We believe that salvation is one of the most, if not the most, and eternally important topics on can ever broach – 

We’re presenting a lot of information here – even if you’re already saved, and even if you read it in pieces, it’s worth the read. 

Please read the tabs in order from top to bottom and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to text 936-348-4716 or email salvation411 @ faithintheblood.com.

If you’re not saved, or you’re not 100% sure you are, please keep reading.

Or if you’re feeling inexplicably curious, please keep reading.

Recently, we took a deep dive into the method and mechanics of salvation, coming back to the surface with quite a reality check.

Thank you Lord.

Understanding salvation is very important: what it and how to get saved.

Like us, you may have grown up hearing that by “asking Jesus into your heart”, “repeating a prayer”, “begging God for forgiveness”, “confessing with you mouth” or if you are baptized by water you’ll be saved.

But –

None of these “methods of salvation”  will do the saving. 

You may have noticed that none of the above methods make any reference to the shed blood of Jesus, but without the blood there is no atonement, no forgiveness, no salvation. 

Period.

The Law of Context is a fundamental principal of biblical interpretation so each verse is understood within the surrounding context, or surrounding verses, rather than isolating individual verses.

This is very important!!

A lot of what the bible says is being taken, taught and preached of context. Through some of our own personal experiences and through our studies and research, we are finding that a lot of people a taking scripture and finagling it to their benefit.

But that’s not how we are supposed to be using or interpreting scripture.

Below are a couple of example of verses that are being very mis-taught and misleading a lot of people –

Romans 10:13 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In 1959 a man named Jack Hyles took this verse and started the Sinner’s Prayer movement, that if you say this prayer you’ll be saved. But he left out what’s being said before and after this verse.

This is explained in detail in the tab titled “The Perversion of Romans 10” – but please don’t jump to it, this is just a heads up, please be sure to read each tab in order from top to bottom. 

Another verse often taken out of context is –

Philipians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

In context, Paul is talking about being content in various circumstances not claiming that with Christ you will be a super-hero.

This verse is part of a larger discussion where Paul, imprisoned at the time, explains that he’s learned to be content whether he is in plenty or in want, having been hungry and well-fed. He isn’t talking about achieving personal goals, but about being sustained in his faith regardless of his situation. 

When he says “I can do all things”, he’s not referring to what he desires, he’s actually referring to the things God is calling him to do. The experiences he faces, both difficult and joyful, where he’s able to maintain spiritual stability and a faithful testimony through Christ’s strength.

The verse is an expression of a deep, learned contentment that comes from a relationship with Christ, not from external circumstances. 

It’s about finding purpose and peace in whatever God allows, rather than seeking personal gain.

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The bible in it’s entirety was inspired by God for us, but not all of it was written directly to us, different parts of the bible were written to different audiences, some to the Jews, some to the Gentiles, ie the church.

**This is a topical overview – we provide a more detailed dispensational outline in the section below titled Navigating Your Bible.

Dispensations: It’s important that we recognize the different time periods and audiences that are being spoken to, and that although the church body can use that which was not written directly to us for reference it does not specifically apply to us as guidance or direction.

Right Division: This is accurately dividing scripture per the different dispensations.

For some reason, a lot of people online are “teaching” that dispensation and rightly dividing are “wrong”, or even dangerous, which doesn’t make any sense. If you read the bible, and follow the timeline of scripture, it’s very clear that there are different time periods and different audiences during each time period making it so important to pay attention to each time period, and the intended audience so you can properly apply scripture.

OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament is a historical account inspired under the law when forgiveness required a clean animal to be sacrificed and the blood poured on the altar as an offering to God in order for a sin to be forgiven. 

Leviticus takes us through the offerings required under Mosaic Law which reveal God’s instruction for holiness, emphasizing the need for atonement, thanksgiving and purification among his people.

There’s a lot to unpack here, but what first needs to be explained is – it wasn’t just about the act of the sacrifice, it was about the blood which is explained in Leviticus 4:34, upon the sacrifice, the blood is poured on the altar as a direct offering to God.

NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament doesn’t actually start until Jesus, the testator dies, with his death on the cross and his blood being an offering to God, creating the New Testament, in turn making him the executor and mediator of our spiritual inheritance, creating and ratifying the will and covenant with which we can receive salvation and eternal life in him. 

Matthew – John, reflect the 3 1/2 years of Christ’s ministry, then the transition to the Church age in second part of Acts from Peter to Paul, who continues with his ministry in Romans through Philemon to the Gentiles ie the Church.

Then Hebrews – Jude are written to different audiences of the Jews and Revelation, which is a prophetic revelation to John having been written during the Church Age, books 1-3 regarding the church still on earth, then books 4-19 after the rapture of the Church, which is the Tribulation period, chapter 20 is the Millennial Kingdom and chapter 21-22 the eternal state.

This is a lot, but hopefully it will give you a basic outline of how to read and interpret, and use your bible. 

Now that we understand scriptural context and have a topical understanding of dispensation and right division, we know that Proverbs 3:5 does not apply to us.

Contrary to what you may have been told as a child or spent your life believing – there’s a lot more to salvation that just asking for it.

You must first understand it what it is. Paul talks a lot about the importance of undertsanding.

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

A lot of christians still believe that we have to work our way into heaven. I addressed this in the previous tab, “More about the blood in Ephesians”, but I wanted to go a little deeper into it separately since it’s such a controversial topic regarding salvation.

