Salvation

Getting saved is the best decision you’ll ever make.

By this point in your life, you’ve probably discovered from personal experience that all roads do not lead to God.

You know there are no easy answers to life’s difficult questions, and you know you have spiritual needs. Perhaps you’ve said to yourself: “There must be more to life than I’ve experienced!”

Getting saved:
What do I have to do?

Getting saved is a free gift, from God to us, that includes forgiveness of our sins, eternal life and guaranteed entrance into heaven through Jesus Christ.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

We are all sinners, and God cannot allow sin into heaven, so God provided a way to deal with our sins.

God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sins by shedding His blood. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all the wrath of God against our sins. Jesus died as us for us because He was our Substitute. He was buried in the garden tomb, and then God raised Jesus from the dead.

Here are the facts:

1. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins.

2. Jesus was buried for your sins.

3. Jesus arose from the dead on the third day.

4. Jesus was seen by hundreds of eyewitnesses.

You can read about that in 1 Corinthians 15:1–8. By sending Jesus to pay for our sins and by accepting the payment Jesus made, God has a righteous basis to forgive our sins and save our souls, so that we can go to heaven. By raising Jesus from the dead, God testified that He accepted the payment Jesus made for your sins.

Since God is satisfied with the payment Jesus made for your sins, you should be satisfied with it too. Then, when you trust Jesus and God saves you, your sins are forgiven and removed, and you have a spotlessly clean record. But in order to receive this free gift of salvation, you need to accept Jesus as your Savior, in this life.

You cannot earn your salvation.

Salvation is a free gift. It cannot be earned by doing good works, joining the church, getting baptized, cleaning up your life, turning from your sins or being a good person.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9

We are saved by the grace of God through faith when we repent—change our minds and view our sin the way God views it—and trust that Jesus paid for our sins on the Cross.

You are a “Whosoever,”
so salvation is for you.

Jesus loves you and took your place on the Cross to pay for your sins. That’s what getting saved is all about.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

I hope it is absolutely clear, despite what you may have been told, that when we’re talking about getting saved, “whosoever” means anyone, and that includes you!

No one is excluded from God’s invitation. Whosoever will, may come. It doesn’t say, “Whosoever believes in Him, except so and so….”

God will save anyone and everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. There are no exceptions. God’s invitation is open to all people.

No matter who you are, no matter what sins you have committed, Jesus died to pay for your sins and give you a fresh start—a new life—if you trust Him. Will you trust Jesus to save you from sin, hell and the wrath of God?

The empty tomb is God’s promise that He accepted Jesus' blood as full payment for our sins.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

You are a whosoever, and God offers His free gift of salvation to you. God is willing to make a 180-degree turn in your life if you are willing to trust Him. How about it?

Jesus came to save,
not to judge.

Most people know John 3:16 by heart, but they almost never quote the next two verses.

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:17

God sent Jesus into the world to save it, not to condemn it or judge it. But don't get the wrong idea. We are sinful people and we do need to be saved. The reason Jesus didn't condemn the world was that God had already condemned it. Notice what the next verse says.

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

According to the Bible, everyone who has not believed in Jesus as their Savior is already condemned. If you don’t want to stay condemned, you need to trust Jesus Christ as the One who paid for your sins on the cross.

If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you will not be judged or condemned because Jesus has already suffered the judgment and condemnation of God in your place. Jesus paid the price for your sins that you couldn’t afford to pay.

God wants you to
know that you’re saved.

“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 5:13

Here’s the big question.

Would you like to know for sure that your sins are forgiven?

Would you like to know that you are right with God and that He accepts you into His family?

Right now would be a great time to pray and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior. You can pray in your own words. Just tell Jesus you are a sinner and you want Him to save you.

Now that I've trusted Jesus,
what do I do?

It will help you grow in knowledge and joy to read the New Testament. Start your reading in the Gospel of John.

After you’ve read the Gospel of John, start reading the Gospel of Matthew. Read a few pages a day, a few minutes a day, and you will be surprised how much you grow in knowledge and love for Jesus.

When you finish reading the Gospel of Matthew, continue reading the New Testament. Read Mark and Luke and then John again and on through till you finish up in the book of Revelation.

Underline or highlight verses that seem to speak to you. Write down questions that occur to you as you read. Your wonderful adventure with God is just beginning.

1. Read your Bible, especially the New Testament.

2. Pray to Jesus and ask Him to give you wisdom and understanding.

3. Obey what you read in the Bible.

4. Live for Jesus every day.

5. Tell others about Jesus.

6. Find a good Bible-teaching, disciple-making church where you can grow in Jesus.

7. Enjoy the adventure of being a disciple of Jesus for the rest of your life!