Salvation

What is salvation? What does it mean?

You have probably heard of the "Salvation Army". Growing up, we used to put our unwanted clothes into bags for the Salvation Army. But, I really never understood the meaning of the word, until I received salvation.

Like the old clothes, our souls can be redeemed or bought back. The price is the blood of Jesus Christ.

I don't think the Salvation Army was using that word for their clothes and second-hand goods, but it just became very well-known as a group of Christians that took old, used items to sell so they could raise money to help the needy.

In that case, the word that is more fitting is the word "salvage". That's the word for retrieving something worthless and putting it to good use, or renewing it to use it again.

Also, like our souls.

So, where do we all deserve to go when we die? That's the question.

And, the answer is: HELL.

Going to Hell isn't only for bad, bad people and terrible monsters who murder and steal. Hell is for pretty much everybody. Apparently, it's an awful place of torment where you burn and the worm doesn't die. It's a place of punishment.

Now, the question is, "Why would God allow such a horrendous thing?"

Well, originally, remember, in the Garden of Eden, we were supposed to live forever. The first human bodies were built to LAST. They must have been incredible models of perfection.

But, then, as you know, sin entered the world. Sin changed the whole ballgame.

God could no longer allow humans to live forever with sin in the mix. You see, Satan had entered in and thrown his monkey wrench into the works to try to screw up the relationship between man and God and the entire existence of man on this planet. God had to work fast to patch things up and to control the damage from spreading too much further.

Therefore, our bodies became limited. We were placed into a sort of safety zone where time held us captive so that we couldn't live long enough to do so much damage. And Hell was reserved as a form of punishment for the stubborn followers of Satan.

But, God also came up with a plan to completely defeat Satan's purpose. And to teach him a lesson as well.

God decided to send His Only Son into the world in human form to become like one of us. He was chosen to dwell among humans, live like humans and be tempted in every way that humans are tempted. But, because He had no sin, Jesus could become the sacrifice that was required by Satan to purge our sins.

When Jesus died on the cross, He wasn't suffering and dying for His own sins, but for all the sins of mankind, right from Adam and Eve to all of their descendents throughout time.

Now, the thing about time is that Time is only in our perspective. God is not bound by time. God is not limited by Time.

For God, Time isn't an issue and doesn't control Him or how He sees things. For God, Time can even go backwards.

Why are we talking about Time?

Because Jesus died over 2000 years ago. But, when He died doesn't matter in the sense that even though sin has been taken out of the world 2000 years ago, it appears to us that we are all living in a very sinful world.

Look around you and you'll wonder what in the world we're talking about to say that Jesus died for sin. If He died for sin, why is all this terrible stuff continuing to happen?

The simple answer is, "Time."

Jesus died somewhere in the middle of our perceived "Time Line". It is finished. His death is complete. We are forgiven (if we believe). Our souls have been paid for. 

So, "salvation" means to be saved from going to hell to be punished for your own sins and for the sins you inherited in your genes. Like it or not, you are a sinner! All of us are! That's our curse. That's our heritage. We can't get away from it.

BUT, we can be saved OUT of it. Your soul can be saved from sin. Your soul can be bought with the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Isn't that wonderful?

You get to escape from Hell and Death and Sin! You can be free!

Now, as far as I know, this is the only kind of freedom that exists on planet earth. If you don't receive and accept Jesus as your Messiah and Lord, I'm afraid you will never know true freedom.

So, to be saved and be free, all you need to do is talk to God. You can call it praying. Here's a prayer that you can repeat:

"Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, like everyone else on this earth and that I need deliverance and salvation. Please come into my heart and save my soul from Hell. I believe You died on the cross and that You rose from the dead. Please forgive me for all my sins, past present and future. Amen."

Here's a prayer in Malaysian for all you Malays that want to accept Jesus:

"Tuhan Yesus, Saya adalah orang berdosa. Saya patut mati kerana dosa-dosa saya. Tetapi kau sudah gantikan saya mati di kayu salib untuk dosa ku dan untuk menebus aku. Sekarang saya undang Tuhan Yesus masuk dalam hatiku menjadi Tuhan dan juruselamat ku secaka pribadi sekarang dan selamanya. Amen."

Let me know if I have made any mistakes in the above transcript. Thanks.