The entire question of salvation centers around three concepts.  Grace, faith and works.  How does a person get there?  What is salvation?  Where does it begin?  Salvation from what?

I love the answer to these questions in Ephesians 2:8-10  " For by grace you are saved through faith; and that is not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any one should boast.   For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them (good works)."

First, we all have a concept of good, and "not good".  Righteous, and unrighteous.  Holy, and evil.  It is all based on knowing good and not doing it.  Or knowing wrong, and choosing wrong.  The core dichotomy is rebellion from the good and attraction to the bad.  We have a character of rebellion against authority.  We have a character of disobedience--if we know the rule.  If we know what the best path is, we sometimes choose not to take it.  God calls it sin.

The Bible says: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:23
So in the character of the human soul is a desperate need.  We need to be saved from ourselves.  And obviously, we can't do it.  And all of the good works in the world can't change our basic nature.  We are always one step away from fulfilling our natural character.  We need something.  We need God.

But to find God, you have to believe there is a God.  This is the question of the ages.  You will have to wade through that for yourselves.  But for me, as a scientist, there is no question.  I gave you my credentials when I started writing 370 plus entries ago.  Go back and read that if you want.  The physics, mathematics, biology and statistics all point to a supreme creator.  The great "I am".  The force behind the beginning, or the "big bang" or whatever you choose to call it.

That is faith.  That is where salvation begins.  But that is the first step.  You have to go further than just believing there is a God.   Paul says in his letter to the Romans that we have come short.

Short of what?  Paul answers and says we are short of God's glory.   What exactly is that!!! (Continued)