Salvation For Sinners? How?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

It's from a GotQuestions.org reader. Male 18-30 Africa
"What do you think about the Bible viewpoint of salvation? Does obeying the law (Moses) guarantee your salvation?

MY ANSWER:

Does obeying the law, you ask, guarantee salvation? NO!
Depending on the law for justification or salvation is a recipe for damnation eternally and a horribly frustrating time while you are on Earth.
In fact you can not do it, fully obey the law. The law is not salvation. Only condemnation is found in the law when you look for salvation in it.
The law was sent by the grace of God to deter us and to prompt us to seek salvation.
The law, or ten commandments, found in Exodus chapter 20, is not intended to allow us to parade our righteousness, no not at all. The purpose is for us to know we all have sinned and we need to seek the Savior.

What does the Bible say about the purpose of the law?
Galatians 3:24 King James Version (KJV)
"24Wherefore ***the law*** was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

The law's purpose was to show every person that they have sinned.
This should convict people to look for the Savior.

What is the Bible's, not man's, definition of sin?
Here it is.
1 John 3:4 English Standard Version (ESV) "4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; ***sin*** is lawlessness."

People do not understand that our holy God hates sin. One day He will not tolerate sin any longer. The wrath of God will be poured out on unsaved sinners. This wrath is from God not Satan.

John the Baptist warned the people before Jesus started his earthly ministry.
Matthew 3:7(ESV) "7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"

This wrath will be pored out on sinners in Hell by God.
Why is there a Hell? It is where God sends those to suffer his wrath from law breaking. Matthew 25:41 (ESV) 41 "... ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

The wrath is from God.

Romans 1:18(ESV) "18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."

God's plan of salvation, from the beginning of time, centered on Jesus Christ taking the wrath of God on Himself for believers. Believers are saved on the fact that Christ Jesus paid the price for our sins. It is the work of Christ Alone. That is why we are saved through the grace of God.

Salvation is from God.

The work of Christ was to saved those of us or all of us who do not deserve it. That is why we call it grace. Here Jesus describes His saving work.
Matthew 20:28(ESV) "28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Do not be confused. Humanity is doomed due to it's inability to keep the law. We are sinners. Adam our ancestor infused sin in our lives. Christ the "last Adam" brought our only solution. 1 Corinthians 15:45 (ESV) "45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit."

Christ is our champion over the law.
Colossians 3:5-7(ESV) "5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them."

Jesus Christ IS the plan of salvation.

John 3:36(ESV) "36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

Then we are made right with God, forgiven, and are at peace with God, we are saved from His wrath. We receive His grace.

Romans 5:9 (ESV) "9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God that Jesus took for us on the cross."

Hebrews 10:31(ESV) "31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Wow!, Christ took our place in suffering the wrath of God. This is why it is called substitutionary atonement. We are saved from God by God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) "21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

We are saved and justified by the work of Christ on the cross.

Romans 4:25 (ESV) "25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."

Why or how could God sacrifice His only Son for sinners like us. Pure LOVE!

1 John 4:10 (ESV) "10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

The cross was the finished work of God's plan of salvation. Jesus declared complete victory on the cross.

John 19:30 (ESV) "30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and fgave up his spirit."

Friend, know Christ died for your sins. He planned it. It is not a way of salvation. It is The way of salvation.

Know we must repent, turn from our sins and believe the gospel that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is our salvation.