by John V. Cordaro

'Saved from what?' would be a logical response. The answer to both questions is
found in the Bible. Let's read what our Creator inspired men to write concerning
this issue.

The prophet Isaiah wrote;

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your Mighty One, and your
sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" (Is.59:2).

Sin has caused a separation between our Creator, Almighty Yahweh, and
ourselves. And what is sin?

"Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of
the law" (1Jn.3:4).

When a person breaks Yahweh's laws he sins and subjects himself to the death
penalty;

"For the wages (payment) for sin is death" (Rom.6:23a).

Our loving Creator has provided a way of escape from this death penalty if we will
accept it. That way is through His only begotten Son, Yahshua the Messiah.

"For Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn.3:16).

"He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son
shall not see life; but the wrath of Yahweh abides on him" (Jn.3:36).

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Master Yahshua, and shalt believe in
thine heart that Yahweh hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved"
(Rom.10:9).

A person must believe that Yahshua is the Son of Yahweh and that he is the only
means through which we can be saved from the death penalty. This is made clear
reading the full text of Rom.6:23;

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life through
Yahshua the Messiah our Master."
How can we receive this gift of eternal life instead of eternal death?

"If we confess our sins, He [Yahweh] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1Jn.1:9).

To "confess our sins" means to pray to Almighty Yahweh, our Creator, expressing
sorrow at transgressing His laws (doing things that displease Him), and having the
assurance that He will forgive our sins. The Bible calls this process, "repentance."
The Apostle Peter said, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name
of Yahshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). If one sincerely
repents, he will no longer continue to commit the same sins that he did prior to
repentance. A thief should steal no more; a liar will no longer lie, etc.

As we continue to grow in the knowledge of the truth and learn what our Creator's
will is and what His laws are, we will naturally show the result of our repentance
and Yahweh's forgiveness by doing good works.

". . .that they should repent and turn to Yahweh, and do works meet for
repentance" (Acts 26:20).

As Peter said, there is one more thing to do after repenting of our sins. We must
be "baptized" or totally immersed under water, in the name of Yahshua, as a
symbolic picture of our participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of our
Savior.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahshua Messiah were
baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom.6:3,4).

Through baptism, we symbolically illustrate the death of who we use to be (our
"old man") by burying it under water. We then rise up from the watery grave
symbolizing our resurrection from the dead and a new life in accordance with our
Heavenly Father's will.

This freedom from the death penalty that our Creator is giving us is a free gift and
is possible for all men.

"Yahweh is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but
is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance" (2Pe.3:9).

Repentance and baptism will result in a vibrant faith in Yahweh and in what
Yahshua has accomplished for us by his death. Without such faith, it is impossible
to please Yahweh as we read in Heb.11:6;

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to Yahweh must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

Take hold of the free gift of salvation and eternal life that your Creator is offering
to you while it is on your heart and mind. The cares of this world with all its
distractions and lures will easily prevent you from making such a decision in the
future. Now is the time to decide between life or death.
What Must We Do To Be Saved?