THE SALVATION SERIES – 1: Introduction
Praise God for another wonderful day to share the Word of God with you! I would like to begin a series on Salvation. While the word "salvation" is familiar to many of us, I believe many have not fully grasped all that it encompasses. Even for those with a good foundation, this will be a great opportunity to refresh our minds.
What Is Salvation?
Salvation means to be delivered from sin, slavery, spiritual enemies, and ultimately, eternal death. The end result of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and the mission of the enemy is to steal God’s blessings, kill destinies, and destroy souls (John 10:10).
God's salvation addresses the three distinct dimensions of mankind: spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Man is a spirit who has a soul and lives in a physical body.
The Root of the Human Problem
If we look closely at how man's trouble began in the Garden of Eden, God warned Adam that he would die the day he ate of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). Did he actually die that very day? Yes, he did—not immediately in his physical body, but in his spirit.
When Adam disobeyed God, the consequences were not instantly visible on the outside, but the spiritual death was real. The glory of God that covered him departed. For the first time, man felt nakedness, experienced shame, and hid from God's presence (Genesis 3). One of the primary byproducts of sin is shame.
This spiritual death led to a corrupted nature in humanity, which quickly impacted the soul. Man's soul began taking its cues from fleshly emotions and lusts rather than drawing life from the spirit. This corruption led directly to the first murder: Cain killed his brother Abel out of envy, which was a result of a spiritually dead life.
Over time, humanity became so cut off from God that prayer became necessary as a distant line of communication. In the beginning, God walked and talked with man face-to-face. The Scripture says, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8).
Spiritual death eventually brought physical decay and death. Adam, who was designed for eternal communion with God, died at the age of 930. Human lifespans dropped drastically as carnality took over. The Scriptures says, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).
Dealing with the Root, Not the Leaves
To solve a problem permanently, we must address the root rather than trimming the leaves. Cutting branches off a tree will not kill it; new leaves will simply sprout as long as the roots receive nourishment.
Similarly, when society tries to fix issues by only addressing symptoms, the same problems resurface in new ways. For instance, despite strict laws, imprisonment, and severe penalties throughout history, crimes like theft, kidnapping, and assault persist. The law alone cannot eliminate them because the root issue is spiritual—it is man's fall from spiritual vitality into carnality.
Full-Spectrum Salvation
Jesus is the answer to all of man's struggles, but experiencing the full measure of His salvation requires understanding. Salvation covers every aspect of our lives: Spirit, Soul, and Body (including relationships, health, and stewardship).
- If we focus only on the salvation of the spirit, we may be heavenly bound but earthily ineffective.
- If we focus only on physical and material well-being, we may enjoy temporary comfort on earth but miss eternal life.
We must keep these priorities in their proper order without neglecting any aspect. Whatever area Christians abandon, the enemy will occupy. Yet Jesus instructed us to "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13). Are we occupying the places God intended for us, or are we merely playing church?
Before a person is born again, Satan often does not mind if they prosper in his realm, as long as they serve his purposes. But once you give your life to Christ, the enemy will try to restrict your resources because he knows you will use them to advance God's Kingdom. Imagine if genuine believers owned influential media networks—how many souls could be reached! Imagine if God-fearing leaders governed nations—how integrity would prevail and godly principles would shape society!
Balance Between Ministry and Practical Living
A common trap is believing that being spiritual means abandoning practical work, even when God has not instructed you to do so. This mindset leaves many believers dependent on others and makes their ministry look like a beggar rather than a giver.
A gentleman once reached out to me, explaining that he worked in a bank but felt called to ministry and wanted to quit immediately. I shared with him the same principle I share with you: unless God explicitly tells you to step out full-time, do not quit your job. Perform God's work faithfully alongside your daily work until the timing is clear.
During the early years of my own work, I did not rely on anyone to rent an office or pay for crusades, media outreach, and field ministry. God provided the financing through the labor of my hands, fulfilling His promise to bless the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). Know what God has instructed you to do, and do not fall for unnecessary hardship.
The First Step
Above all else, the most vital decision a person can make in this life is to be born again. That is what counts first in eternity. When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus, the Lord addressed this foundational truth before anything else was discussed, saying, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Nothing else matters until this foundation is laid. If you have not surrendered your life to Christ, take this opportunity today by praying the prayer below.
Have a blessed day!
Today’s Reading:
Romans 1, Genesis 2 & 3
If you are not born again, you can accept Christ today by saying this simple prayer out loud in faith, believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again for your sins:
Prayer for Salvation
“Dear Lord, I believe Jesus died and rose again for me. Forgive me my sins and come into my life. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Wash me with your precious blood. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Congratulations! Your status has changed to that of a child of God if you said this prayer in faith.