The Bible does not promise a second chance of salvation beyond the grave, although many false prophets hold out such promise. Salvation must be experienced here and now, and that is why there is such a strong emphasis all the way through the Scriptures on the importance of being saved today-look up and compare Proverbs 27:1 Luke 19:5 II Corinthians 6:2 and Hebrews 3:7. There is no such thing as missing salvation in this life and then receiving it in the next life. It is given this side of Heaven, and this means that we must receive this salvation in this life.
Peter is very careful to say that this salvation is given "under Heaven"-not in Heaven. (2) Salvation is absolutely necessary here and now. But notice also that our verse tells us a further very important truth about salvation, namely that: (iii) We must be saved because God has provided salvation for us.īut why has God provided salvation if we do not need it? Why the amazing miracle of Bethlehem and the ignominious death of Calvary if we could be saved in some other way? The fact that God has, at such infinite cost, promised salvation for us all is a sure proof that we all need to be saved. If we are to be saved, this salvation must come from someone outside ourselves. What can we do to blot out our past sins? What can we do to save ourselves from the present onslaught of sin and Satan? What can we do to guarantee our salvation for eternity? We can do absolutely nothing. (ii) We must be saved because we cannot save ourselves. We must be saved, therefore, because we are not saved already. (i) We must be saved because we are not saved already.īy nature we are lost, just as the sheep, the silver and the son were lost in the parable of Luke 15 and we are not only lost, we are perishing-as John 3:16 tells us. But why must we be saved? There are three reasons: Why must Jesus die? Because mankind must be saved.
Here, then, is an absolute necessity, something that is imperative-"we must be saved"-look up John 3:14-15 and then compare John 3:7. Peter did not say, "we may be saved", or "we can be saved" what he did say was, "we must be saved". The last three words in the key-verse declare this, for they tell us that "we must be saved". (1) Salvation is something that is absolutely necessary. Let us unfold this great statement of the gospel, and notice to begin with that: It is the salvation of the soul, but also of the whole human personality which is brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ. It is an immediate and an eternal salvation. God's salvation covers man's need-past, present and future. When we are saved we are given back all that was lost through the entrance of sin into the world. We are lost, broken and beaten down by sin and under condemnation but He seeks and finds us and restores us into fellowship with Himself, and then He empowers us to live a holy life. God's salvation is wonderfully comprehensive. Salvation is the theme of this great key-verse but what is meant by the term "salvation"? When anyone is saved does it simply mean that he is saved from Hell and is ready to be admitted into Heaven? Yes-but it means very much more. Key-verse: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (ACTS 4:12).