ANSWERS TO YOUR BIBLE QUESTIONS
The Need of Salvation
Almost everyone would readily agree that man has a need for salvation. However, a great number of people cannot give a biblical reason. In the Bible, the reason is shown, and thus reveals the greatest love that man has ever known. Let us now examine the Scriptures and learn the purpose that God had in mind when He extended to man the plan of salvation.
1. How did God create man? Genesis 1:26-27
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in HIS own image, in the image of God created HE him; male and female created HE them.
Genesis 1:26-27
When man was created, he was made in the image of God and after His likeness. If we were created in the image of God, then God must have an image. Isaiah tells us He has hands and ears (Isaiah 59:1). Exodus 33:21-23 speaks of the back parts. So, God must then have an image.
But in what way was Adam made in the likeness of God? Just as God was pure and sinless, so was Adam. Adam was pure, he was sinless, and he was created in the likeness of God.
2. How long did Adam enjoy this likeness of God? Genesis 3:1-11
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And HE said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Genesis 3:1-11
We do not know the exact length of time, but it was a short period. Then the devil came along and told Eve to go ahead and eat of the tree. She refused at first but the devil told her, if she ate, she would know good and evil. Adam and Eve knew what good was but they did not know what evil was, so they ate. Sin entered their lives and they were no longer in the likeness of God.
3. What happened to man? Romans 5:12
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:Romans 5:12
Death now was pronounced on the human race. Unless something was done, man was doomed to die.
4. What did Jesus come to do? Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.Matthew 1:21
Notice the words, “…for he shall save his people from their sins.” Some feel that after accepting Christ as their Savior, they are still sinners, but this is not so. When we accept Christ as our Savior and He forgives our sins, we are no longer sinners, for He has saved us from our sins.
5. What did God do to man? 1 Peter 1:18-19
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Peter 1:18-19
When God created Adam, he belonged to God; he was God’s possession. When sin entered the life of Adam, he no longer belonged to God but to the devil. God then had to redeem him. What does the word redeem mean? It means to buy back or to repossess. God bought man back through the death of His Son. This is why man needs salvation. He does not belong to God; he is lost, and through salvation (Christ), he can become the possession of God once again. Read 1 John 3:1-2.
6. What are we to do? Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.Proverbs 23:26
When we give our heart to God it means surrendering our life over to the will of God. When we accept Christ (salvation), we then belong to God; we are not our own. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
7. What is it a man cannot do? Jeremiah 13:23
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.Jeremiah 13:23
As the leopard cannot change his spots, neither can man change his life without the help of God.
8. To whom does Paul give credit? 1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.1 Corinthians 15:10
9. How are we saved? Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Ephesians 2:8
10. When is the time for salvation? 2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)2 Corinthians 6:2
Man should never put off accepting the salvation of God. Please bear in mind that when you play with your soul, you are playing for keeps.
11. What statement does Paul make in Hebrews 2:1-3?
Paul is telling us to give heed to those things we know we ought to do, lest time goes by and we soon forget them.
12. What could be the tragic end? Jeremiah 8:20
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.Jeremiah 8:20
Christ is coming soon to harvest God’s people into the kingdom of God. It would please God if we could be a part of that great spiritual harvest.
SUMMARY
Man was first created sinless. He fell away from that purity and sold himself into sin. God then had to redeem (buy) him back unto HIMSELF — thus, the need for salvation.
Material from the book Answers to Your Bible Questions by Wesley Walker.
More info: http://BibleAnswers.press
