Hey there, folks! I’m Jody Blackwelder, and I’ve got a real passion for digging into God’s Word. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on salvation, and it’s taken me on some eye-opening journeys through Scripture. I wanted to share my thoughts in this article, pulling together what salvation really means, its deep roots in the Old Testament, why we can’t lose it once we’ve got it, how to share it with others, and even touching on related questions like what Adam and Eve learned from that forbidden fruit and where souls went before Jesus came. All of this is straight from God’s Word; we stick to Scripture alone, no extras. Let’s unpack this together, shall we?

The Heart of Salvation: What It Is and Where It Came From

Salvation—now there’s a word that packs a punch. To me, it’s all about being rescued from the mess of sin, getting right with God, and securing eternal life in His presence. It’s not something we hustle for with good deeds; nope, it’s a free gift from God, grabbed hold of by faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 in the KJV says it plain: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

But salvation didn’t just pop up with Jesus in the New Testament. Oh no, its history stretches way back into the Old Testament, where God was laying the groundwork like a master builder. Right from the get-go in Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, God promised a Savior who’d crush the serpent’s head—that’s Satan. Genesis 3:15 KJV calls it out: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” That’s the first whisper of the Gospel, what folks call the protoevangelium.

God kept building on that promise through covenants. With Noah in Genesis 6:18, He saved a remnant from the flood, showing His mercy amid judgment. Then Abraham—Genesis 12:1-3 promises that through his line, all nations would be blessed, pointing straight to Jesus. The Exodus story in Exodus 14-15? That’s God freeing Israel from Egyptian slavery, a picture of salvation from sin’s chains. And don’t get me started on the sacrificial system in Leviticus—those animal offerings couldn’t fully wipe away sin (Hebrews 10:4 KJV: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins”), but they foreshadowed Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.

Prophets like Isaiah chimed in too, with Isaiah 53 describing a suffering servant who’d bear our sins, and Job 19:25 declaring faith in a living Redeemer. Even folks outside Israel were in on God’s plan, like in Isaiah 49:6 where salvation reaches all people. The Old Testament folks were saved by grace through faith in God’s promises, just like us—Abraham believed God, and it was counted as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3 KJV). All this was building up to Jesus, the big fulfillment.

What Adam and Eve Learned from the Forbidden Fruit

Speaking of Genesis, let’s talk about that Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When Adam and Eve ate from it, their eyes were opened, and they got hit with the reality of good and evil in a whole new way. Genesis 3:7 KJV says: “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” Before, they were innocent, knowing good through walking with God. But that bite brought experiential knowledge of evil—shame, sin, and separation from God. It wasn’t just book smarts; it was the hard lesson of disobedience, kicking off the need for salvation right there in Eden.

Where Souls Went Before Christ: Insights from the KJV and Baptist Beliefs

Now, this one’s a bit deeper, but stick with me. Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, where did folks’ souls head after death? According to the KJV and Baptist teaching, it was Sheol—or “hell” and “the grave” in the Old Testament translations—a kind of intermediate holding place for everyone, righteous and unrighteous alike. No one waltzed into heaven yet because Christ’s sacrifice hadn’t opened the door (Hebrews 9:8-10 KJV talks about the way not being clear until Jesus).

Sheol’s described as a shadowy spot of waiting. Psalm 16:10 KJV: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Job and Ecclesiastes paint it as a place with no work or wisdom, just rest until God’s timing. But there’s a division: the righteous chilled in comfort, called “Abraham’s bosom” or Paradise, while the wicked faced torment. Jesus’ parable in Luke 16:19-31 KJV nails this—the poor man Lazarus rests with Abraham, but the rich man suffers across a great gulf.

Baptists see this straight from Scripture: Old Testament believers like Abraham (justified by faith) waited in that comfy side until Jesus came. After His crucifixion, He descended there (1 Peter 3:18-20; Ephesians 4:8-10 KJV), proclaimed victory, and led the faithful up to heaven—what we call the Harrowing of Hell. The unrighteous stay in torment till judgment day (Revelation 20:13-14 KJV). No purgatory here—that’s not in the Bible. Salvation’s always been by faith alone, and once you’re in, you’re secure.

Why We Can’t Lose Our Salvation Once We Accept Christ

That brings me to eternal security—once saved, always saved. If you’ve truly accepted Jesus, you can’t fumble it away. It’s God’s promise, not our shaky efforts. Romans 6:23 KJV: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Gifts don’t get yanked back.

John 10:27-29 KJV has Jesus saying His sheep are safe in His hand, and no one can snatch ’em. Romans 8:38-39? Nothing separates us from God’s love. We’re sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV) as a guarantee. John 3:16 promises eternal life—eternal means forever. Sure, we mess up and need to confess (1 John 1:9), but God disciplines like a dad (Hebrews 12:6), not by kicking us out. This truth fires me up to live for Him, not slack off.

How to Witness to Non-Believers

Finally, sharing this Good News—witnessing. It’s our call from the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV). Not about shoving it down throats, but showing love in words and deeds.

Here’s how I break it down: First, value folks—listen to their stories, ask about their lives. Find common ground, like big life questions. Then gently share your testimony and the Gospel: God’s love, sin’s separation, Jesus’ death and resurrection, faith to accept. Probe with questions like “What do you think about Jesus?” Pray hard, trust the Holy Spirit, and invite ’em along if they’re open. It can be talking or just kind acts, always with respect.

Whew, that’s a lot, but it’s all connected—from Eden’s fall to eternity’s hope. If this stirs something in you, grab your Bible and dive in. God’s Word changes everything!

This lines up with Baptist teachings on faith alone and eternal security. Feel free to reach out if you’ve got questions—I’m always up for chatting Scripture.