What is Salvation?

by Adrian Rogers

First, let me tell you what salvation is not. It is not a creed, a code, a cause, or a church.

Salvation is not a creed. I hear people say, “Well, I believe the plan of salvation.” And my response? You can believe the plan of salvation and go straight to hell, because we’re not saved by the plan of salvation, instead we’re saved by the Man of salvation – Jesus Christ.

Second, salvation is not a code. Some say, “Well, I believe that if you just live right you’ll go to heaven.” Friend, let me tell you that if any of us could be saved by living right then Calvary was a blunder!

Thirdly, salvation is not earned by adhering to a cause. People say, “Well, I believe in loving people. I believe that if I love everybody, God will say, ‘Come on into heaven.’ ” Loving people is nice and it’s actually something the Bible tells us to do. But our works cannot purchase our salvation.

Fourth, salvation does not come by being a member of a church. There are some well-meaning people who say, “Well, I’m a member of a good, fundamental, Bible-believing church.” Membership in the church comes as a result of being saved.

Your salvation and mine is not purchased by adhering to a creed or a code. It is not bought by believing in a cause or belonging to a church. Salvation is only found in Christ.

Jesus is not just a good way to heaven. He’s the only way to heaven. Acts 4:12 says, “ Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved .”

Is Jesus the only way to heaven? Yes! Any other gospel is a false gospel. Ephesians 2:8-9, “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”