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In our world the necessity of the salvation seems like a strange subject
to contemplate. Most folks are too busy in doing what they want to do when
they want to do it. They are greatly influenced by so called modern education
which is agnostic if not atheistic in its emphasis. The pressing need for
salvation is not seen as such. The idea is almost laughable to many. The
spiritual and eternal deliverance offered by God seems remote to them. It
reminds a student of the Bible of the Apostle Peter when he wrote, "Knowing
this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their
own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the
fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of
creation" (2 Pet. 3:3-4).
Some have decided that their soul's salvation will be decided upon the basis of their own goodness. They see themselves as basically good folks; hard working, honest, and friendly. They are not involved in the major vices of sexual immorality, the drinking of alcohol or drug abuse. But their standard of "goodness" does not approach God's standard. "For we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags..." (Isa. 64:6). When we stand up against the goodness of God our goodness pales in comparison. "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God" (Matt. 19:17). Rather, His goodness should lead or point us to salvation (Rom. 2:4). God Wants To Save Us God realizes that human beings are in dire need of salvation. This is why He set a plan in motion thousands of years ago to make possible a way of salvation for mankind. In the midst of the first sin and betrayal God made a promise to our antagonist, the Devil, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:15). That "seed" or descendant of Eve would be God's Son, Jesus Christ the Righteous. God's plan was a difficult one but His love was greater. At the proper time in history the Blessed One would be "born of a woman, born under the law" (Gal. 4:4, ASV). That Son would willingly sacrifice Himself on that Roman cross for our sins; a sinless offering for a sinful world (1 Pet. 1:18,19). When that faithful Son arose from the dead on a beautiful Sunday morning all was set for that plan to be unveiled to a fallen world. On another Sunday morning, exactly fifty days after the Resurrection, the Son's comrades unveiled to the world God's everlasting Gospel. It was to be "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). This was all part of God's "eternal purpose" (Eph. 3:11) which He purposed before the world was made. But God cannot save those who do not reach out to Him. We must obey the conditions of His free gift of salvation:
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