15d • General discussion
Topic of Salvation
How does a man obtain salvation? Does he need to be born again to believe, or does he believe first and then become born again?
There are no prerequisites or requirements for salvation. It is completely by the grace of God and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible does not instruct us to exercise our natural faith—faith that is inherently powerless to save or to please God. The true faith that leads to salvation is the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, which comes through hearing the Word of God, as stated in Romans 10:17.
When the Word of God is preached (Romans 10:14), faith works within us to quicken our Spirit and help us understand the gospel message. It reveals to us our need for Jesus, especially since we are already under condemnation. This divine faith enables a person to believe in Christ and to receive Him as Savior.
Our salvation is entirely and solely the work of God. The force that makes this possible is the faith of the Son of God. However, the natural man still retains his innate faith, which is tainted by sin. Since the faith of Christ empowers genuine thinking, man has the capacity to either listen to Christ’s faith or to rely on his natural, unregenerated faith. At this point, man begins to exercise free will. Those who confess with their mouth and believe in their heart, as Romans 10:9 states, are saved. Conversely, those who cling solely to their natural faith, trust in their own abilities, or rely on good works remain lost.
This opportunity to accept salvation is temporary and occurs only in the moment when one hears God’s Word. However, every subsequent hearing of the Gospel presents another chance: the faith of Jesus quickens the Spirit again, enabling man to be saved.
When a person truly surrenders through faith in Christ, God’s grace initiates the process of salvation within him. The Holy Spirit works in his heart to justify him through regeneration. He is adopted as a child of God, and the Holy Spirit takes residence within him to secure his eternal salvation, as John 10:28 affirms.
Man does not single-handedly initiate or cause his own salvation; it is entirely by God's divine enablement through faith. Believing that salvation is partly dependent on human effort leads to the misconception that one can choose whether or not to be baptized or engage in Christian service. It is essential to recognize that believers are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and their lives should exemplify the new nature they have received.
The core answer is this: regeneration is not based on our decision to believe. Salvation is initiated and determined solely by God's choice. While God could reject anyone at any time, He does not because of His mercy and grace. Since regeneration—being born again—is an act of God, a person responds through divine enablement by faith, and upon confession, is born again. Like a newborn baby, who cannot comprehend or understand the process of its birth, the believer must grow in grace and spiritual maturity.
Jesus emphasized this when He told Peter, "When thou art converted." The Apostle Paul also underscores the importance of growth and maturity in Christ and expresses a desire to know Christ more deeply.
Ultimately, soul winning involves soul building. It is not only about leading someone to heaven and escaping eternal punishment, but also about transforming a person into a Christ-like character.
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Topic of Salvation
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