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HOW TO BE SAVED
God created man
to Honor, Serve, and Fellowship with Him. The Bible says in Rev. 4:11 “Thou art worthy,
O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” If God’s purpose is for man to Honor, Serve and Fellowship
with Him/then what happened that destroyed this perfect relationship? It was
man’s problem: SIN.
Man chose to sin against God
rather than serve Him. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “ For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;”
What does it mean to sin against
God? Sin is breaking God’s law. We sin by doing what God said not to do or
by not doing what God has told us to do.
1 John 3:4 “ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law”.
The Bible
says “For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
Romans 6:23
When man chose to disobey God, the result was death. The basic meaning of death is separation. The Bible teaches that there are three types of death, or separation , that result from sin.
Spiritual death separates a person from the life of God. Ephes. 2:1 “ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
Physical death separates a person’s soul from his or her body. Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Eternal death separates a person, both soul and body, from God forever in hell. Rev. 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”.
Then how can we have eternal life? Throughout history individuals have tried many ways to gain or earn eternal life through their good works, through their religion, their money or by being morally good, but every attempt has been unsuccessful. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12 “ There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
And in Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Because God requires payment for sins, we needed a sacrifice and that sacrifice had to be sinless. Because we could not provide payment for our sins, God, through His mercy, provided an acceptable payment. That payment is the life and blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He died in our place. The Bible again says in Romans 5:8, “ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And he further said in 1 Peter 3:18a “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God”
I hope you
are asking now, “How do we
cross the bridge to eternal life?” We must receive Jesus Christ as our Lord
and Savior. Jesus himself said in John 14:6, “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me.”
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In order to receive Jesus Christ as Lord you must Repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone as the only hope of eternal life. The Bible says to “ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” Acts 3:19
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
Now then hear from God’s Word His promise to you. Jesus Christ 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
This verse has three parts. The person who believes:
1. Has eternal life.
2. Does not come into judgment.
3. Has passed from death into life.
If you want to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you must:
1. Admit that you have sinned against God and then ask Him for forgiveness.
2. Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son Of God who died for you on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord.
3. Call upon Jesus Christ to be your Lord and savior.
When you have done the A,B,C’s, that is the Admitting the Believing, and the Calling on the Lord to save you, then you need to follow the Lord in believers baptism. You also need to join a local body of believers, a church body, and begin to study God’s Written Word so as to grow in His Grace and Knowledge.
As you read and study His Word, you will mature as a believer. This brings you closer to God.
Be saved and grow in HIM.
Pastor Bill Strandberg