The Threefold Nature of Salvation

Salvation has been offered to every man

God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He would have all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). His desire for our salvation moved Him to give His Son for us, and in that gift He extended to every man an invitation to eternal life (John 3:16-17). But, God’s offer of pardon (salvation) may be rejected.

Salvation is acquired by man through obedience to Christ (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Those who say that man must do nothing to be saved beyond faith do not know what the Bible teaches. The words of Jesus are very clear: “…for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). “I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33-34). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). All of the preceding statements were from the lips of the Lord Himself. Each emphasized a different aspect of obedience. Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are man’s response to God’s offer. Thus, salvation is acquired by man when he meets the conditions set forth by God. Sadly, many want to omit one or more of those conditions. To do so places one’s soul in jeopardy. God has extended the offer, and He alone has the right to set the terms!

Once salvation is acquired, it must be maintained.

The idea that once a man is saved he can never do anything to be lost did not originate with God. Jesus said: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). For our salvation to be maintained we must “walk in the light, as he is in the light” and in so doing, “we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If we accept God’s offer and obey His Son, but then turn away from Him, we will be lost.