SALVATION
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
By Dr. Marilyn Toliver
Salvation in Jesus Christ means to be saved or rescued from the power and penalty of sin. The penalty for sin is death and salvation is eternal life with Jesus Christ. Sin is the transgression or violation of God’s laws. God’s laws are summarized in the 10 commandments. However, salvation is not about following rules, it is about having a personal relationship with Jesus. Following rules will not save you. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul; and to love your neighbor as yourself. In order to love God, you must first have a personal relationship with God’s son, Jesus. In, John 14:6 “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father, except by me.” Only Jesus can save us from our sins. You may choose to receive this free gift of salvation or you may choose to reject it. It is my prayer, that if you have not accepted this free gift that you will choose to live for Jesus today.
God’s Plan To Save Us:
John 3:16-18 states that: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The bible teaches 4 things that we must do to be saved:
1. Hear (or learn about) the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith comes by hearing. (Rom. 10:9-14)
2. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. ( Acts 16:31; Mark 16:16)
3. Confess your sins and confess that God raised Jesus from the dead. (1John 1:9-10; Rom. 10:9-13)
4. You must be born again/change. (John 3:5-7; 2Cor. 5:17)
To be born again means that you have a new attitude towards life because the Holy Spirit lives in you.
The new you will have a new purpose in life, new goals, new desires, and eventually new behaviors and a new lifestyle based on your love for God and obedience to his word.
2Cor. 5:17 states: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. When you sincerely repent and ask God to come into your life, his spirit, which is the Holy Spirit automatically comes to live in you. In Acts God promised to give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. You cannot live for Christ without his Spirit. The bible says that the Holy Spirit is our helper, our teacher, our comforter, and our guide. When your conscience begins to bother you, that is a sign that the Holy Spirit is working in you. All of a sudden you will feel guilt and conviction over things that never bothered you before. You must make a conscious decision to obey God’s word and to obey the Holy Spirit in order to live right before God. You are becoming a new creature in Christ.
If you have not made the decision to receive salvation, I pray that you will continue to hear the word of God. The bible says faith comes by hearing the word of God. In summary, you receive God’s gift of salvation by hearing Gods word, believing what you hear, and calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer confessing your sins and your belief to him. You must come to Christ with a sincere heart in a state of repentance. When you do that he promised to save you and give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. God promised to be with you and help you through every trial in this present life and to give you a more glorious life after death! When you are saved you look forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the resurrection because you know that you will live eternally with him in a perfect world. No more sorrow, pain, disappointments, and stress; only joy, peace, and happiness forever!