What is salvation?

Mark 2:17  When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

     In today's society, there is much confusion on true salvation.  We see many that profess to know God, but in works they deny Him. (Titus 1:16)  What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ and how does one begin such and adventure?  Through Scripture, I would like to show you what true conversion is and also give you some examples of what it is not.

     First, in order to need salvation, one must understand that they need saved.  This comes through the understanding of what sin is.  James 4:17 says, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."  When an individual comes to understand what God expects from them, and they choose not to obey, they have sinned.  Age of accountability is to be considered at this point.  Some may understand this fairly early, others later on, but for salvation to occur, all must come to the understanding that they have broken God's law and fall short.  (Romans 3:23)

     Secondly, the Father must be drawing.  John 6:44 says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..."  I understand that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4) and that He equally desires that none should perish, but it is important to make a clear distinction between God's work on a person's heart and man's work on a person's emotions.   Many false conversions have occurred not because the Lord was convicting the individuals heart, but simply because the preacher and musicians set the stage for such an event.  When the Lord is drawing an individual, human methods are unnecessary.

     Lastly, when the Lord draws an individual, He will convict them of their sin and there will be a cutting "to the heart" as mentioned in Acts 2:37.  This acknowledgement of their lost state will lead to a yearning for a Savior who can redeem them.  This is where the essential command for repentance is made.  Repentance occurs when an individual decides to abandon his sin and way of life and turn to Christ for forgiveness and newness of life.  This transformation begins in the heart, but does not stay there.  As Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Once the heart has been transformed, the mouth will desire to let it be known.  If one resists this public proclamation, the conversion may need to be questioned.

     To close, I would like to state what salvation is not.  It is not a repeated prayer, baptism, going forward in a church, or church attendance.  These things may be good and necessary but do not guarantee salvation. 

Romans 10:13  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.