SAVED FROM WHAT?

By Andrew Aucamp

Why read this booklet?You probably have this booklet in your hand because a Christian friend gave it to you to read. Your friend may have expressed some concern for you, and would want you to find and experience salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Perhaps even as you think about the value of reading this book, questions come to mind. Why is my friend always on about Jesus? Why is he always saying I need to be saved? I don’t even know what I need to be saved from? Are there not more important issues to be thinking about, such as helping underprivileged people or protecting the environment? How can Jesus even begin to help?

It will only take you about eight minutes to read this book. It will explain the Christian gospel to you, and answer some of these important questions.

Copyright © 2017, CA AucampPermission is granted for this book to be printed or copied, provided it is done in full, the author is acknowledged, and it is on a non-profit basis.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

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Something is wrong with the world and with your life

As you look at the world around you, and your life, you must realise that something is wrong. The world is filled with violence, murder, rape, starvation, storms, flooding, divorce, cancer, and death. In your life, you have probably experienced sadness, conflict, fears and hurt. Are these things just a natural part of life? Are they normal?

The Bible indicates that the world around us is not what it was meant to be. God created the world and everything in it (Gen. 1). It was created good (Gen. 1:31), with no disease, bloodshed or death. God created Adam and Eve, the first human beings, in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). They also were created good, and there was love and harmony in their relationship with each other and with God.

However, God gave Adam and Eve a commandment not to eat the fruit of a certain tree. Adam and Eve disobeyed, and their goodness and innocence was lost. This act of disobedience against God is called sin. Any act of disobedience against God’s commandments is called sin.

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. (1 Jn. 3:4)

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There were severe consequences to this first sin. The entire world was also plunged into sin, and Adam and Eve now had a disposition to sin, called a sinful human nature. This would lead to further acts of sin in their lives. It also resulted in their children being born with a sinful nature that resulted in sinful acts in their lives. Sin therefore spread to all people, and the world became filled with acts of sin.

This explains accurately the world around us. It explains why there is bloodshed, war, murder and theft. It explains why our relationships are difficult and often painful. It also explains the natural disasters around us. These are not “natural” in the sense that this was not part of the original created order.

This account in the book of Genesis (the first book of the Bible) also explains why you detect wrong things in your own heart. You get angry, impatient. You are tempted to cheat on your taxes and disobey the laws of the country. You may be prone to sexual temptation, or lying. Nobody has to teach us to do these things – they arise from our sinful hearts.

Why did disobedience to God result in all these severe, negative consequences?

In Genesis 3:17-19 we are told that God punished Adam and Eve for their disobedience and cursed the earth. It was God who brought in all these negative consequences.

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face You will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:17-19)

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But why would God do that? Why did He not just pardon the offence?

This brings us to a fundamental truth taught everywhere in the Bible. It has to do with who God is. The Bible tells us that God is Holy (Rev. 4:8). This means that He is morally perfect and blameless, and that He hates sin. The Bible also tells us that He is the Judge of the whole world, and that He is morally obligated to judge righteously.

Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. (Ps. 98:9)

He therefore has to punish sin. Just as we expect our courts and judges to convict and sentence those who are guilty in the interests of justice, so too God has to judge sin.

How does God punish sin?We have already mentioned some of the consequences of sin in the world. These are serious, and painful. However, they pale into insignificance when we consider the Bible’s teaching on God’s ultimate punishment and consequence for sin: hell.

Many people joke about hell today as if it is something trivial. It is common to hear jokes about going to hell and spending time with friends there. Some

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think hell is just an archaic idea invented by people to scare others into becoming more religious or Christian.

The Lord Jesus did not share the same view. He taught that hell was a terrifying place of suffering, and that it was to be avoided at all costs. Hell is eternal – once people go to hell there is no coming out, and there is no second chance.

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk. 9:43-44)

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; (Mat. 25:41)

What does hell have to do with you? You may be thinking that hell has little to do with you because you are basically good, and not deserving of such a severe punishment. At the end of the day it does not matter what we think about ourselves. What matters is what God says about us, and the standards He will use to send people to hell.

God has spoken clearly about this. Any sin we commit, no matter how small, is extremely serious to God because He is holy. Our sin is against Him, not some abstract, man-made moral code. When we sin we offend a holy, righteous God. So any sin we may commit, such as lying, cheating, stealing, lust or greed render us guilty and put us on the path towards hell.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. (Jam. 2:10)

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. (Isa. 59:2)

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These sins can be physical acts or just thoughts and motives.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Mat. 5:27-29)

When we understand God’s righteous standards and that any violation of those standards is an infinite offence against Him, we realise every person is a sinner in His sight and bound for hell. Yes, God has already warned that you, as a sinner, are going to be thrown into hell. You may not like to hear it, but that is what God has stated He will do.

Does God want me to clean up my act and start living a good life?

The answer to this question may surprise you. Most people think that the essence of religion is to make ourselves righteous in God’s sight, and earn our way to heaven. The Bible clearly teaches us that this way is impossible. All of us have already sinned and are deserving of hell. None of us can do anything good enough to please God and earn heaven as a reward.

Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”(Rom. 3:9-12)

If we are going to be saved from our sin and God’s judgement, we need a Saviour!

