRIST?
If you believed in Jesus’ name and got born again, then
✓speak to someone else that you had a wonderful experience with the Lord and are born again.
✓Leave your old faith or fellowship.
✓Join a Bible teaching church in the Spirit and in the Word. ✓Read your Bible daily.
✓Pray daily.
✓Obey God in everything you do.
God bless you.
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