Salvation is most popularly know as being saved from something.  In Christ it is simply being saved from the penalty of sin.  In other words, no longer deserving or receiving  the reward of death for committing sins against God.

That statement alone ruffles the feathers of many people, ministers, theologians and grates at the fabric of what we have been trained to believe from childhood.  It contrasts the logical senses and perks our rage at even thinking we would be set free from any judgment or penalty for the commission of sin.  How could this ever be accepted??

This is the question salvation answers.  And the answer is the last statement cried out from the cross of our Lord Christ Jesus.  "It is finished!"  

IT IS FINISHED!

What exactly did He mean?  And what does that have to do with salvation?

It simple means that Jesus became sin for us and suffered the penalty of sin in our place.  He put an end to all that stands between us being able to enter into the life of Christ and be restored to our originally intended state of living.  In order to be restored to spiritual life in Christ, Jesus had to remove the barrier which was created through the actions of Adam and Eve in the Garden.  We are no longer bound by sin to be condemned and die in our sin.  

So, Who does that apply to?

Everyone.  All creation has been freed from sin by the death of Jesus Christ.  Death has been swallowed up and sin with it.  No longer are we separated from the life God intended for us to have.  No longer are we enemies of God. 

If there is no penalty for sin then then isn't that like saying we can just go out and sin all we want and not be any worse off than if we didn't sin?  Isn't that just giving us license to sin all we want?

I guess that's a narrow way of looking at what Jesus did for us because of His unending love for us.  I think a better response might be a life long "Thank you Lord!" rather than "What sin can I commit now?"  It perhaps show that we really don't understand the magnitude of the love of God and the work of the cross.  Perhaps we need to look at the next step and realize that the work Jesus did on the cross alone does not give us eternal life with God in heaven.  It it the necessary step for freeing us to make that decision.  

What else do I need to do to have eternal life with God in Heaven?

God created us as individuals with two halves.  One is an earthly half and the other is a spiritual half.  We are only half born when we are physically delivered from our mothers.  There is a spiritual side of us that is still born and in need of life.  That life can only come through the Lord Jesus Christ.  He fills us up with His spiritual life and makes a whole being.  One with Him and the Father.  It is only because Jesus removed the wall between us and God that we can now come before the throne of God and receive eternal life.  When we see Jesus Christ only as a sacrifice for sin and not the Life of God living in us we miss the opportunity to spend eternity with Him.  We miss the mark!

How do I know that I have received eternal life with God?

Jesus tells us that we will know.  The Holy Spirit will make it know to us and we will experience the life of Jesus Christ working through us.  When we surrender all we are and all we know to the keeping and working of the Lord, we submit ourselves to His direction and understanding.  He becomes our Life and the reason for living.  We see all around us differently.  We learn to trust and believe in Him for all we need.  Our minds become renewed and our thinking changes.  We become ever thankful and faithful to who Jesus is and what He has made us to be.

So, what happens if I fall or fail and do something that I know is wrong?

When I fall down on the pavement and bloody myself I most usually feel the pain of the fall, cry, look for comfort and then stand back up again.  I get my wounds mended and make note of that spot that caused me to fall, so I don't do that again, and then I go on.  It is the same with the Life of the Lord.  We are His Bride and nothing is going to change that.  We are going to make mistakes, mostly because of old habits and the nature of the flesh.  But, Jesus does not leave us or send us away.  He is there to help us, love us and guide us back up to see Him and walk with Him in spiritual life.  We haven't lost a thing.  We are forgiven and clean because of the work He has already done.

Now what?

OK.  What do you want to do?  Look at what Jesus has shown us through the history of the early church.  Look at what the believers did after He ascended into heaven.  See what He is directing you to do today.  Look for those that love Jesus and want to be the Bride.  Those that want to be one with one another and one with the Lord.  Live each day as you see the Lord guiding you.  Spend as much time as you can with those that are in love with Jesus and live their lives being the Bride of Christ.  Make friends with those that are the friends of Jesus.  Do everything you can to live each moment as the Holy Spirit directs you to.  Jesus is trustworthy and loves you and gave His life for you.  Everyone else may fail you but Jesus will not!  Love Him, trust Him and let His life live in and through you.  Be available to Him for whatever He directs you to do, think or say.  Submit your life to Him.  He is much more capable of determining who, what, where, and how you should live than you or anyone else might think.