In his book Essentials of the Christian Faith, theologian R. C. Sproul wrote about a time when a young man asked, “Are you saved?” Sproul answered, “Saved from what?” Sproul wrote, “The man was taken aback by my question. He obviously hadn’t thought much about the meaning of the question he was asking people.”[1]

If we believe that the world is a crazy confused place, if we believe the words of Isaiah, “justice is turned back and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares,” (Isaiah 59:14) are apt for today; if we believe that the darkness needs the Light, then we should not be taken aback if someone asks us what Jesus saved us from.

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

This verse makes it clear that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus. Can you give the reason why that is the case? Try to form the answer on your own without reading further. Then, consider the following talking points.

• What is salvation? Salvation is a word that expresses the idea of being rescued from a dangerous situation.
• What’s our dangerous situation? All of us are sinners (Romans 3:23), and our sin has separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2).
• What makes that a dangerous situation? God hates sin and will judge it with his eternal wrath. Our sinful state places us under his eternal judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
• But I am a good person. God will not judge me if I am good, will he? The problem is that you are a sinner and can never be good enough to be accepted by God (Isaiah 64:6). Your best attempt is still tainted by sin (Romans 3:12).
• So, I am a sinner and can do nothing about it, and God judges me. And you call him a loving God? Yes! God came in the flesh! Jesus was fully God and fully man. As a sinless human, he took God’s wrath for our sin on the cross. Since we could not pay the penalty for our sins, Jesus did it for us (Romans 6:23). One writer says it this way, “It is the Lord who saves us from the wrath of the Lord.”[2]
• If I want to be “saved,” what do I do? After you understand that you cannot save yourself, trust in Jesus as the One who took God’s wrath for sin on your behalf (1 Peter 3:18). He will provide forgiveness and the free gift of salvation (Colossians 2:13-15).

Ok, there’s certainly much more to the conversation. But that will get you started. We need to be prepared to explain the hope we have in Christ. One more thing. Be as gracious with others as God has been with you. Share with respect and gentleness (1 Peter 3:15).

Father, give us opportunities to share, gentleness from your Spirit, and respect for those who are where we used to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

[1] R. C. Sproul, Essentials of the Christian Faith (Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), 159.
[2] Ibid., 160.