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The love of God in Jesus ChristThe Lord Jesus existed eternally with the Father and Holy Spirit before the world was created. Indeed, the world was created by the Lord Jesus.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Col. 1:16)

It was out of love for this world that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16)

In order to save sinful man, the Lord Jesus was born into this world as a man. Remaining the eternal Son of God, He also took on human nature, was born of the virgin Mary, and became both fully God and fully man. Jesus, in order to save sinners, had to be both fully God and fully man. He had to be fully divine to be able to render an infinite sacrifice to God to pay the price for our sins. But He also had to be fully man so He could take the place of sinful people, and be their substitute. Very importantly, He also had to have a human body so that He could sacrifice His life for sinners. It is then apparent that there is only one Saviour in all the world and all of history– the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He is the unique and eternal Son of God, only He could pay the price for sinners. Jesus therefore claims to be the exclusive Saviour of the world.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (Jn. 14:6)

The Lord Jesus lived a perfect life here on earth, completely sinless. He could therefore be a perfect sacrifice. The cross was not a mistake. It was part of God’s plan to save sinners. On the cross the Lord Jesus Christ was punished for the sins of His people, so that they could go free.

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But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. (Isa. 53:5-6)

The Bible therefore describes the death of Christ as a ransom. He paid the price through the sacrifice of His life to set His people free from the guilt of sin and the anger of God against sinners. In order to demonstrate that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was completely acceptable to God, He raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead on the third day.

This form of sacrifice was necessary to satisfy God’s justice. As a righteous Judge, God cannot just sweep sin under the carpet and excuse it. We would be appalled if a human judge just excused and set free a murderer or a rapist because he felt in a benevolent mood. Our sense of justice would be offended. The criminal should be punished according to his crime. In the same manner, God remains a just judge in the process of saving sinners.

The unique Person of the Lord Jesus ChristThe Lord Jesus Christ is a central figure in the history of humanity. It is beyond dispute that He was a historical person who lived in Palestine some 2000 years ago. The biblical and non-biblical literature overwhelmingly attests to His existence.

Many today see the Lord Jesus as simply a good teacher. However, this belief is not an option for us. The Lord Jesus made some staggering claims about Himself. He claimed to be God.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (Jn. 8:58)

He claimed to be the only Saviour of all humanity and in all history. He claimed the highest allegiance, surpassing even family and friends.

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“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (Mat. 10:37)

There are therefore only two options when deciding on how to respond to His claims. He was either a liar and mad (and therefore not a good teacher), or His claims are true. Which one is correct? The fact that He rose from the dead, and was seen after His death by so many witnesses, proves His claims were true.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (1 Cor. 15:3-8)

Christianity is therefore centred on the unique Person of Jesus Christ. Salvation is found in Him alone. He is the full and final revelation of God to man. In Christ we see the only true and living God.

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Jesus is coming backJesus has made a promise. This promise is that He will return again unexpectedly. He is the Judge of the whole world, and will return to earth one day to judge the wicked and restore the world to its rightful, glorious place under God.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; (Mat. 25:31-32)

The Bible predicts that many will scoff at this promise. Many will not be ready for His return, and perish. Will you be one of them?

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2 Pet. 33-4)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Pet. 3:10)

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Responding to the Lord Jesus ChristWhile He was on this earth, and now through the pages of the Bible, Jesus calls people to Himself and to respond to the gospel.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

He calls you to be sorry for your sin and turn away from it (this is called repentance) and to put your faith in Him. Faith in Christ can best be described as putting your trust in Him – that He is willing and able to save you from your sins.

Genuine repentance is both sorrow for our sin, and a real turning away from our old way of life. Genuine faith in Christ is proven by a sincere desire to obey Him and live a new life to His glory.

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (Jam. 2:18)

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You do not need a priest or a pastor to experience salvation. Jesus knows your heart and thoughts. You can simply turn to Him, confessing your sin, and calling on Him to save you. He has promised that the one who comes to Him and believe in Him will be received and never be put to shame.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. (Jn. 6:37)

Faith clings to and trusts these promises. It is very important for you to know that this simple act of faith will save you. You don’t need to try and accumulate good works to save yourself. These works can never be good enough to get you into heaven. The essence of the gospel is to turn away from any form of self-righteousness and trust in the righteousness of Christ.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, (Philip. 3:7-9)

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Confessing Christ before menIf you do decide to put your trust in Christ and become a Christian, then it is important to confess this before men.

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Rom. 10:8-10)

Jesus calls you to do this in a number of ways. Firstly, Jesus commanded that all His disciples should be baptised. Baptism cannot save you. It is rather a symbol and demonstration of the fact that you have died to your old way of life, and risen to new life in union with Christ. It is a sign that you now belong to Him and follow Him.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

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Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:1-4)

Secondly, as believers in Christ you need to join a local church. In addition to simply being obedient to the Bible, this also identifies you with the other disciples of the Lord Jesus as being part of His body. This church should be Christ centred and Bible believing.

Thirdly, living a holy life of obedience to Christ is one of the ways we demonstrate to others that Jesus has changed our lives and that we belong to Him. This does not mean that we will never sin again. However, what it does mean is that your life should be changed from before you became a Christian, and also that when you do sin, you confess this sin and are truly sorry for it.

Growing in the grace of the Lord Jesus ChristWhen you become a Christian, you are at the start of a journey, not at the end. In order to grow as a Christian, you need to read your Bible and spend time in meaningful prayer. Through the Bible God speaks to us, and through prayer we are strengthened for daily life.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)

This process of growth is further facilitated through serving in a local church. The church can be described as your spiritual family, in which mutual encouragement and growth takes place.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thess. 5:9-11)

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A glorious hope…A Christian can therefore live in this world with much hope and joy. While there may be sorrow and sadness in this world that is stained by sin, we live in hope, looking for the glorious return of the Lord Jesus, and for a new heaven and earth, wherein righteousness will dwell forever.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of [h]our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Tit. 2:11-14)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (2 Pet. 3:10-13)

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