Note. At the end of this short explanation of biblical salvation is an excellent sermon entitled “The Simplicity of Salvation.”
The most important question in life is, “Are you saved?” Your eternal destiny depends upon your answer. I am not asking you if you are a church member, how good you are, or how many good deeds you have done. I am asking you if you are saved. Do you know that you will go to Heaven when you die?
In John 3:3 “Jesus [said to Nicodemus], Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”
God tells us in His Word, the Bible, how to be born again which means to be saved. He gives us His plan for salvation. You can be saved today. How?
First, you must understand that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death.“ This includes eternal separation from God in Hell: “…it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
But God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “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).For he hath made [Jesus,] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus had to shed His blood and die in order to save you. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). “…and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). My sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute..
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.
The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”… (Acts 16:30-31).
Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). “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…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10.9-10, 13). You are included. If you call upon the name of Jesus, you shall be saved.
Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.
In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just Pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was when He died on the Cross for my sins and as a substitute for me. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”
Believe, and you will be saved. Your good works, your church, nothing but Jesus can save you. Only God does the saving.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.
Stand on the unalterable promises of God. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth: Pray – you talk to God. Read your Bible – God talks to you. Witness – you talk for God.
You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, an outward profession of an inward faith. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
Then, become an active member of a Bible believing church without delay. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
Click on the following player to hear “The Simplicity of Salvation,” a sermon given by Pastor Adam Thompson on Sunday morning, May 16, 2010:
