Reaching Out to God – Receiving Salvation

 

Our natural tendency is to run away from God, much like Adam and Eve did in the Garden. Read Genesis 3: 8-9. There, you’ll find Adam and Eve hid from God after eating the forbidden fruit and learning they were naked. Out of fear of their disobedience, they hid from God when He walked in the Garden. God was walking in the Garden of Eden to spend time with Adam and Eve. That day, He could not find them until He called them. Then Adam called to God out of the bushes, where he was hiding out of shame.

Another example of someone running from God is found in Genesis 4:16. Here, Cain left God’s presence to live in a different land to the east of Eden after he killed his brother Abel.   

These are only a couple of examples in the Bible of how we turn away from God. This is human nature. Remember when you were a child and did something your parents told you not to do? How did you feel after taking that action? What did you do? Most kids know they’ve done something wrong and will try to avoid their parents until they have to face them. This is similar to what we do with God after we’ve sinned.

Over time, we may have committed so many sins that we are ashamed to come before God. But did you know that God is by your side, even if you are afraid He’ll see your guilt?

In Hebrews 13:5, it says, “…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” While we may turn away from God due to our sins, He does not turn away from us. God knows what we’ve done but loves us anyway. You can read this in Romans 8:1, where it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Through Christ, we are saved.

While there will always be consequences to our actions (including our sins), God accepts us as we are if we believe in Christ and His death and resurrection. God longs for us as a mother or father longs for their children because we are His children. We may have to deal with the consequences of our sins, but God will stand beside us—He’s promised He will do so.

God has compassion for each of us, even when we’ve strayed away. No matter where we are, God’s love and grace follow us closely. Like the prodigal son, we can always return to our Father.

If you’re not familiar with the story of the prodigal son, you can find it in Luke 11. The prodigal son’s father accepted his return and even gave a party for his son and his friends! The eldest son was angry at this, but the father only wanted to welcome his lost son back home again. This is how God is with those who return or turn to Him.

Jesus Christ & Salvation

The first step to salvation is accepting Jesus Christ as God's only begotten Son. The next step is understanding that we can only come to God through Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection make it possible for us to approach our Heavenly Father. It’s also necessary to have faith in God, believing He exists and is there for us.

It’s impossible to earn our way to heaven only by following laws or doing good works. Only through Jesus Christ can we accept the free gift of faith and salvation that God gives each of us.

In Romans 3:23 it says, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Accepting Christ as the Son of God is the essential first step to developing a relationship with our Father.

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame…for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:9-11, & 13

This is God’s promise to us that if we confess our sins, acknowledge the Lord Jesus, and that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.

If you’ve not yet accepted the gift of salvation, it’s not too late. You can do this any time, even right now. And if you’ve sinned, pray to God, confess your sins, and seek forgiveness, God will hear you. He’s right there with you now. Have faith that He hears your prayer.

Additional Scriptures About Salvation

Here are some more scriptures that talk about salvation:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

…Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but accord to His mercy He saves us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…

Titus 3:5

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Acts 16:30-33

What can you learn from these verses? That it’s only possible to have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. The gift of salvation and faith is given freely by God. There’s nothing you (or I) can do to make things right with God other than accepting Christ, that He was raised from the dead, and that God offers us the free gift of salvation and faith through Christ.

If you’re ready to accept Christ and the salvation He brings, you’re prepared to commit your life to God. He’s with you now, wherever you are, waiting for you to return to Him.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. You have said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psalm 27:1-9 NKJV

The Lord’s ready for you to return to Him right at this moment. He loves you with an eternal love that never ends. 

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