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How to be saved -- Why does man need to be saved?
How to be saved is the most important quest of any human life. This quest begins
when a man or woman first realizes their true state before a holy God.
The intimate and sweet fellowship that the Father longed for with man, the crown
of His creation, was lost when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s commandment in the
Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost their right to eat of the
tree of life which would have enabled them to live forever. They were expelled
from the garden and as such denied the loving relationship that God desired to
have with them. Their sinful state made them unfit to linger in the presence of
God. Far from being a minor event, this Fall and expulsion of man was the
cataclysmic turning point of history and set humanity on a descent which
continues to this day.
Man without God makes his own plans, follows his own counsels and lives by his
own rules. Nevertheless, because man was created for fellowship with God, there
remains a dissatisfaction and longing within man that can only be fulfilled by
God Himself. As man is now hopelessly decadent and God is perfectly holy, there
exists the need for God and man to be reconciled so that the fellowship may be
restored.
How to be saved -- What has God provided for man’s salvation?
How to be saved has been outlined for every man in the preaching of the Gospel.
The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. “For God was in Christ,
reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them.
. .” (2 Corinthians 5:19). God, fully knowing that man would fall, provided a
means of reconciliation for man; He knew that there was nothing that a man could
do to make mankind acceptable to God.
God sent Jesus Christ, who provided restoration for man with God by giving His
own life, shedding His own blood. There was no other way to eradicate the effect
of sin except by blood. “. . .Without the shedding of blood, there is no
forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). This shedding of blood indicated that the
penalty for sin had been paid; a life had been sacrificed for the lives of all
who have sinned. Jesus Christ’s willing submission to the massacre on the cross
paid the price for our sins and affected the means of reconciliation. “Because
one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other
person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight” (Romans 5:19).
How to be saved -- What must a man do to be saved?
How to be saved is within the reach of every human being on the face of the
earth. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He provided salvation for all. “‘And
when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself.’ He said this
to indicate how he was going to die” (John 12:32-33). Salvation has been
provided; it now must be accepted. Once a man or woman recognizes the need for
salvation and realizes that God has provided for their salvation through Jesus
Christ, he or she must go on to embrace it.
Salvation is simply a process of confessing and believing. A man must confess
that Jesus is Lord, which signifies his realization that Christ must have full
rule over his life with all of His righteous requirements. This confession of
Christ as Lord also assumes that it is Christ who will work and fulfill His own
righteousness within man.
Next, he must believe that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead. This
belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus carries with it the realization
that the penalty has been paid for sin and power is provided for man to live a
life free from sin. Thus man’s relationship to God is restored. “For 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. For it is by believing in your
heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth
that you are saved. As the Bible tells us, “For 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. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right
with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans
10:9-11). Do you feel unworthy to “go to heaven”? Peace with God is within your
reach.
Do you understand that you are a sinner, and you believe that Jesus Christ came
as the one and only Redeemer of sin? Are you ready to receive God’s gift of His
Son, Jesus Christ? If so, believe in Christ, repent of your sins, and commit the
rest of your life to Him as Lord:
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me
from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life
toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that
your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is
alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to
rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit
to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name
I pray, Amen.”
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts
2:38)
If you decided receive Jesus today, welcome to God's family. Now, as a way to
grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment.
Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just
develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to
increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing
friends to answer your questions and support you.
Find a local church where you can worship God.
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