Salvation Requires Personal Action

I John 2:2 tells us, Jesus “…is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  He has literally paid in full for the sins of the entire world.  Hebrews 10:12-14 tells us, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”  As a result, some believe that all are saved.  Unfortunately, that is not true. 

As a promotion, a store may offer a free item to anyone who comes in on a certain day, but the offer is only for those who come personally on that day and ask for the gift.   They will not save the gift for those who do not bother to get it.  God’s forgiveness is much the same.  While it is offered to anyone who wants it, unless the person makes the effort to receive it, it will not be given him. 

In the Old Testament, the priest constantly offered animals as sacrifices for sin.  The person offering the sacrifice was required to place their hand on the sacrifice‘s head, identifying it as being for their sin, as described in Leviticus 1:1-4.  “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.   If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” 

 The person had to personally identify the sacrifice as being for him for it o be accepted as an atonement for his sin.  This principle applied to every person, as is demonstrated by the various repetitions in Leviticus 3 and 4.  It didn’t matter whether the person was one of the rulers, a priest, or one of the common people, nor did it matter whether he was rich or poor, it was essential that he personally identified the sacrifice as being for his sin, acknowledging that he had sinned and needed forgiveness.  The priest could not do that for the person.

Although Christ died on the cross just once to pay for the sins of the entire world, each person has to personally identify his sacrifice as being for their sin.  I John 1:8-10 tells us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  If we take responsibility for our sin God will forgive us, but if we refuse to accept responsibility, we imply God lied about us being sinners, and we will not receive his forgiveness.   

Romans 10:9-14 tells exactly what we need to do in order to be saved.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Anyone who recognizes they are a sinner and cannot save themselves, and believes that Christ died for their sin and was raised again by God’s power can be saved by simply telling God they believe in him and want to be saved.  Anyone who asks for that forgiveness and salvation will be saved, regardless of their race or background, but they have to do it themselves, while they are still alive. 

Various groups have taught that other people could act on a dead person’s behalf.   In Matthew 16:19, Jesus said, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  He has told us how to get into heaven, and those who get saved on earth will be saved in heaven while those who do not will be imprisoned in hell.  He repeated that statement in Matthew 18:18.  No religious ceremony or church can change where a person is going after they die.