What is salvation?

Before you can receive spiritual deliverance you must be born again. In 1 Cor. 2:14 it says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” KJV
Salvation is personal and no one can make that decision for you nor make the decision to stand as a substitute in your place. The only way to be cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
First, God loves us. The scriptures tell us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” KJV
Second, sin separates us from God. Here is what the Scriptures say:
Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” KJV
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” KJV
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” KJV
What we have inherited from Adam was not simply a stain that we can erase with a drop of water in a baptismal ceremony. The Bible does not state that the stain of the original sin can be removed by water. But because of one man’s (Adam) disobedience, we all became sinners. Romans 5:12 tells us, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” KJV
Going to church every Sunday doesn’t make you a child of God. While in a Bible class a person asked, “What does it mean to be born again?” The Bible class leader answered “Born again means going to church every Sunday.” There are many people who have gone to church for years and have not been born again. Obviously that was not the right answer.
A young child from his physical birth has inherited a suitcase (sin) on his back, a baggage through generational sins as seen in Ex. 20:5 and 34:7. With no one teaching him how, he will start to disobey, get angry, tell lies and do many other things that will devastate his parents and have them wondering why. In Psalm 51:5 we read, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” KJV
The only one who can redeem us from the curse of the law is Jesus Christ. John 3:5 says, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” KJV

Even if you say that you have your religion and that you were baptized, confirmed and go to church every Sunday, this is still not the new birth. The liar, the adulterer, the one who blasphemes the name of God, the evil slanderer who takes pleasure in destroying the reputations of others, the drunkard and the thief, all have their religion. Neither their behavior nor their baptism has made them a child of God. Their actions and their conduct would definitely prove the opposite.
They think that if they go to church every Sunday, confess their sin, and, with no regrets, come out and start their immoral behavior all over again, their religions will save them. They assume they are going to make it to heaven. This is not what the Bible reveals.
Salvation is when you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and you turn your back on sin. Salvation is when you renounce any worldly pleasure and every involvement with corrupt and wicked ways and not wanting to sin anymore. (In the dictionary, “renounce” means: to give up a habit, a practice or former things.) You focus your heart and mind on God and let Him be your judge.
The one who has not been redeemed from the curse of the law doesn’t want to let go of their worldly chains and cannot be set free. To be forgiven of one’s sin in the Old Testament, blood had to be shed over and over again. In the New Testament Jesus, who is the perfect Lamb of God, shed His Blood once and for all as explained in (Heb. 7:27). When we sin, we go directly to Him to be forgiven and delivered.

Jesus is a respecter of people. He will not push His way into your heart but will wait patiently for His children to let Him be the Lord of your lives. In other words, Jesus will become your deliverer and your gentle Master. He is filled with compassion and mercy and when you release your burdens to Him, He is willing to forgive and set you free from Satan’s captivity.

Repentance is for the Christian who sincerely wants to walk closer with God. When a person comes for deliverance and sits on what I call the “hot seat,” he/she must be willing to repent of bondages that the Holy Spirit reveals. An unwillingness to forgive will block the work of the Holy Spirit.
Being honest and sincere, with an eagerness to judge only themselves and not others, will free the Holy Spirit to do His work in their hearts. You can see this in Matt. 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” KJV

According to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanses us from all unrighteousness. KJV In Isa. 1:18, we learn that God promises to forgive us all our sins even if they are red as crimson and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
You might ask “Is God ready to forgive me all of my sins?” God who is so full of mercy is ready to forgive all who repents and forsake their wicked ways. All sin is an indication of selfishness and pride in some form.
When we come to the throne of mercy and are sincere in renouncing our selfish ways our wonderful Savior will forgive us our trespasses. If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior pray the following prayer with all your heart.
The Sinner’s Prayer

“Lord Jesus, forgive me all of my sins.  I believe you died on the cross for me.
I repent of my sins and I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.
I open the door of my heart and invite you to come in.
Wash and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
I turn my back on sin and I want to follow you
for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen”