DETAILS OF SALVATION
HOW CAN I BE FORGIVEN FOR MY SINS AND OBTAIN SALVATION?
You can be saved today, but you must first realize that you are a sinner
by God’s standards, no matter how “good” you are by
society’s standards.
“There is none righteous, no, not one.” “For there
is no difference: For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God.” - Romans 3:10,22,23
Because you are a sinner in God’s eyes, you are condemned to die
an eternal “death” if you CHOOSE to reject the salvation offered
by God.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23
“Sin, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:15
God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, as your substitute - to
bear your sins and pay the price for those sins that are impossible for you
to pay. God is a God of justice. All sins must be accounted
for. All debts to the very nature of God must be paid. Because
God loves you, He let Jesus take your place. The innocent traded for
the guilty.
“He hath made Him (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
“Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
you were healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24
A man mentioned in the Bible asked Paul and Silas (followers of Christ)
“What must I do to be saved?”
“And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved, and thy house.” - Acts 16:31
The word used for ‘believe’ in the Greek translation implies
an action - not a passive knowledge. Even the Devil knows (but does
not follow) Jesus as the Son of God. You must truly desire to serve
the God of creation and live your life accordingly. Otherwise, how
can you say you really believe God’s Word? You simply ask God
(pray) to save you to Himself.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be
saved.” - Romans 10:13
“God be merciful to me a sinner.” - Luke 18:13
A prayer is simply your communication with God. Talk to Him like you would someone next to you. You simply have to say “Oh God, I am a sinner, I am sorry, and I want to repent (change my ways to your ways). I know I don’t deserve it, but please have mercy on me and save me for Jesus’ sake.” After that, if you are truly sincere in your heart, then you simply take God at His Word.
“So now”, you say, “what happened to the required church
membership and good deeds (and so on) that I’d always heard were necessary
to obtain salvation?” The answer is simple. God’s
salvation is free - a gift! The things we do AFTER receiving salvation
is a reflection of our desire to please God. It’s not the other
way around. The things we had to offer before salvation were as worthless
rags to God.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous
acts are like filthy rags;” - Isaiah 64:6
True righteousness comes from an active faith in and obedience to Jesus
Christ.
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ
to all who believe.” - Romans 3:22
Remember, this is your soul that is at stake! Nothing in this
brief earthly existence can be as important as where your soul will spend
eternity.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?” - Mark 8:36,37
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What
is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes.” - James 4:14
Nothing could be worse than to face God after you die only to find that
you are destined to Hell.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy
in you name, and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many
wonderful works?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never
knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “ -
Matthew 7:22,23
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I (Jesus)
confess also before my Father (God) which is in Heaven.” - Matthew
10:32
Search the answers for yourself. Read the Bible. Talk to God.