THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION
1. Are You Saved / Saved From What ?
All Have Sinned — The Fall of Humanity
Every person is a sinner, guilty before God, unable to save themselves.
There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks God. All have turned aside; they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one. (Rom. 3:10–12,20)
Explanation: No one can claim moral superiority. All humans have rebelled against God. Even our best deeds cannot earn His favor.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned… (Rom. 5:12)
Explanation: The fall of Adam brought sin and death into the human race. Sin is universal, and so is its consequence — death. No one is exempt; no one can hide from this reality.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9–10)
Explanation: Sin is specific and all-encompassing. God’s justice is absolute; no one practicing unrighteousness will enter His kingdom. Excuses like “others are worse” or “I’m basically good” are meaningless.
The Consequences of Sin — Death and Judgment for the Unsaved
Sin brings death and final judgment. No human effort can prevent it. Those who reject salvation face destruction.
The wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)
Explanation: All sin earns death. It is the inevitable consequence of rebellion against God.
The lake of fire is the second death. (Rev. 20:14)
Explanation: This is not eternal torment, but final destruction. There is no escape or second chance.
The soul that sins — it shall die. (Ez. 18:4)
Explanation: Sin separates from life itself. The penalty is total, complete cessation.
They shall be punished with everlasting destruction. (2 Ths. 1:9)
Explanation: All who reject God’s salvation face irreversible destruction.
They shall be as though they had not been. (Obad. 1:16)
Explanation: Everything a person has — life, relationships, hopes, identity — will cease forever.
Eternal destruction is the end for those who reject God. Families, possessions, and lives vanish completely. The wrath of God and judgment are real. The Gospel of Salvation is the only escape from this fate.
2. How to Be Saved — The Gospel That Saves
Salvation is not achieved by our works, efforts, promises, or religion. It is based entirely on what Christ has already done. We are saved by believing the Gospel — the message of Christ’s death and resurrection for our sins.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…(Rom. 1:16)
I declare unto you the gospel… by which also ye are saved… how that Christ died for our sins… that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day. (1 Cor. 15:1–4)
Explanation: This is the foundation of salvation. Christ took our sins upon Himself, died in our place, was buried, and rose again. This work is complete. Nothing can be added to it.
He was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 4:25–5:1)
Explanation: Jesus was delivered to death because of our sins. He was raised so that we could be declared righteous. The result of believing this is peace with God — not fear, uncertainty, or condemnation.
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood… that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Rom. 3:24–26)
Explanation: God did not overlook sin — He judged it fully in the death of Christ. Therefore God remains perfectly just. Yet He also justifies the one who believes. It is by grace — undeserved — and it is received only by faith.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:14)
The blood of Christ has purchased what we could not earn ourselves.
Salvation comes by believing the Gospel — the finished work of Christ in His death for our sins and resurrection. This is where justification is found. Not in our works. Not in religious rituals. Not in promises or efforts.
Christ did it all. We receive it by faith, trusting in Him alone.
How a Sinner is Saved — Clear, Simple, and According to Scripture
That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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. (Eph. 1:12–14)
First, a person hears the Gospel — the message of Christ’s finished work:
Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. (1 Cor. 15:1–4)
Then, the person believes it — not agreeing with it intellectually, but trusting it.
Belief means resting completely on what Christ has done, without adding anything of our own.
The very moment a person believes, God seals them with the Holy Spirit. This happens once, instantly, permanently. The Holy Spirit is not a feeling, experience, or ritual. He is God’s seal of ownership. A seal means secured, claimed, and protected by God.
The Holy Spirit is called the earnest — the down payment — the guaranteed proof that God will finish what He began.
Until the redemption of the purchased possession means:
We already belong to God now, but our bodies will be redeemed and made new in the future. The seal of the Spirit guarantees this will happen.
So the order is simple, clear, and complete:
You heard the Gospel.
You believed the Gospel.
God sealed you forever.
No ritual caused this. No prayer caused this. No church or preacher caused this.
It is the direct work of God the moment one trusts in Christ.
And this is “unto the praise of His glory” — because all of salvation is God’s work, not ours.
3. What People Think Saves Them — The False Gospel
Many people believe in Jesus — and yet are still lost. Why?
Because they are trusting in Christ plus something else.
They believe Christ died for their sins — but they think they must contribute to their salvation by their works, obedience, behavior, or religious duties.
This is not the Gospel.
This is a counterfeit.
Common False Beliefs Today People think they can be saved by:
Being a “good person.”
Saying a “sinner’s prayer.”
Water baptism.
Church attendance or church membership.
Giving money or doing charity.
Trying to “live better” or “stop sinning.”
Keeping commandments by their own effort.
All of these are works — human attempts to earn righteousness.
But the Bible is absolutely clear:
For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God — not of works — lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
If salvation has anything to do with our works — even 1% — then it is no longer grace:
If it is by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
(Romans 11:6)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.
(Titus 3:5)
False Christian Traditions That Add Works
Even many religious traditions teach a mixed message:
They say Faith + Our Works = Salvation.
Examples:
Evangelical error: Just say the sinner’s prayer. Get water baptized to be saved. You must prove your faith by your behavior. You need to speak in tounges as evidence of the Holy Spirit.
Catholic error: sacraments, confession, mass, Eucharist, infant baptism, merit, Pope’s authority.
Orthodox / Traditional error: salvation through church membership, fasting, rituals, and participation.
But the Bible warns:
I marvel that you are so soon removed… to another gospel…some people would pervert the gospel of Christ
If anyone preaches another gospel that you have received — let him be accursed.
(Galatians 1:6–8)
There is only one Gospel of Salvation for the church Body of Christ:
Christ paid the full price for sin. His death satisfied God’s justice. His resurrection gives us justification and eternal life. Nothing can be added to this. Or else the sacacrifice of Christ will be of no effect for you.
If we could save ourselves by our works then Christ died for nothing:
If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
(Galatians 2:21)
4. Summary of the Whole Teaching
- The Gospel calls every person to:
Hear the message of Christ’s death and resurrection
Believe that this finished work saves completely
Trust Christ alone — not works, not religion, not ourselves
The consequences are eternal:
Those who reject Christ face judgement for their sins, destruction – lake of fire, the second death.
Those who believe are:
Justified (declared righteous)
Reconciled to God
Sealed with the Holy Spirit which is guarantee for eternal life in heaven
If we want to come to the knowledge of the truth and be established in it, we need to learn how to rightly divide the Word of God—The Master Key.