How to Explain Salvation.

Today I would like to go over how you can explain to someone whether an unbeliever or (for deeper understanding) a newer convert, on the details of how to be saved.

One thing we learn from Scripture is that Salvation is a free gift (Rom 5:14-21) which is offered to anyone (Joe 2:32, Act 2:21, Rom 10:13, 1 Tim 2:4, 1 Joh 4:15, Rev 22:17). You acquire this free gift by belief (Mar 16:16, Luk 7:47-50, 1 Pet 1:9). It comes when we have realized that we have sinned against an holy God and are deserving of his wrath (Rom 3:23, Rev 21:8). This grief and godly sorrow over our sin leads us to repentance of our sins (2 Cor 7:8-10, Job 33:27-28, Psa 32:5, Pro 28:13,18, Isa 55:6-7, Luk 5:32, Rom 8:1, Heb 5:9).

So what EXACTLY do we believe in to be saved? We believe that Jesus who is the Christ came to earth to die for our sins. He took the full punishment we deserve on the cross, he was our substitute, the Just for the unjust. After that he was buried and rose again the 3rd day. So we believe on Jesus (Joh 3:16-18, Joh 6:35, Joh 6:47, Joh 20:31, Act 10:43, Act 13:38-39, Act 16:31, 26:18, Rom 3:19-31, Rom 5:1-2, Rom 10:9-13, 1 Cor 15:1-5, Eph 1:12-13, 2 Tim 3:15, 1Joh 4:9-10).

In fact Jesus is the only way to Heaven (Joh 3:36, Joh 10:7-10, Joh 14:6, Act 4:12, 1 Tim 2:5). More specifically it is his blood that washes and cleanses us from our sin. (Lev 17:11, Eph 1:7, Eph 2:13, Col 1:14, Col 1:20, Heb 9:11-14, Heb 10:4).

Many religions teach that salvation can be earned in full or in part by Good works, this is not the case with true Christianity. We can't earn salvation by doing good (Rom 4:4-8, Tit 3:5). Good works are the evidence/result/product of already having been saved. Bearing fruit is the effect of abiding in Christ. (Joh 15:1-5).

Unfortunately not very many people will be saved overall (Matt 7:13-14, Luk 13:23-24). This can be for a few reasons such as believing in other gods instead of Jesus, not willing to repent of sins, or trusting in their own works in whole or in part to get them to heaven, or they waste their life pursuing money and material things. (Mat 16:24-26, Mar 8:34-37, Luk 9:23-25, Joh 12:25-26, Mat 13:18-23, Luk 8:11-15).

In Conclusion Salvation is by God's grace that we receive through faith in Jesus and although we can't earn it through our works, works will follow as a result of being saved. (Eph 2:5-11)

Here are a Few more verses for consideration

Salvation comes only Through Jesus, etc

Joh 10:16  -18,  10:27  -28

Fearing God

Psa 85:9  , 145:19   

Confessing or Turning From Sin, Obey, etc 

Luk 10:25- 28, Joh 3:19  -21, Php 2:12

The Role that Faith or Belief Plays

Joh  5:24 , Gal 3:6  -9, 2Th 2:13, 1Jn 5:5

Trust

Psa 2:12, Jer 17:7, Mat 12:21

Other

Psa 32:2  , Eze 37:5  -6,  37:11  -12,  37:21  -24, Mat 10:22

Mar 10:24  -25, Joh 3:3  -8, Act 28:28, Rom 8:24, Eph 6:24

1Ti 1:15, Rev 3:20