Hebrews 11:29
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
We believe God has brought his people out of bondage in Egypt by opening the Red Sea for them to walk across it.
John 20:29
... Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Now if anyone in Egypt did not think of himself as a slave, of what use would it be to hear Him who has made Himself known as the one who was able to bring his people from under the yoke of the Egyptians? They were certainly slaves who had been delivered (set free to serve God).
Exodus 8:1
Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.
So these people knew they were in bondage in Egypt. They had no doubt about that so they also understood what it would mean to be delivered (saved): they would no longer be serving the Egyptians and calling them their masters. But they would be serving Yahweh, the God of Israel and calling Him their Lord and Savior.
In the same manner, when Jesus came to bring salvation to his people and opening up to them the kingdom of God, it was out of a bondage situation as well.
Luke 1:68-75
68 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation (his Son Jesus) for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
And the enemy was sin (not the Romans who were ruling over the Jews at the time of Jesus' ministry). It was not a secret what He would come into the world to do, as this was announced to Joseph:
Matthew 1:21
And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
Here is an exchange between Jesus and some of those who heard Him on that truth of being a slave to sin but who rejected his words:
John 8:31-34
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
So someone who is in bondage and does not know it or denies the truth of it will not see what he needs to be saved from, and if there is talk of "salvation", it has to be something else than what God has offered through the sacrifice of his Son who died and was resurrected to give eternal life to those who would come to Him and be his disciples.
The conscience of sin is something that every person has. Just look at people shutting their ears when the word of God is spoken. Look at people being cautious not to offend their friends with what they know God has said. That is a light that someone has on the fact that he has a sin problem in his own life that needs to be addressed. But that light itself is not a force that will coerce anyone to go one way or the other. The choice to come to God must be made from a good and honest heart who receives his word and who will follow his ways in loving obedience.
Being a slave to sin then is being under the power of the devil and doing his will (following his ways and serving him – not serving God). So salvation is the means by which someone can be brought from under the power of Satan and so be set free (saved) to serve God. That was clearly communicated to Paul (Saul) when Jesus appeared to him to give him his mission, as he is reporting to king Agrippa:
Acts 26:13-18
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. 16 But rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in which I will appear to you; 17 Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
That purpose of preaching the gospel is what servants of God will endeavor to make known:
2 Timothy 2:24-26
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
That is done by the power of God, not with one's own strength or by standing on academic qualifications with best intentions or not. God and his ways must be known, even by his own teaching and revelation of Himself (John 14:21; Hebrews 8:11-12; 1 John 2:27).
But false prophets will be busy with other agendas. Beware of false prophets!
See Acts 20:29; Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 1:4; Revelation 2:20.
There is no way Paul or Peter went about telling people that Jesus loved them and leading them to say a prayer to "accept the Lord" and be saved right then, and not letting them know that they were guilty before God because they were sinners, that they were in bondage to their sins and that there was a Good News of deliverance from that bondage of sin that brings sure death. There is no way. These apostles were faithful to the words of their Master Jesus that they had learned first-hand from, and they called people to repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
Luke 24:46-47
46 And He (Jesus) said to them, "Thus it is written, for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance leading to forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Now people hear, "Your sins are forgiven at the cross" (even your "past, present and future sins") and never hear anything about repentance leading to forgiveness of sins and deliverance from sin. There is no personal responsibility laid upon anyone to come before God to get right with Him. No, it's "Just trust that you were made right with God 2000 years ago. Just believe that and you are good." These are lies.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And the Holy Spirit will bring that conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8), which leads to repentance when the hearer receives the word with humility and has the fear or God, which is wisdom (Proverbes 9:10; Job 28:28). Consider the effect of Paul giving the gospel to governor Felix:
Acts 24:24-25
24 After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
That is the truth at work. But God's word can fall on the side of the road (Luke 8:12), on rocky ground (Luke 8:13), among thorns (Luke 8:14) or in good ground (Luke 8:15). The truth will make its way as far as it can, that is, as much as someone will receive it (John 1:11-13). That is like light coming into a dark room as much as windows will be opened to let it come in. So repeating a "sinner's prayer" is not a magic formula to make every heart be a "good ground" that will receive the word with humility (James 1:21-22) while skipping repentance. The Holy Spirit does not minister to people through lies – only when the truth is spoken, whoever it may offend.
Matthew 11:6
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
God resists the proud who will harden their hearts at hearing his word, but He gives grace to the humble, even the grace that brings salvation:
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Let's hear Him.
John 6:63
It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. (John 14:6)
Strive to enter in through the narrow door; for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able. (Luke 13:24)
Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. 14 How narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way that leads to life. Few are those who find it.
See also:
Freedom From Sin
Is Repentance Just a Change if Mind?
The Goal of Repentance - video
Condition to Remain in the Book of Life
Can You Lose Your Salvation?
Forgiveness of Sins Is Not Something You Just Claim
True Repentance and Faith by MD - video
How Do We Know That We Love God
Complete Surrender - video
