Great, I am glad you decided to come here! This is what the Bible says about Salvation.
God made it real simple and easy to understand.
Start with this thought - If I were to die today, I wonder where I would spend eternity. God wants us to know where we would spend eternity. He tells us in the Bible, in I John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." He tells us in Ephesians 2:8&9, "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." Salvation is a gift from God. How does one get this gift from God? It's a gift, just take it. You don't have to earn it or buy it or be good to get it, it is a gift, a free gift. However in order to receive the gift you have to recognize a few things.
1. Understand that you are a sinner. Romans 3:10 tells us, "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." What this means is that we have all done something wrong at some time in our life. Surely, we can all admit to that. It might not have been murder, or something so vile, but we have all sinned in some way. It could be as simple as telling a "little white lie" or something like that. Regardless, it is sin and it separates us from God and His glory and there is nothing that we can do to earn salvation. Titus 3:5 states, " Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
2. The wages of sin is death. There is a punishment for sinning. Romans 6:23 tells us, "The wages of sin is death..." Death is something we all have to look forward to one day, but this death being talked about is a separation from God for all eternity. The Bible calls it a second death in Revelation 20:14&15, " And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." - That would be HELL. Separation from God, if we could truly understand the agony our souls will experience with this separation and the suffering and torments we will face separated from God for all eternity then there would be no hesitation right now.
3. God is a merciful and loving God. God does not want for any of us to suffer in hell and be separated from Him and his grace. He lets us chose and gives us free will to chose, but he really wants for us to be saved and come to know his grace. Surely you recall John 3:16, "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." and John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." He even let his son die in our place! Romans 5:8 tells us that, "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And the wonder is that He is willing to give the gift of salvation to us all. It is told to us in Romans 6:23b, ". . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We have to go through Jesus. John 14:6 tells us this as well, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."
4. We must believe and receive Christ. We have to believe this in our hearts, not just understand with our minds. Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." We believe in our hearts and know in our hearts that God has saved us from the second death and then we accept Him and what He did with his death on the cross. Receive Him - call out to the Lord. Ask Him to save you; you won't be turned down. Romans 10:13 tells us, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Whosoever is me. Whosoever is you! Whosoever is everyone that will receive Him; John 1:12 reinforces this, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
5. YOU have to make a personal decision. As it was said earlier, you have the choice. Surely, you would want to trust Jesus - Him alone, and his death and resurrection for salvation. If so then pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart, "Jesus, I know I am a sinner and as such I have earned this second death. I need your forgiveness. I believe in my heart that you died for me. And I am asking you now to come into my heart and save me. I am trusting in you now to have mercy on me and save me. Thank you for coming into my heart and saving me. In Jesus' name. Amen."
WHEW! That's it. - Well not really. If you prayed that prayer and meant it then I would encourage you to find a church where you can share your happy event (your new birth) with others! Find a place where you can grow in the knowledge and understanding of Jesus, His life, His ministry and His amazing love.
Not sure if you are saved even though you really meant that prayer? Read this again: I John 5:13
If you prayed the above prayer and asked Jesus into your heart, I'd love to know about it!
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