A. The forgiveness of sins and salvation mean the same thing. We can easily understand this when we realize our origin.

The salvation we need is the forgiveness of sins

The word "salvation" means the act of saving someone from risk, harm, or destruction. Helping a person who is suffering from sickness to be healed or rescuing someone who is in danger of losing his or her life is also a type of salvation. However, the salvation that God provides is not of the body, but of the soul, and the salvation of our souls is also the goal of our faith.

1 Pe 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The fact that we must receive the salvation of our souls means that our souls are in a difficult or dangerous situation. The danger which our souls are faced with is eternal death which is a result of our sin.

Ro 3:9-10 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one . . ."

Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We human beings are destined to eternal death because of our sins. Therefore, we need the forgiveness of sins above everything else. Without receiving the forgiveness of sins, we cannot avoid the punishment of eternal death.


Angels who are cast out of heaven because of sin

According to the Biblical records, the reason why all people have to die is primarily attributed to Adam''s sin.

Ro 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned . . .

If we only read this verse, we may mistakenly think it is unfair that we must all die because of Adam''s sin. However, Adam''s sin is representative of our sin committed in heaven.

Eze 28:12-17 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; . . . You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.'' "

The above verses show that the king of Tyre was a cherub in Eden, the garden of God, before he was cast down to the earth. Besides, there are many more verses showing that we were angels in heaven before we were driven out from heaven because we had committed grave sins (Isa 14:12-15; Rev 12:7-9). Adam and Eve violated God''s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and as a result they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Ultimately, this historical event shows that we committed the same kind of sin in heaven and were cast down to the earth. In other words, Adam''s sin represents our sin committed in heaven, and the fact that we are all mortal because of Adam''s sin means that we sinned the same way Adam did, so that we would receive the punishment of eternal death.


The forgiveness of sins, granted by Christ

We are grave sinners sentenced to death on a charge of high treason against God in heaven. However, if someone sacrifices his life as a substitute for a sinner''s life, although the sinner is destined to die, that sinner can be forgiven for his or her sins (1Ki 20:42; Heb 9:22).

Christ came to this earth as "the one to save his people from their sins," and sacrificed Himself as a ransom for our sins to save us (Mt 1:21; Mt 20:28). By shedding His precious blood on the cross, He paid the price for our grave sins, so that we would receive salvation, the forgiveness of sins, which we desire so eagerly (Isa 53:5-6; Rev 1:5).

1 Ti 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .

Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God''s grace . . .

The forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ is not something that we can receive by just believing that our sins are forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, just as many people do. In order to receive the blessing of the complete forgiveness of our sins, we must participate in the blood of Christ and the way to take part in His blood is to celebrate the Passover of the New Covenant (1 Co 10:16).

When Jesus celebrated the Passover, He gave His disciples wine to drink, saying, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt 26:17, 26-28). If we believe in these words of Jesus and keep the Passover that He established as the new covenant, we can truly receive the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of our souls.

God came to this earth to give the forgiveness of sins to us, sinners from heaven, so that we would escape the punishment of eternal death and enjoy everlasting happiness in heaven, our home. Remembering the noble sacrifice and love of Elohim who left the glory of heaven, suffered all kinds of hardships and insults, and even gave up Their lives for us, we have to preach the New Covenant Passover throughout the world.