Are you a good person — good enough to get to heaven? Many people would answer “yes.”
So who needs a Savior?
The answer is: “We all do!” because we were all born with a sin nature that makes us unfit for heaven.
Now let’s think about “heaven” for a moment and what we know about it —
If this is God’s dwelling place and God is holy (exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one “perfect in goodness and righteousness”), then we should be able to understand that no sin can reside there.
Now let’s think about ourselves for a moment . . . our thoughts, our actions, what we say, how we go through life each day, how we treat others around us, at home, at work, etc . . . need I go on? If we are truly honest with ourselves it should be plain to see that, (as sinners) in our present state, none of us can rightfully say we deserve to be in heaven.
Because we are sinners, nothing that we do is good enough to bring us closer to God. BUT there is something we can RECEIVE!
What must we receive?
The only thing a sinner can receive is God’s gracious gift of salvation which is through a true relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. “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)
This relationship with Jesus Christ unto salvation comes about through sincere repentance (a change of mind about Christ) and the possession of genuine faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation as we read in the Holy Scriptures, according to texts such as Romans 10:8-13:
“But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Sincere belief in this Romans’ text is not just a repetition of words or merely a simple, standardized prayer. Sincere belief brings forth a genuine relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ, unto salvation through the Gospel. This Gospel unto salvation is clearly defined in I Corinthians 15:1-4:
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
A - Agree with God that you have broken His law and have sinned.
B - Believe that Jesus Christ alone (His death, burial, and resurrection) is the only way you can be forgiven. (Not by baptism, communion, church membership, good works, etc.)
C - Call on the Lord Jesus Christ and put your trust in Him today for your forgiveness.
Can you sincerely pray something like this? "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for my sin, and that You rose again from the dead. I know that I am a sinner, and I ask You now to be my Savior and Lord of my life. I'm placing my trust for forgiveness in You alone, and I accept Your gift of eternal life. Amen."
If you prayed that with a sincere heart, you have been saved!
- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
- “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
- “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
- “For ‘whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:13
- Romans 3:23
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,
- 2 Timothy 3:2-5 (list of sins)
- Titus 3:3-7
- Romans 6:23
- Romans 10:8-13
- Acts 4:10-12
- Hebrews 12:23
- Isaiah 1:18