It is the desire of God that all men be saved (2 Peter 3:9). But such is accomplished by certain conditions both on the part of deity and humanity. Therefore, we need to consider the question: how is salvation made possible?

First, salvation is possible because of the love of God. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Paul would add to the Christians at Rome, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:6-8). This love is not limited to just a few chosen ones, rather it is available to all mankind. If salvation, the hope of the heart of humanity, was possible just on the condition of God's infinite love, then no one would ever be lost. "God is love" (1 John 4:8), and loves all men and desires the salvation of each and every soul. It can become possible that man will not desire God's gift (Eph. 2:8,9), but he is freely extending it to all who will come to him.

Second, salvation is possible because of the death of Christ on calvary and the shedding of his precious blood. Coming out of the Old Testament law that declared, "the blood...maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11), Paul reminded the early church, "without the shedding of blood, there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). Those who were once, "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world...are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:12,13).

His precious blood became the purchased price for the church of the redeemer. Peter reminds us we are, "not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18,19). Paul meeting with the Ephesian elders reminded them that Christ purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28)-- the cost of redemption. Now we have redemption "through his blood even the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7). The blood of Christ was a necessity for the blood of bulls and goats can not take away sin (Heb. 10:4). All the sacrifices of the Old Law would have been for nothing if Christ had not died on the cross. No one today could find salvation if Jesus had not died and paid the plenty for the sins of humanity.

Once again, if salvation was possible on the fact of the love of God and that only, then all would be saved, no one would be lost. Also, if salvation was made possible just on the fact of the love of God and the blood of Christ then no one would be lost, for Jesus tasted death for all men (Heb. 2:9). But there is more to obtaining salvation.

Third, salvation is possible today because of the work of the Holy Spirit. Once man lived during an age where the Holy Spirit spoke directly to men through his inspired messengers. Today, such is not the case. The only way we can know what is right is because truth has been revealed in the pages of the Bible. Remember, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16,17). Holy men of old, the spokesman of God, did not speak on their own, but as the Holy Spirit guided them (2 Peter 1:20-21). There is no mystical power for salvation, no direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the life or on the heart of man, but the Spirit works through the word to convict men of: sin, righteousness and judgment to come (John 16:7-11).

Again may I ask, if salvation is possible just on the conditions of the love of God, the blood of Christ, and the work of the Spirit through the pages of the inspired message, who would be lost? Absolutely no one. If all this is true, and it is, then there must be something else involved in man's salvation. That one changing factor is man himself.

Though God wants you to be saved, though Christ died for your sins, though the Spirit inspired the Bible that you might learn what to do to be saved and to remain faithful to the Lord, if you do not desire salvation you will not be saved. Peter, to the audience in Jerusalem proclaimed, "save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). We can hear the invitation of Christ offered in Matthew 11:28-30, but we must respond to that glorious call. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." If we are not willing to come to Jesus, then regardless of all that has been done for us we are still traveling the broad road and progressing towards our eternal destruction. Therefore, if we want salvation, we must come to Jesus.

Since I have a part in salvation, let me ask with the jailor at Philippi, "what must I do to be saved" (Acts 16:30). To this one, Paul instructed, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (v.31). That he, and his household might become believers, Paul "spake unto him the word of the Lord" (v.32). The only way to come into faith is by hearing the word of the Lord (Rom. 10:17). This man was not a believer, therefore, it was necessary for him to learn of Jesus. Today, we study the Scriptures that we might learn of Jesus. We are not just trying to learn who he was, but who he is. Man must come to understand that Jesus is the Son of God. "For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). Jesus came that we might have "life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10), but this we cannot have unless we believe in him.

As the love of God alone was not sufficient for our salvation, faith alone is not sufficient to salvation "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). Faith is good, for "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).

In addition to faith, one must be willing to repent of his sins. Repentance is the real changing or turning point in the salvation of man's soul. Because of our sins, and God's unwillingness to wink at them he, "now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). For, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5). Repentance demands that a person cease the act of sinning and strive not to be guilty of such actions anymore. "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph. 4:28).

It is one thing to take from another, it is quiet another to be willing to give to those who have not. The jailor at Philippi showed his repentance as he washed the stripes on the backs of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:33).

As the love of God and the blood of Christ was not sufficient for our salvation, just faith and repentance will not save the soul of man.

Moving towards salvation one must be willing to confess his faith in Christ. At this point in time, one is not called to confess sins, that is a fact that does not need confessing. By the very nature of the fact that he is an alien sinner establishes the fact that he is guilty of sin. The individual that is moving towards salvation is called to confess his faith in Christ. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32,33). The Ethiopian eunuch was told if he believed he could be baptized. Therefore he confessed, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). Now we can understand Paul statement, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). Salvation can never belong to the one who is unwilling to confess his faith in Christ.

As the love of God, the blood of Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit through the word alone is not sufficient for the salvation of the soul of man; faith in Christ, repenting of sins, and confession of Christ is not sufficient to save the soul of man. As man has a part to play in his salvation, baptism is a part of the salvation process.

After the jailor had washed the backs of Paul and Silas, the Bible records, he was baptized (Acts 16:33). Baptism is not just to please God, baptism is not just to join a church, baptism is for the "remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Through the act of baptism we certainly please God and as a result of baptism we are added by God to his church (Acts 2:47). The thief can no longer steal, the liar can no longer lie, the fornicator can no longer be guilty of his immorality, now they are all new creatures in Christ Jesus. "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). Baptism is not an option, rather it is a command, if man desires forgiveness and salvation of his soul.

Salvation is possible because of: the love of God, the death of Christ, the work of the Spirit through the word, and the actions of man. Salvation is possible for man because he has faith in God, repents of all sins, confesses his faith in Christ, and is scripturally baptized.

Have you complied with the commands of God that your soul might be saved? If not, why not? What doth hinder you from obeying God?

S.T.O.P. LECTURESHIP July 22-26, Traditions of Men - Vain Religion.

FOOD ITEM: Canned corn

SHUT-INS: Pauline Irvin, Nellie Wallace, Mary Dexter, Annie Nauman, Faye Jackson, Clydie Morrow, Frances Massengill, Doug Kimbrough, Sula Perry, Harry Prater, Lucille Leatherwood, Dorothy Johnson, Clara North, Lex Maricle.

A country boy can tell which way the wind is blowing! I remember from childhood how we would wet our finger and hold it up to feel the wind. What troubles me is how some people have to see which way the wind is blowing before they take a stand. Others have to take a poll before they know what they believe. Someone said, "Truth is never dependent on consensus of opinion."

Like foolish and cowardly Pilate, many ask, "What is truth" (John 18:38)? Listen to a statement Jesus made earlier that same evening in His prayer to the Father: "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). God's word is truth! You don't have to wonder about it! You don't have test the wind! God forgive us for doing it! Foolish! Cowardly!

Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). Word! Truth! Know! Abide! Free! You don't have to wet your finger! --Dwight Fuqua