Over the past couple of weeks we have been looking at the "Causes of Salvation." We have noticed that God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit all are causes of our salvation. Today we will notice another "cause of salvation."
The Word of God is also a cause of salvation. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy explaining to him how important the word of God is and from where it comes. He said, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:15 - 17). Notice the scriptures are able to make one wise unto salvation. It is through the written word man can find out what is required of him by God. That is why Paul could say the word is profitable to the man of God. Man left to alone could not find his way to God. He might worship something as men have down through time, but he would not know for sure he was doing the things required by God. Therefore the word is profitable for doctrine, to show exactly what God desires.
Paul also said the word was profitable for reproof and correction. This comes as a surprise to some, when they realize that man needs to be told he has done something wrong. Their thought is that as long as man does something "religious" he is alright. This has never been the case, God sent prophet after prophet to His people to tell them to come back to Him. They had started doing things their own way and God was not pleased. When the prophets told the people they were doing things the wrong way they also told them how to correct the problem. It is the same for man today. God’s word teaches us what to do religiously, it points out to man that not all things are right, just because they are done in the name of religion (Matt. 7:21 - 23) and then it shows man how to correct the problem.
The word of God allows us to know just how God’s plan for man’s salvation came about, and how it works. From the time of Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden of Eden, God has planned for man to be able to be saved. Again the apostle Paul helps us to understand the magnificent plan of God. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:8 - 11).
By studying the word God has given us we can come to know that we can be saved by obeying the gospel of Christ. The word produces faith (Rom. 10:17) tells man to repent (Acts 2:38) tells man to confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37) and to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).