Salvation 2

	Last time we examined the what, the why, the who and the how of salvation.  We saw that it is a single pathway of safety and freedom from sin.  It exists because of the separation from God which is created by sin.  It is for sinners, including every one of us.  It is from God through Jesus.  It is by the grace of God, through hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized.  It demands that we walk in the light and remain faithful until the end.  But what about the "when"?  Understanding that it is the blood of Jesus which washes away our sins, we might ask, "When do we come in contact with the blood of Jesus?  When do we come in contact with His death, burial and resurrection?"
	"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?" Paul discusses in Romans 6:3-7.  "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with {Him} in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also {in the likeness} of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with {Him,} that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin."
	We meet the blood of Christ at baptism.  So salvation takes place at this point.  Does the New Testament confirm this?
	"And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple," we read in Acts 2:46-47, "and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
	We have seen that the people are very troubled when they hear Peter's sermon in Acts chapter two.  Why, then, are they so happy just a few verses later?  They have been baptized.
	In Acts chapter eight, Philip is sent to an Ethiopian official who is returning home from Jerusalem.  The Ethiopian is perplexed by Old Testament prophecies.  So Philip preaches to him about Jesus.
	"And as they went along the road they came to some water," Luke records in Acts 8:36-39, "and the eunuch said, 'Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?'  And Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'  And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing."
	The Ethiopian is disturbed as he travels along.  When does his outlook change?  It changes when he is baptized.
	A few chapters later, a jailer is ready to kill himself because he believes that his prisoners have escaped following an earthquake.  Paul and Silas reassure him, though, and then they tell him about Jesus.
	"And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household,'" we find in Acts 16:31-34.  "And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.  And he took them that {very} hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his {household.}  And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household."
	The jailer is ready to kill himself.  Not long afterward, he is rejoicing.  When does his outlook change?  It changes when he is baptized.
	Salvation comes when we contact the blood of Jesus through baptism.

	Salvation is the single avenue of safety and freedom from sin.  It is needed because sin has created a separation with God. Sinners need salvation.  That includes every one of us.  It is from God through Jesus.  It is by the Grace of God, through hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized.  It requires that we walk in the light and remain faithful until the end.  It takes place when we contact the blood of Christ through baptism.  There is one more thing which we should add concerning the "when" of salvation.  The time is now.
	"And working together {with Him,}" Paul counsels in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, "we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain-- for He says, 'At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you'; behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation.'"
	The time for salvation is now.
	"And this {do,} knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep," Romans 13:11 encourages, "for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed."
	The time for salvation is now.
	"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away {from it,}" Hebrews 2:1-3 alerts. "For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard."
	The time for salvation is now.
	"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," we read in 1 Peter 1:3-9, "who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."
	This is the what, the why, the who, the how and the when of Salvation.  Salvation is the single avenue of safety and freedom from sin.  It is needed because sin has created a separation with God. Sinners need salvation.  That includes every one of us.  It is from God through Jesus.  It is by the grace of God, through hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized.  It requires that we walk in the light and remain faithful until the end.  It takes place when we contact the blood of Christ through baptism.  And the time to do that is now.  Now is the time to obey the truth and be set free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."