Again, going to context and dispensation –

In Ephesians, Paul is telling us that we are saved by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus, shed in his finished works, not of our works.

So why do so many people think we are saved by our works?

As with Romans 10:13, so are James 2:17and  James 2:26).

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

In contrast to Paul’s audience, the church, beginning in mid-Acts through Philemon, James is talking to Jews, which are two different dispensations.

In Paul’s ministry, he tells us that we are saved by faith in the finished works of Jesus, ie his death by shed blood on the cross, burial and resurrection.

If we were to believe that we have to work our way to salvation, that would me that what Jesus did wasn’t enough to get it done.

Works, once someone is truly saved, are more appropriately qualified as “fruits” of one’s salvation.

In context of the law (Old Testament), as God dealt with humanity differently that in the New Testament, post blood, so to speak, works did play a role in justification. 

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

But the blood of Jesus changed that, and now we are saved by faith in what he did, and fruits are evidence of our salvation, not the means of it, saying in Ephesians 2:10 that as we are saved we become new creatures by way of his workmanship and therefore we should walk in them, referring to good works, but are not saved because of them.

There’s a lot of information in this section, if you don’t want to read it all here are the key verses pertaining to salvation:

Romans 3:24-35
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Ephesians 2:8-9

Romans 3:22-25

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Paul explains a key point of salvation in Romans 3:25 saying Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Propitiation means to substitution, the act of appeasing God’s wrath, that Jesus took our place as the atoning sacrifice offered to God.

He explains further in –

Romans 5:9 

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Understanding the blood atonement –

It’s imperative to understand that in the Old Testament when an animal was sacrificed the blood was poured on the altar as a direct offering to God, when Jesus died a bloody death on the cross, he was made the ultimate and atoning sacrifice.

Without the shedding of his blood there is no atonement, no remission of sin, no redemption.

But receiving the atonement is not something that happens by default just because Jesus died on the cross, salvation doesn’t just happen by default simply because his blood was shed.

As explained earlier, it’s a transaction that we have to accept by having faith in the blood to receive salvation, by believing he died a bloody death so his blood could forgive our sins, so it could wash them away, so we could be justified God, in Christ’s blood.

But we have to accept the transaction for it to be fully executed in our salvation.

When you hear the term “blood bought” or “bought by the blood”, that’s what it’s referring to.

Continuing in Romans chapter 10 is where things got really murky in 1959 when Jack Hyles took verse 13 totally out of context and introduced  the “Sinner’s Prayer based only on  –

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Reading just this verse alone has had a lot of people believing that all they have to do is call upon the name of Jesus, brought on by a movement started by a then IFB preacher named Jack Hyles (Chicago, 1959-2001) who stopped the fundamental preaching of the blood atonement, and started the Sinner’s Prayer movement based only on Romans 10:13, and what’s so sad is that it was taken out of context and therefore didn’t and still doesn’t save anyone. Taking into consideration the Law of Context, the text, Romans 10:8-17 explains that one must not only confess with thy mouth but must also believe with thy heart, having faith in that God raised Jesus from the dead; that you must not just confess with your mouth, you must also believe.

But, taking into consideration the Law of Context, in reading verses 8-10:

⁸ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Then verses 14-17

¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Following Romans, we find the gospel – this is a must in understanding salvation – when Paul explains after having received it by revelation from Jesus Christ, 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how⁽¹⁾ that Christ⁽²⁾ died for our sins⁽³⁾ according to the scriptures⁽⁴⁾;

⁴ And that he was buried⁽⁵⁾, and that he rose again⁽⁶⁾ the third day according to the scriptures⁽⁷⁾:

Paul goes on to say in verses 15-17 –

¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Then we have –

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.tells us that in salvation we become new creatures in

The take away from which is, as new creations in Christ, we are a masterpiece intended for good works, not to be misunderstood that we are saved because of good works, but that good works, or fruits, are a byproduct of having been saved.

Ephesians 1:7 
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

> Bood

Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

> Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:8-10 
⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are saved by God’s grace through faith, the shed blood of Jesus being the object of our faith. (Romans 3:25)goes on to explain how we are saved, and how we are not. We are not saved by works.

Works vs Fruit

In the KJV Bible, “works” and “fruit” are distinct: “works of the flesh” are sinful actions or those driven by self-interest, for recognition by others, while the “fruit” is of the Spirit”

The verse identifies people as God’s “workmanship” or “masterpiece,” emphasizing that they are intentionally and uniquely created by Him. This new creation is a result of being “in Christ Jesus,” highlighting the transformative power of a new life found through faith.

This means salvation is a gift received by God’s grace, not earned by good works, but it results in a new life where fruits are the expression of that new, transformed life

His blood being the object of our faith, the atonement for our sins, his blood is what bought us, by his blood offering is how we are forgiven and cleansed of our sins, it is how we are saved, therefore it is what we must have faith in (Romans 3:25).

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

Tying it all together –

> Romans 3:24-25

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

> Romans 5:9 

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

> 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how⁽¹⁾ that Christ⁽²⁾ died for our sins⁽³⁾ according to the scriptures⁽⁴⁾;

⁴ And that he was buried⁽⁵⁾, and that he rose again⁽⁶⁾ the third day according to the scriptures⁽⁷⁾:

> 1 Corinthians 15:15-17

¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

> 2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.tells us that in salvation we become new creatures in

> Ephesians 1:7 

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

> Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.