So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Hebrews 9:28

Firstly, we will study the gift of salvation. Salvation is the gift of God, who reconciled men and women upon the cross. Salvation is the deliverance from the control, consequences, harm and destruction of sin. Just as with all gifts you must receive it personally. Salvation can never be earned by good deeds, religious piety, nor any human effort. Christ purchased salvation for all those who by faith trust in his finished work.

If you offer someone money for a gift it no longer becomes a gift, but a purchase. This is just the same in God’s way of salvation, as we learn in Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is the gift of eternal life that God gives to all who call upon Him for salvation. Turn to John 1:12 in your Bible and read this key verse. Good works are a result of a new life in Christ. Christians do good works as service to God not to earn or merit salvation, but to honour and please God.

In today’s world where there are many faiths and religions, it is important to know what God’s Word says about going to Heaven and how to obtain citizenship of God’s Kingdom. Jesus Christ said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Salvation is granted not by the will of man but by God. There is only one way to Heaven, all the world’s faiths cannot be right. The truth is Jesus Christ is the one and only way to Heaven. He is the way to Heaven.

In your Bible turn to Ephesians 2:8-9. Fill in the blanks.

For by __________ you have been saved through __________; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of _______; not as a result of ________, so that no one may boast.

We learn four key facts about salvation in this Bible verse. We have learnt that we are saved by God’s grace, salvation is by faith, it is not as a result of works, it is God’s free gift and it’s not by our good works.

Now turn to John 1:12. John is the fourth book of the New Testament and the last of the Gospels. Complete the missing words in the verse.

But as many as __________ Him, to them He gave the_________ to become _________ of _______, even to those who ____________ in His name.

This verse is a good example of what the Bible teaches about becoming a Christian, you must receive Christ to become a Christian. Many false      religions teach that everyone is a child of God, the Word of God says different, as we have just learnt from the Word of God.

God says you are not saved until you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. You cannot become something you already are.

God adopts you into his family when you become a Christian. The believer is transported from the power of sin and death to righteousness, eternal life, and joy. The Church is a family of God’s redeemed people.

Responding to God is very important. God draws sinners unto Himself and it is God that saves. Jesus taught this in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus said that the only way a lost sinner can be saved is by God drawing the sinner to the Saviour. In verse 39 Christ says all that the Father gives to Him will be saved. Jesus came to save His own lost sheep.

In Matthew 1:21 the Bible says that Jesus shall save His people. This means that Christ came to save all those that the Father will draw unto himself. The Bible calls these people His Church.

The Bible teaches that mankind is dead in his sin and trespasses against God and is only made alive by God’s grace. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.”

Our next Bible verse about salvation is John 14:6, this is one of the most widely used verses of Christ. Complete the Bible verse.

Jesus said to him, “I am the _______, and the _________, and the ________; no one comes to the ________ but through ______.

Notice how Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. He does not say I am one of many ways, one of many truths. Only by Jesus can you come to the Father’s Heavenly Kingdom. Also notice how it does not say by church membership, going to church, leading a good life, or being baptised.

As a Christian you should do all of these things, but they do not make you a Christian. Going to a church on the Lord’s Day does not make you a Christian no more than going to a hospital makes you a medical doctor. We do these to honour God. How we get to the Father is only by repentance and faith in Christ alone.

We now come to the Book of Romans. Turn to chapter 3 and verse 10-12. What are the 4 ‘none’ that God tells us about in this passage.

1. _________________

2. _________________

3. _________________

4. _________________

A sinner is a person who has broken God’s Holy law. If you have disobeyed your parents, told a lie, stolen sweets as a child or even took the name of Christ in vain, then you are a sinner. Every person commits sin without even realising they have; it does not matter how big or small the sin is. The reason we cannot go to Heaven without Christ is because we are sinners and not equal to God.

You need to understand that you are a sinner before you can be saved from sin. What is sin? 1 John 3:4 tells us, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”

Having sinned there is now a barrier between you and God. The only way that barrier can be removed is to be saved by grace and through faith. Christ bridged the gap between His people and God. This is the finished work of the cross. At salvation Christ imputes His righteousness to the sinner.

The Law of God is summarised in Exodus 20. This law is written on our hearts. God has given us a conscience which convicts us when we go against His law.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honour your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10. You shall not covet.

Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Turn to Romans 8:11.

Who did God raise from the dead? ________

God did not just raise Jesus from the dead in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, He rose Jesus from the dead so that we may turn from our sins and to show us His power. The resurrection shows that there is a God and that Jesus is God in human flesh. Christ has defeated sin, death, and Hell.

Lesson Summary

Remember, your good deeds are not an acceptable payment for your sins, only the death of Christ on the cross is the one and only payment acceptable by God. The blood of Christ saves all believers from the penalty of sin. This is what Christianity is all about, turning from sin and turning to God. The heart of the Gospel message is Christ reconciling sinners to the Father. There must be a deep conviction of sin in the heart of the sinner before salvation. God grants salvation to men and women as a gift. For further readings on this see Acts 5:31 and 11:18, 2 Timothy 2:25, and Philippians 1:29.

The Lord Jesus Christ died for all mankind on the cross, but not all mankind will be saved. As we have learnt only those that receive Christ by faith are saved.

Remembrance verse

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.