How do I get saved?
The more important question might be "why do I need to be saved?" It would be tempting for me to tell you that your life would be immediately better if you believed in Jesus. It would be tempting to say that all your problems will go away or that you will be the perfect person. But that is not the truth. There are many perfectly content and happy people in the world who do not know Jesus. So why even bother. It all comes down to what you believe happens after death.
There are many competing theories about life after death. Buddhists basically believe that if you are good enough in life and are able to eradicate your personal suffering, that you will reach Nirvana, a spiritual state of eternal happiness. Muslims believe if they are dedicated enough to Allah and in following the 5 Pillars (Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage to Mecca), that Allah might let you into Heaven eventually. Hindus, Orthodox Jews, Native Americans, African tribal religions, Christianity, etc... all have their own views of what happens in the after life and how to get there. One important thing about the actual tenants of these religions is that they all claim exclusive access to Heaven. A true Muslim would never say there are multiple paths to Heaven. A true Jew would never say that God is like a wheel, and any religion will get you there. So there has to be an actual truth out there. Christians believe that the truth is found in the Bible alone.
But we still ask, why do I need this? My life is good right now and I don't believe that a good God would send me to Hell. And if God is that cruel, then I'd rather not labor under his cruelty. This sounds like a good argument right? But can we really claim that we are good people? Sure, if we are going to compare ourselves to some our neighbors, or to let's say, Hitler, then yeah, we probably are good people. But, are we good people according to Scripture. If we compared our lives to the Bible, how would we stack up? So let's ask ourselves a few questions and see.
The 10 commandments are pretty well known, so lets just see how we compare to these commands. The sixth commandment says not to murder. I'm assuming that most of us have never done that, so, maybe we are okay. However, Jesus said in Matthew 5:22, says that if you are angry at someone, or if you call someone a fool, then you have murdered them in your heart. So the real question is, have you ever called someone a really nasty name or just been really angry at someone? If you have, Scripture says you are a murderer and have broken the sixth commandment. The seventh commandment is against adultery, which is sleeping with someone who is not your husband or wife. Many of us have never done that, but Jesus explains that one in Matthew 5 as well. He says that if you have ever even looked lustfully at another person, then you have committed adultery in your heart. So, if you have ever lusted after somebody, daydreamed about them, thought of them naked or in sexual situation, or even if you have lingered to long on their physical features, then you have committed adultery in your heart. If that is you, then you are an adulterer and broken the seventh commandment. Let's just look at one more, the eight Commandment, "You shall not steal." Most of us have never stolen anything major, like cars or someone's money. But the command is not to steal anything. That means post-it notes at work, pens from a bank, grapes at the grocery store, candy when you were a kid, or even stealing time, i.e. playing fantasy football when you should be working or coming in to work late and not reporting it. In those terms, almost all of us have been guilty of stealing. With just these 3 commandments, all of us are guilty, of at least one of those, and if we are honest, all three. So, if we compare ourselves with Scripture, then we are not good people at all. We are murdering, adultering, thieves.
It seems that we are not good, so maybe God won't just let us into Heaven because he wants to. So what do Christian's believe? How can you get saved and go to Heaven? We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the eternal Son of God who condescended to become a human and thereby being both God and man, God in the flesh. His purpose in coming is explained in the simple and well-known verse, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] shall not perish, but have eternal life" (NIV, bold mine). And it goes on to say, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:17-18, NIV, italics and bold mine). the Bible also says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV). Lastly, the Bible also says "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9, NIV). Therefore, the only thing needed to be forgiven of sin and have eternal life is to believe (have faith in) Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and God. Based on your faith in God and Christ, you will be saved. It is not based on how often you pray, or how much money you give, or even how nice of a person you are. Salvation is based on faith in Christ alone. If you believe this, then welcome to a new life, one where you are not a slave to sin, where you eternity is secure, and one where your life has meaning.
