Salvation is the Mending of a Broken Relationship

Introduction

I often speculate on the amount of “Christians” that claim salvation, but all they have done is said the sinner’s prayer. Don’t get me wrong, if you believe in Jesus Christ, and desire a relationship with Him, all that is necessary is admission of belief and repentance of sins. However, many people treat it like a checklist item. They come up, say the prayer, get baptized, and go right back to the life they held before. So what is salvation, really?

The original purpose of man

God’s Pleasure Colossians 1:16

God created man for His pleasure. Not to toy with us or so we could entertain Him, but because He is a creative being, giving Him great pleasure to create. He is also a personal being, which brings Him pleasure to have others to have genuine relationships with.

To be Stewards of the Earth Genesis 1:26-29

God also created man to have dominion over His creation. Being created in His likeness does not only mean we walk on two legs and have opposable thumbs. It also means we have souls and have the capability to know God. This knowledge allows us to love, worship, and fellowship with Him.

What Happened to Our Relationship?

Adam and Eve broke their relationship with God Genesis 3:20-24

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their relationship was fractured. As a consequence, God killed to make them garments from animal skins and pushed them from paradise to work the ground for sustenance.

Adam and Eve passed this broken status to all of their descendants Genesis 5:3 Romans 5:12

Just like God creating Adam in His likeness gave Adam more than simple appearance, when Adam fathered Seth in his on likeness he passed on more than his appearance. Adam passed death and a broken relationship with God to his son, and all of his descendants. This necessitates a reconciliation.

What Does a Broken Relationship With God Mean?

When lost we are enemies of God Colossians 1:21

When we are lost we are controlled by our sin, and because sin is an enemy of God we are His enemies as well.

Sin controls us, so we are appointed to die and go to Hell 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

Hell is the total absence of God. Anybody in the lost state is on a direct path to Hell, as the wages of sin is death.

Reconciliation and Relationship

Jesus came to reconcile us of our sins Colossians 1:20-23

Jesus came to die on the cross specifically to reconcile us from our sins and offer us eternal life with Him. As being lost is the absence of a relationship with God, Jesus’ death offers a mended relationship, and salvation.

Jesus came to mend our relationship John 14:19-21

When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave it gave us the ability to know Him, love Him, and have a relationship with Him. This is what salvation is. Loving God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Not just a prayer.