What Must I do to be Saved?
This is a famous question that was asked 2,000 years ago by the jailer who had been charged with keeping Paul and Silas in prison. The answer they gave is found in Acts 16:31 when they said “…BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED….”! The really exciting thing is that this same answer is as relevant and accurate today as it was 2,000 years ago.
Now you may be asking “why must I be saved” or “what exactly must I be saved from”? The answer to those questions is also found in scripture. In Romans 3:23 we are told that “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD”. Everyone, even if you are a “good person” and just told one little “white lie” when you were a child, you are still a sinner and sin requires punishment. The bible teaches that all of us our born with a sin nature and therefore we are separated from GOD by that sin. The just punishment for our sin is death, from which we need to be saved. The good news is that Romans 6:23 tells us that “…the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Salvation is a free gift from GOD which we can ALL receive! The price has already been paid, we just need to receive this amazing, free gift!
You see, GOD sent HIS son, JESUS, who came in human flesh, lived among mankind and willingly became the sacrifice for our sins. He allowed HIMSELF to be crucified on a cross so that HE could pay the penalty our sins deserved. Jesus’ death on the cross was the PERFECT and COMPLETE payment for our sins (1 John 2:2). As an old song once said, “HE paid a DEBT HE did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay.” The best part is that three days later, JESUS ROSE from the grave and HE is still alive today interceding for us at the right hand of the father. (Romans 8:34)
Accepting this free gift from GOD is as simple as doing the following:
If you have just followed these steps, I say to you “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY”! Remember, this salvation that you now have is not something to be taken lightly. It is not something that you earned or received because of the great things you have done, it is a FREE GIFT that you received all because of what JESUS has done. This is why we say that Salvation comes through GRACE alone through FAITH alone in JESUS CHRIST alone!
If you have not made this decision yet, I would say “what are you waiting for”? Don’t wait until it is too late…choose today whom you will serve!
If you have followed this path for salvation, don’t be shy, tell someone today and share the good news of salvation!
Now you may be asking “why must I be saved” or “what exactly must I be saved from”? The answer to those questions is also found in scripture. In Romans 3:23 we are told that “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD”. Everyone, even if you are a “good person” and just told one little “white lie” when you were a child, you are still a sinner and sin requires punishment. The bible teaches that all of us our born with a sin nature and therefore we are separated from GOD by that sin. The just punishment for our sin is death, from which we need to be saved. The good news is that Romans 6:23 tells us that “…the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Salvation is a free gift from GOD which we can ALL receive! The price has already been paid, we just need to receive this amazing, free gift!
You see, GOD sent HIS son, JESUS, who came in human flesh, lived among mankind and willingly became the sacrifice for our sins. He allowed HIMSELF to be crucified on a cross so that HE could pay the penalty our sins deserved. Jesus’ death on the cross was the PERFECT and COMPLETE payment for our sins (1 John 2:2). As an old song once said, “HE paid a DEBT HE did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay.” The best part is that three days later, JESUS ROSE from the grave and HE is still alive today interceding for us at the right hand of the father. (Romans 8:34)
Accepting this free gift from GOD is as simple as doing the following:
- ADMIT THAT YOU ARE A SINNER: We need to admit that each of us is a sinner, just as it says in scripture (see Rom 3:10, Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23). This is not just a simple acknowledgment, but a true heartfelt conviction through the realization that we have sinned against a HOLY GOD and we deserve the punishment our sins require. It is at this point with true godly sorrow that we need to repent and ask GOD to change our heart and mind!
- BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY: If you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead you are fulfilling the requirement spoken of in Acts 16:31. You need to trust with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is exactly who He said that He was. This saving faith produces real trust that JESUS is truly your Savior!
- CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD: Romans 10:9-10 tells us that a sincere confession literally “seals the deal”. It is like putting your signature on an important document. This is really all about trusting JESUS with all of your heart and then living in a way that brings GLORY to GOD and allows others to see the change in you!
If you have just followed these steps, I say to you “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY”! Remember, this salvation that you now have is not something to be taken lightly. It is not something that you earned or received because of the great things you have done, it is a FREE GIFT that you received all because of what JESUS has done. This is why we say that Salvation comes through GRACE alone through FAITH alone in JESUS CHRIST alone!
If you have not made this decision yet, I would say “what are you waiting for”? Don’t wait until it is too late…choose today whom you will serve!
If you have followed this path for salvation, don’t be shy, tell someone today and share the good news of salvation!