If you are reading this, and you believe in Jesus for the first time. Please call a pastor in your area, or call me (254)672-5679. If you have questions of any kind, I believe God has answers, and you may email me at [email protected].
There are many competing theories about life after death. Buddhists basically believe that if you are good enough in life and are able to eradicate your personal suffering, that you will reach Nirvana, a spiritual state of eternal happiness. Muslims believe if they are dedicated enough to Allah and in following the 5 Pillars (Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage to Mecca), that Allah might let you into Heaven eventually. Hindus, Orthodox Jews, Native Americans, African tribal religions, Christianity, etc... all have their own views of what happens in the after life and how to get there. One important thing about the actual tenants of these religions is that they all claim exclusive access to Heaven. A true Muslim would never say there are multiple paths to Heaven. A true Jew would never say that God is like a wheel, and any religion will get you there. So there has to be an actual truth out there. Christians believe that the truth is found in the Bible alone.
But we still ask, why do I need this? My life is good right now and I don't believe that a good God would send me to Hell. And if God is that cruel, then I'd rather not labor under his cruelty. This sounds like a good argument right? But can we really claim that we are good people? Sure, if we are going to compare ourselves to some our neighbors, or to let's say, Hitler, then yeah, we probably are good people. But, are we good people according to Scripture. If we compared our lives to the Bible, how would we stack up? So let's ask ourselves a few questions and see.
The 10 commandments are pretty well known, so lets just see how we compare to these commands. The sixth commandment says not to murder. I'm assuming that most of us have never done that, so, maybe we are okay. However, Jesus said in Matthew 5:22, says that if you are angry at someone, or if you call someone a fool, then you have murdered them in your heart. So the real question is, have you ever called someone a really nasty name or just been really angry at someone? If you have, Scripture says you are a murderer and have broken the sixth commandment. The seventh commandment is against adultery, which is sleeping with someone who is not your husband or wife. Many of us have never done that, but Jesus explains that one in Matthew 5 as well. He says that if you have ever even looked lustfully at another person, then you have committed adultery in your heart. So, if you have ever lusted after somebody, daydreamed about them, thought of them naked or in sexual situation, or even if you have lingered to long on their physical features, then you have committed adultery in your heart. If that is you, then you are an adulterer and broken the seventh commandment. Let's just look at one more, the eight Commandment, "You shall not steal." Most of us have never stolen anything major, like cars or someone's money. But the command is not to steal anything. That means post-it notes at work, pens from a bank, grapes at the grocery store, candy when you were a kid, or even stealing time, i.e. playing fantasy football when you should be working or coming in to work late and not reporting it. In those terms, almost all of us have been guilty of stealing. With just these 3 commandments, all of us are guilty, of at least one of those, and if we are honest, all three. So, if we compare ourselves with Scripture, then we are not good people at all. We are murdering, adultering, thieves.
It seems that we are not good, so maybe God won't just let us into Heaven because he wants to. So what do Christian's believe? How can you get saved and go to Heaven? We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the eternal Son of God who condescended to become a human and thereby being both God and man, God in the flesh. His purpose in coming is explained in the simple and well-known verse, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] shall not perish, but have eternal life" (NIV, bold mine). And it goes on to say, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:17-18, NIV, italics and bold mine). the Bible also says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV). Lastly, the Bible also says "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9, NIV). Therefore, the only thing needed to be forgiven of sin and have eternal life is to believe (have faith in) Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and God. Based on your faith in God and Christ, you will be saved. It is not based on how often you pray, or how much money you give, or even how nice of a person you are. Salvation is based on faith in Christ alone. If you believe this, then welcome to a new life, one where you are not a slave to sin, where you eternity is secure, and one where your life has meaning.
If you are reading this, and you believe in Jesus for the first time. Please call a pastor in your area, or call me (254)672-5679. If you have questions of any kind, I believe God has answers, and you may email me at [email protected].