Basic Steps to Salvation //By: Akolawole Elijah

credit:http://christrescuemission.org/

Vol. 16.7.19

Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the law. ‘Whoever obeys the commands of the law will live. But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this. ‘You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is to bring Christ down). Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below?’ (that is to bring Christ up from death). What it says is this: ‘God’s message is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ – that is, the message of faith that we preach. If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God it is by our confession that we are saved. The Scriptures says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’. (Romans 10:5-11 Good News Translation) 

Before I analyze if there are steps to salvation I would like to bring out two important things from the above verse which are salvation and believe.

Now what is salvation? Salvation is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences. It may also be called "deliverance" or "redemption" from sin and its effects. Salvation refers to the act of God's grace in delivering his people from bondage to sin and condemnation, transferring them to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13), and giving them eternal life  (Romans 6:23)—all on the basis of what Christ accomplished in his atoning sacrifice . The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19).
More often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25). But how do one now get saved?

I would like to give an illustration with this story of boarding a bus to a desired destination. The bus conductor – the one who convenes people into the bus (as popularly called in Lagos state (South West Nigeria) where I reside in) scream on his voice saying where the bus is heading towards. And the passengers going that route get on the bus. One thing worthy of note is the fact that irrespective of how the conductor appears (tattered, unkempt hair, smoked eyes etc.) the passengers would all rush into the bus in anticipation to where they are going. One thing is also worthy of note in this scenario, the bus conductor can decide who would board his vehicle through their dressing but the passengers does not pay much attention to who calls them into the bus. but are rather concerned about where the bus is heading towards (Moses and the Isrealites in the wilderness). In the course of the journey, the bus could be running at a high or low speed; in either scenario, occupants would raise their voice at the bus driver saying he should either reduce or increase the speed. Also in the course of the journey, if the bus has a dirty occupant in the bus (guest called upon to eat by the king-Mathew 22), passengers in the bus would avoid seating close to him and may even refuse to board the bus which most likely force the conductor to ask the passenger to alight from the vehicle so he does not cost him a loss (1 Corinthians.15:33).

In another case scenario, the driver could either be a rough or careful. If he is a rough driver, then, he is in for shouts and yelling from the occupants of the bus which he might either respond to positively or negatively.  The last scenario I would love to bring to our mind is that the bus might actually take you beyond the point you intend to alight or change the route entirely to a different route as beckoned by the bus conductor. All the listed scenarios are likely to come to play from the point of boarding a commercial bus in the state where I reside. I would like to use these scenarios in buttressing the word salvation as stated in the above scripture.

In all scenarios given above one thing is common to all – BELIEVE. All passengers instantly took the conductor for his words that he is heading towards the direction he proclaimed before they boarded his bus. What made them to believe this unknown person who they have never met or seen? A typical Lagos bus conductor is always rough looking and the intending passenger is most likely a well-dressed individual who would never mind the appearance of the driver or even how the bus looks especially when he/she is in haste.

I have asked myself severally why is it that a whole lot of us demonstrate believe in our daily routine unhesitant but when it comes to kingdom principles we find it difficult and keep asking how do I believe. From the scenarios highlighted above, we can easily get into the bus of an unknown driver but we don’t want to get into the bus of the conductor calling for salvation bus stop of our soul. So many keep asking how do I believe, what are the steps to believe. From the scripture it points it clearly that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord then you are safe. It’s that easy but the only way you can believe is by asking yourself and examining your live if it’s in line with who you believe in; are you keeping yourself perfect in that bus of salvation, are you living accordingly to how he wants it. In the bus scenarios highlighted above once the driver can’t go along with you he ask you to alight but Jesus is saying to me and you today that he is at the door of our heart calling for me and you.

In the Christian race, the very first thing God expects form you and me is believe and you would see it come into manifestation (Isiah. 1:19), but a whole lot of us want it the other way. We want to see before believing in our Christian journey. We are very quick at jumping into the bus all because the conductor announced that he is heading a certain direction, even when he might even be looking dirty yet we ignore his look and take him for his words that he would take us to that direction which he has mentioned but we aren’t willing to demonstrate such state of believe in God despite is several plea to me and you for the home He is going to prepare for us (John 14:2-3). A whole lot of teachings are on ground on steps to salvation but scripturally, the only thing God requires from you and me is to BELIEVE. It’s for us to trust him. Even thè theif that was nailed along with Jesus demostrated believe and it earned him eternity (Luke 23:42).

What is trust?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 | NIV  

 Trust is to belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. If you claim to trust God and all he has said then we must be ready to abide with what he wants (John 14:23). Just as we would not want the bus to forcefully alight us like he did for the children of Israel (Numbers. 14:30). He would give and provide you with all you need in your walk of salvation. There are times in a journey with him and it might seem like He is too slow and you would cry, and cry. There are times it could look stagnating, galloping, and dark but in all He has said cheer up  because he has overcome the world. All this are just there to prepare and empower you more through the journey of salvation. Every fellow has a different journey of salvation to be run; but to remain steadfast and unfailing, it’s for you to let him the driver be in total charge and trust him that he would give you a good landing (Proverbs. 3:5).

May we all remain rapture able at the end.

Author

Akolawole Elijah

bolusamsworld@yahoo.com

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