While we’d love to have you visit our church, the most important thing is that your sins are forgiven, and that heaven will be your eternal home!
Most people claim to be Christians and hope they’re on their way to heaven, but the way they live their lives presents a very different reality. Since I was raised in church and even attended a Christian school, I thought I was a Christian for many years, but the reality was that I was just deceiving myself.
I told myself that I was OK. I attended church and had been baptized as a child, but something wasn’t right. I couldn’t deny the reality that my actions proved that I wasn’t a “genuine” Christian.
We can’t base our eternal destiny on tradition or only what we’ve been taught, but rather on what the Bible teaches. According to the Bible, one day we’ll all appear before God to be judged according to His Word. Heb. 9:27 We can’t just accept what’s appealing, we must find the truth as it is in the Bible!
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
That was a question asked to Paul by the Philippian Jailor Acts 16:30 Even though it happened nearly 2000 years ago, it’s still relevant today. Do you know what you must do to be saved? Are you saved already? Are you Lost? Are You Sure?
NOT TO BE DRAMATIC, BUT HEAVEN OR HELL HANGS IN THE BALANCE
First, being “saved” from hell is NOT about religion or becoming religious! It has nothing to do with attending or joining a church, being baptized, taking communion, or going through a confirmation or discipleship class.
It’s about having a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus told a religious leader of his time “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. He became a man, while still being God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He left heaven to reveal God to man and to redeem us from the penalty of our sin.
The Bible teaches that Jesus completed our salvation by His death and resurrection 3 days later. This makes heaven possible for anyone who will put their faith and trust in Jesus and His completed work. Jesus loved you so much, He was willing to give His life for you!
FOUR STEPS TO A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
1. RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
To be saved, we must admit that we are lost in our sin. The Bible teaches us that ever since Adam and Eve, a sinful nature exists in everyone. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Sin is anything contrary to God’s commandments. Adam and Eve sinned when they disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit and they were expelled from God’s presence. The sins that we’ve committed separate us from God as well. When we violate a law, there’s a penalty if we’re caught.
God sees every time we break His commandments, even if no one else does. Ecclesiastes 12:14 says: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
That’s a fearful thought!
There’s no one that can say they’ve never violated at least some of the 10 Commandments. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve violated most of them. Have you ever lied? Stolen anything? According to Jesus, looking at someone with lust is adultery of the heart Matthew 5:28. Then there is dishonoring our parents. That is just 4 of the 10 Commandments. Every honest person knows they will be guilty on judgement day!
Our sin has a penalty. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…” According to the Bible, the “wage” or penalty for sin is not only physical death but spiritual death and separation from God in hell. Psalm 9:17 says “The wicked shall be turned into hell…
2. RELIGION AND GOOD WORKS ARE NOT THE ANSWER
All religions try to create their own way to God. Our religion may seem logical, it may be our tradition, but no religion can bridge the gap created by our sin. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” In other words, our way of thinking and our religion are not what matters.
The Bible has the only answer to receiving God’s Grace and Forgiveness. The Bible says in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”.
3. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD PROVIDED THE WAY
By nature, we’re lost and separated from God. But He loves us and sent Jesus to die on the Cross and then raised Him from the dead. John 3:16 says “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.”
By His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. He took the punishment we deserve! If we will personally receive Jesus, we don’t have to pay for our own sins! By God’s Mercy, our Salvation is provided! Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth [proved] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”. So, Christ died in our place and took our punishment.
4. REPENT AND BELIEVE TO RECEIVE SALVATION
To have a relationship with God and a home in Heaven, we must turn from our sin and our efforts to save ourselves and place our full faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.
The apostle Paul preached “…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21 Jesus himself said “…repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
Repentance is not about turning over a new leaf or reforming our lifestyles. It’s a heart change about our sin. It’s seeing our sin as God sees it, and wanting deliverance from it. Proverbs 28:13 says “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Belief is more than just agreeing with some facts about Jesus. It’s relying on Jesus alone to forgive our sins, satisfy God’s wrath, and declare us righteous before God.
Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess (admit your guilt) 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 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That’s a promise from God’s Word that if you will pray to Him, admit you’re a sinner, ask for forgiveness, and trust Him to be your Savior, – then He promises to save you and give you eternal life.
You can make this decision today by praying to God in faith. Don’t put it off! No one knows what tomorrow holds.
In your own words, the best you know how, pray, and ask God to forgive you and save you. You’ll never regret that decision! A man in the Bible put it this way, he said “…God be merciful to me a sinner.” Then Jesus said: “I tell you; this man went down to his house justified…” Luke 18:13-14
If you have just trusted Christ, we would love to know about your decision and give you a Bible and some other materials to help you grow in your new relationship with Christ!