The Scriptural Basis of My Salvation

Date February 20, 2005 Posted by Roger Overton

This past week I finally got around to finishing and turning in my application for Talbot Seminary. One of the questions requiring response was “Describe in your own words the scriptural basis for your salvation.” The follow was my response:

The Bible makes it clear that I, like all other human beings, have sinned against the supremely Holy God (Rom 3:10-12,23). Due to the gravity of my sin, on my own I am lost without any hope for recovery (Eph 2:1-3, Rom 7:23). It is because of my complete depravity that my salvation must come from another source. The only source adequate is the atoning blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of God. The wages of my sin is death (Rom 6:23), but Jesus took up the punishment for my sins, and many others, by taking my place on the cross. His death acted as a substitution for the debt I owed which I could not pay. In taking my place, He took on the wrath of God and became a curse for me (1 Thess 1:10, Gal 3:13). This is only possible since Jesus is both fully man and fully God, so He is an appropriate and adequate substitute.

Due to my free acts of sin against God, my nature was turned against Him; so not only could I not do any good deed to please Him, I had no desire to seek Him. Thus it must be that saving faith in Christ is a free gift, not by works nor merit, nor any being’s decision but God’s (Rom 8:29-30, Eph 2:8-10, 2 Tim 8-10). Due to this free gift of faith I have been justified (Rom 5:1-2); meaning in Christ’s holiness, and He as my mediator (1 Tim 2:5), I may worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Since my faith and resulting salvation is a gift from God, and depends not on my work or merit, I have assurance of my salvation (John 6:37).

Related posts:

  1. What is Necessary for Salvation?
  2. Book Review: Salvation Belongs to the Lord by John M. Frame
  3. Benjamin Keach and Effectual Means of Salvation
  4. The Role of the Bible in Evangelism, Pt 1
  5. Is The Reformation Over? (Part I)
  6. A Response from Richard Mouw

Category Posted in Main Page, Roger's Posts, Theology

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