GOD’S WORD EXPLAINS THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION

Jesus said in John 3:3, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Salvation is the issue: The most important question you will ever ask yourself is this: "Do I know for certain that I have eternal life, and that I will go to heaven when I die?"

If you stood before God right now, and God asked, "Why should I let you into my Heaven?," what would you say? Are you hoping you are good enough to get in?

The Bible describes the truth of our condition: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Just as a job pays a wage at the end of the week, our sins will yield a result at the end of a lifetime: "For the wages of sin is death (the Bible describes this as separation from God, the punishment of hell), but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

God’s love for you personally is shown by His provision for your need: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Salvation requires repentance, which means a "turning." Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). The New Testament emphasizes the necessity of repentance and salvation: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." (Acts 3:19).

Every one of us has sinned, and the Bible says that our sins must be dealt with. We have a two-fold sin problem. We are sinners by birth, and we are sinners by choice. The Bible tells us, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).  Someone once spoke with evangelist Dr. Vance Havner, "This thing about man’s sin nature, I find that hard to swallow!" Dr. Havner explained the Scripture by saying, "You don’t have to swallow it - you’re born with it, it’s already in you."

The world classifies sin and views some things as worse than others. But the Bible teaches that all sin is an offense against God, and even one sin is serious enough to keep some one out of Heaven. You may not have robbed a bank, or maybe you have. God doesn’t grade on a curve; humanity is a tainted race, and sin is the problem.

Oftentimes in life, we know what is right, but we do what is wrong. You may have even looked back at yourself and wondered, "What was I thinking? Why did I do that? How could I have said that?" Jesus said that man needs to repent, and make a change. Repentance means turning from your sins, and to Christ. By faith, trust who Jesus is (God's Son; mankind’s Savior), and what Jesus did (died in your place, and rose from the dead).

God's forgiveness is received by faith. We are to confess our faith before others, not ashamed to let the world know that we believe in Jesus: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).

What is faith? Faith is trust. It is simple, honest, child-like trust. God says that you have a sin problem, but that He loves you, and will forgive you. God says that through Jesus Christ, He has made a way for anyone to be saved who will come to Him. Do you trust what God has said, and what God has done? If you come to Christ in belief and faith, God promises to save you: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Jesus promises: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

Make your journey to the cross today.  Accept Him as the God's only way of salvation.  Pray from your heart this basic prayer of commitment:

"Dear God, I know that I have sinned, and I cannot save myself. I believe that you are the Son of God, and that you died and rose again for me, to forgive my sins, and to be my Savior. I turn from my sins, and I ask you to forgive me. I receive you into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Jesus, thank you for saving me now. Help me to live the rest of my life for you. Amen."

GOD’S WORD GIVES YOU ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

You can overcome doubts about where you stand with God. Based on what God’s Word says (not what you feel, or assume), you can know that you have eternal life: "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:12-13).

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). Remember: You are not saved by good works, and you are not "kept saved" by good works. Your merit before God is totally based on Jesus; His perfection, holiness, and righteousness is credited to each one who believes by faith.