What is salvation and who will be saved?

WHY DO WE NEED SALVATION? WHAT IS SALVATION TAUGHT BY THE BIBLE? SALVATION FROM WHAT? AND WHO WILL BE SAVED?

 WHY DO WE need salvation? This is what the Bible said in Romans 3:23:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 NKJV)

The Bible explicitly said, “All have sinned.” What is one of the consequences of sin? This the Bible answered in Romans 6:23:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Roma 6:23 NKJV)

All men sinned, and the wages of sin is death, thus all men die. However, the Bible teaches two deaths. The first death is the cessation of life. What is the second death which is the full wages of sin? The Bible answered this question in Revelation 20:14:

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14 NKJV)

The second death is the punishment in the “lake of fire.” Why it is called second death? This is what the Bible says in Revelation 14:9-11:

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 NKJ)

It is called the second death because it’s an eternal torment. The Bible said, “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night…” this is the “wrath of God” that He will poured to those who did not obey His commandments.

The second death will be bestowed on Judgment Day. So, just as death is fulfilled and experienced by men, so will the Day of Judgment:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV)

God appointed a Day of Judgment on which He will judge the world in righteousness:

“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31 NKJV)

Thus, what is salvation taught by the Bible? Salvation from the “second death,” from the eternal punishment that will be bestowed come Judgment Day. And because all men sinned, all men need salvation.

Who will be saved come Judgment Day? Apostle Paul explicitly answered this question:

“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23 NKJV)

No doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior. However, the Bible explicitly said that the Lord Jesus Christ “is the Savior of the body.” The “body” referred to is the Church. Thus, it is true that the “Church” is not the Savior but the Lord Jesus Christ, however, the Bible also teaches that the Church is the one that will be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. So, how can a man be saved if he accepts only the Savior and rejects the body or the Church that the Savior Jesus will save come Judgment Day?

Among thousands of churches in the world, the Bible made a clear statement on how we can easily recognize the true Church that the Lord Jesus will save. This is what the Bible said in Acts 4:12:

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

The Bible explicitly said, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” There is no salvation in any other name but the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:12 and 10). Thus, among thousands of churches, we can easily identify the true Church that the Lord Jesus Christ will save come Judgment Day, the Church called after His name. this is one of the marks of the true Church given by the Bible.

Is your Church not called after the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? The Bible said, “there is no salvation in any other name.” Which is the Church called in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the one referred to as the body of Christ?

“As for you, you are the body of Christ, and individually you are members of it. And by God's appointment there are in the Church--first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers. Then come miraculous powers, and then ability to cure diseases or render loving service, or powers of organization, or varieties of the gift of `tongues.'

“For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.” (I Cor. 12:27-28, 12 Weymouth)

Thus, if all men need salvation, then all men need to be inside the “body of Christ,” the Church that He is the Savior or that Christ will save come Judgment Day. This is the Church of Christ, the one called after the name of the Savior. The bible said, there is no salvation in any other name.”

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