Salvation

• Because sin has separated us from God, as stated in Rom 3:23, for all have sinned. We are born in sin Psa 51:5 and choose sin as a way of life Isa 53:6, which ultimately separates us from God Isa 59:2. Yet, through His salvation, we are reconciled to Him through the death of His Son Rom 5:10.

• Because sin hardens our hearts Heb 3:13, leading to darkened understanding and alienation from God's life Eph 4:17-18, but God promises to give us a new heart Eze 36:26.

• Because the world lies under the evil one's power 1 John 5:19, making us slaves to sin, but Christ liberates us from sin Rom 6:18 and delivers us from the kingdom of darkness Col 1:13-14.  

• Because our sin makes us enemies of God Col 1:21-22 and prevents us from pleasing Him Rom 8:7–8, but through Christ, we are reconciled and adopted as God's children Rom 5:10. 

• Because the wages of sin is death Rom 6:23, both physical Rom 5:12 and spiritual, yet God, rich in mercy, has made us alive in Christ Eph 2:4-5. 

• Because our sin deserves God's righteous judgment Eph 2:3, but through belief in Christ, we are no longer condemned John 3:18, and saved from the wrath of God Rom 5:8-9. 

• Because without salvation, we face eternal separation from God in the lake of fire Rev 20:15; John 3:36, but through Christ's sacrifice, we are saved and reconciled to God, escaping eternal punishment Matt 25:46; 1 Thes 1:10.

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved

A man asked the apostles Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:30-31

To believe in Jesus is to trust Him as Lord and Savior — to turn from your sin and receive His gift of eternal life.

The Gospel - Good News - is this:

• Christ died for our sins 

• He was buried

• He rose again on the third day 

1Cor 15:1-4 

If you are ready to believe, repent, and follow Him, you can be saved today. A simple prayer of faith might sound like this: Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. Forgive me, change me, and help me follow You.

Now What?
Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for you? Are you willing to turn from sin and turn to God, surrendering your life to him and learning to walk in obedience to His commands? If you are, You can be saved right now!

 
Someone has written a short poem called the Salvation Poem. There is nothing magical about words we say, but this short prayer might help you verbalize your thoughts as you commit yourself to Jesus.

Jesus, You died upon a cross -- And rose again to save the lost

Forgive me now of all my sin -- Come be my Savior, Lord, and Friend

Change my life and make it new -- And help me, Lord, to live for You

Now that you have heard the gospel and received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, continue to stand in Him, and hold fast to His ways all the days of your life. In doing this you will not have believed in vain. 

YOUR NEXT STEP? Water Baptism

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved

A man asked the apostles Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:30-31

Believing in Jesus is not merely acknowledging facts about Him 

• Even the devil believes that God is one Jas 2:19, but we know he is not saved. 

• Nicodemus believed Jesus was a teacher who came from God and worked signs and wonders, yet he was not born again John 3:1-3. 

Believing in Jesus includes repentance - in fact, repentance precedes belief or faith

• True repentance arises from godly sorrow 2 Cor 7:10, that compels us to turn from our sin Luke 5:32, & Acts 3:19, and results in a life committed to living according to God's will Luke 3:8.

• Jesus said, “You did not change your minds [Greek repent] and believe Him” Matt 21:32.

• Paul preached a message of "repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,” Acts 20:20-21, and that people "should repent and turn to God" Acts 26:20.

• Peter preached, “Repent therefore, and turn again” to the Lord Acts 3:19. 

Believing in Jesus is acknowledging Him for who He is, both Lord and Messiah

• Acts 2:37-38 When the crowd on the day of Pentecost heard Peter say that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, they were cut to the heart and asked, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

• Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Believing in Jesus is believing what He did to save us - this is called the gospel 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" Rom 1:16.

1Cor 15:1-4 describes the gospel as: (1) Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (2) He was buried, and (3) He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 

Believing the gospel goes beyond merely acknowledging Jesus' death and resurrection as simply a historical event; it involves embracing the profound truths conveyed by the gospel, including:

• The gospel presents Jesus as the only way of salvation - It is Christ who died for my sins...No one but Jesus can claim this Acts 4:11-12, John 14:6.

• The gospel reveals that "our sin" is the reason Jesus died - It presumes the existence of sin, and accepting that Jesus died for me requires acknowledging my sin required His sacrifice

• The gospel states that Jesus died - (this is proof of His taking on the sin of the world 1 Pet 2:24  NOTE: the wages of sin is death Rom 6:23

• The gospel reveals that Jesus rose from the dead - indicating that He has overcome sin 1 Cor 15:55-57, and His sacrifice has been accepted by the Father Heb 10:12-14

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he reminded them of the time he came to share the gospel with them...here is his description - 1Co 15:1-4 "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,  2  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.  3  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  4  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Responding to the gospel includes

• Hearing - Paul preached to them Rom 10:13-14

• Receiving - is about welcoming it into our lives and accepting it as true. It involves accepting the message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and making it a central part of our life.

• Standing - means firmly rooting yourself in its truth. It's like planting your feet on solid ground. When you stand in something, it supports you and gives you stability. Following Jesus is about building your life on the foundation of His teachings and His love. It’s about finding your identity and stability in the truth of the gospel.

• Holding Fast - means gripping tightly and not letting go. It's about commitment and perseverance. Following Jesus requires a firm commitment to His teachings and His path, even when things get tough. It's about remaining faithful and dedicated to the gospel throughout your life.

• Otherwise they believed in vain

Salvation is a call to follow Jesus and to be His disciple. Here is what that looks like:

• Luke 14:26-33 Loving Jesus more than anything else in the world

• Matt 12:48-50 Doing the will of God

• John 8:30-32 Continuing in the word of God

• John 15:4-8 Continuing in relationship with Jesus

• Luke 6:40 Becoming like Jesus

• John 13:34-35 Loving others

• Matt 28:18-20 Making disciples of others

• Matt 4:19 "Fishing" of men

Now What?
Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for you? Are you willing to turn from sin and turn to God, surrendering your life to him and learning to walk in obedience to His commands? If you are, You can be saved right now!

 
Someone has written a short poem called the Salvation Poem. There is nothing magical about words we say, but this short prayer might help you verbalize your thoughts as you commit yourself to Jesus.

Jesus, You died upon a cross -- And rose again to save the lost

Forgive me now of all my sin -- Come be my Savior, Lord, and Friend

Change my life and make it new -- And help me, Lord, to live for You

Now that you have heard the gospel and received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, continue to stand in Him, and hold fast to His ways all the days of your life. In doing this you will not have believed in vain. 

YOUR NEXT STEP? Water Baptism