SALVATION DESK

GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION

SALVATION: WHAT MUST I DO?

    Many people are positive that they are saved.  They base this on emotions.  They may make certain comments, such as, "I am a good person.  I do what is right.  I’m not as bad as that other person.  I had an experience with God.  I feel that I am saved.  I can feel God is with me.  I know the Holy Spirit is inside of me.  I am a preacher, or an elder, or a prophet.  I am a preacher’s wife.  I have prayed, and God answered my prayer.  I believe in God.  God did this or that for me.  I sing to God.  I sing in the choir.  I go to church.  I praise and worship God.  I give my money to the church.  I was baptized."   While all of this sounds very nice, it is not based upon biblical knowledge.   Many people, who are now in hell, have said such things.  The Pharisees in the New Testament also could have said many of these things, but Jesus showed them clearly they were not saved.

    If you have received Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, as your Lord and Savior, it is because God, in His mercy, has opened your understanding.  As it is written, FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.  FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM-Eph 2:8-10.

 

You might ask, "What must I do to be saved?"

    1.  Admit you are a sinner.  The Bible tells us, ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD-Ro 3:23.  THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH-Ro 6:23.

    2.  Be willing to change, to forsake all sin, and live for Jesus.  Repent.  Be willing to ask God for His help, to help you make that change.  The Bible tells us, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH-Lk 13:3.   WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD-Ja 4:4.   Jesus tells us, HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME-Mt 12:30.

    3.  Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son and that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  Believe that He died for your sins.  Believe on Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation.  As it is written, THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED-Acts 4:12.

    If we rob a bank, we have to go to jail.  Jesus never sinned.  When He died on the cross, He did not die for the things He did.  He died to pay your jail sentence.

    4.  Ask for forgiveness.  Ask for God’s mercy.   By faith, receive Jesus Christ as your only hope of being saved and do not be ashamed.  Confess Him openly as your only hope of salvation.  As it is written, BE READY ALWAYS TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERY MAN THAT ASKETH YOU A REASON OF THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR-1 Pe 3:15.

    The Bible tells us, GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS-Ps 89:7.  WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US-1 Jn 4:19.

    "After" we believe on Jesus Christ, "after" we have repented of our sins, we are commanded to be baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  It is written, HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED-Mk 16:16.  Note, believing on Jesus comes "before" water baptism.  Baptism prior to repenting and believing on Jesus has no meaning.  You cannot be baptized into One whom you do not believe on.  It is written, FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST-Gal 3:27.  Water baptism is by full immersion.  As it is written, BURIED WITH HIM (with Jesus) IN BAPTISM (or buried in the water)-Col 2:12.  WE ARE BURIED WITH HIM (with Jesus) BY BAPTISM (or buried by water)-Ro 6:4.  Jesus commanded, GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.  AMEN-Mt 28:19,20.

     Surrender means "you give up."  You stop putting your will before God’s will.  You allow Jesus (God’s Word) to reign over you.  You submit to Jesus and let Him become the Lord of your life.

     If you have never humbled yourself, and totally surrendered to Jesus, and become as a little child (ref Mt 18:3), and continued steadfast in the faith, I would suggest that NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION-2 Cor 6:2.  Please submit to God, say this prayer, and mean it with all of your heart.

DEAR JESUS, I AM A SINNER.  I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD AND DIED FOR MY SINS ON THE CROSS.  FORGIVE ALL OF MY SINS.  JESUS, I REPENT.  I ASK YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER, AND COME INTO MY LIFE.  GIVE ME YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR POWER.  HELP ME TO FOLLOW AND OBEY YOUR COMMANDMENTS, AND TO LIVE FOR YOU.  JESUS, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE.  THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY PRAYER.  THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE.  I ASK IT IN THE NAME OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  AMEN.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NEW CHRISTIAN

    We recommend you read your Bible faithfully every day.  Read at least five chapters a day.  Begin with the book of John and read it through three times. Then go to Matthew and read all the New Testament through to the end of the Revelation.  Do this three times.  Then go to the beginning of the Old Testament and read all the Bible through, continuing at a rate of not less than five chapters a day.  As God opens up His Word to you, obey it.  Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, deceiving yourself-ref Ja 1:22.

    Mature born-again Christians should reflect the fruits of salvation (or fruits of the Spirit) in their lives, both in public and in private. Their relationship with Christ should be reflected in what they wear, how they act, how and what they speak, what they do, the places they go, and even their jobs. But above all their attitude and behavior toward the household of faith should be love.

    When a person receives Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation, they also must receive Him as their Lord.

    To be born-again is a work of God’s mercy and grace. As a result of the new birth, a person becomes a new creature in Christ. He puts off the old nature and puts on the new. A change takes place in a person’s heart. They come under conviction for sin, which brings forth godly sorrow and repentance. Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ go hand in hand. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to God. Through faith we receive Jesus Christ as our only hope of salvation and turn our life, our dreams, our attitude and personality over to Him to change, guide, and direct. In effect, we overcome the world through faith and follow Him. As our faith and understanding of God's Word grow within us, we begin to overcome more and more. Our desires, actions, attitude, and personality should reflect this growth. As faith grows, things that bothered us yesterday, should bother us less today. Likewise, as we draw closer to Christ (Who is light), we can see "the dirt" in our lives much better. This growth should continue in a person’s life from the new birth until the end of their life. However, as we run the race that God has set before us, Satan throws many stumbling blocks in the way to try to hinder and discourage us. Many people fall by the side of the road, while others stumble over the stones, and still others get caught up in the thorns or choked by the weeds. Only a few finish the race and will hear the words in Mt 25:21-WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT: THOU HAST BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS, I WILL MAKE THEE RULER OVER MANY THINGS: ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD. For those that trust in the Lord during times of temptation, the Bible says,...GREATER IS HE (the Holy Spirit) THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE (the devil) THAT IS IN THE WORLD-1 Jn 4:6.