Are you saved and going to heaven? This is a very important question and probably one that most people ask at some time in their life. To understand God’s plan for our salvation we need to look at the Bible. In this article I will look at a number of verses that help us to understand how to be saved, but first I will look at what salvation is.
What is salvation?
When the Bible talks about salvation it touches on two main areas:
- Being rescued from the penalty of sin – which means death and eternal separation from God.
- Being in right relationship with God – both now in this life and for all eternity.
In the Bible we see that when Jesus came and died on the cross, He came to pay the price for our sin. He took the punishment that was rightfully ours. His death opened the way for us to be forgiven of our sin and to be brought back into a right relationship with God. In a future tense it means that those who put their faith and trust in Jesus will spend eternity with God.
How does someone find salvation?
The following verses are taken from the Bible and give us an understanding of God’s plan for salvation. They tell us of our condition through God’s eyes, they tell us of God’s great love for us and they tell us that God has provided a way for us to find salvation through Jesus Christ. Please read the verses carefully and I pray that God will reveal His plan for your personal salvation today.
Romans 3:23 – “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Many of us feel we live good lives and mostly we do. The problem is when we say this, we are measuring ourselves against our standards, not the standards God has set in place – the Ten Commandments. If we are honest and we take a moment to read through them, it doesn’t take much to see that everyone has broken at least one of them at some time of our lives. God says that if we break one of them, we are guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10).
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
The punishment for sin in the Bible is very clear – death and eternal separation from God in hell. All of us will live for eternity, but we will not all go to heaven. Hell is not just reserved for all those who are murderers and rapists, but for all those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. John 3:18 says, “Those who believe in Him (Jesus) are not condemned, but those who do not believe in Him stand condemned already”. We need to choose where we spend eternity and this is done by accepting God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 – But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Some people doubt that God could love them because of some of the things they have done, but God showed us all just how much He loved us when He sent Jesus to die for us on the cross. Jesus Himself said that there is no greater love than one who gives His life for another. He then demonstrated His love by going to the cross in our place. He died to take the punishment of our sin. Because of this we can be acceptable to God if we accept that Jesus died for our sin.
Ephesians 2:8&9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast”.
Many people today think they will find salvation through living a good life. They believe that at the end of their lives, God will judge their good and bad deeds. Because they were mostly a good person they think that God will let them into heaven. The Bible teaches us that we are saved by faith and not by the good things we have done. If we could have made it to heaven by living a good life then Jesus would not have had to die on the cross to make a way for us to find salvation.
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” and Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved”.
There are many religions in the world and many say it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe something. Some even say that all roads lead to Rome, in other words all religions lead to salvation. But the Bible is very clear in this matter and tells us that the only way to salvation is through Jesus. Although some may call Christians arrogant for believing this, they are just repeating what God says in His Bible.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”.
This is one of the key Bible verses and some have said it is the Bible within the Bible. The whole theme of the Bible is salvation through Jesus Christ and this verse tells very plainly that those who do believe shall not perish, but will know they have eternal life. Many people believe our salvation is like a lottery until we die, but verses like this one show us we can be assured of our salvation before we die. We can know we will spend eternity in heaven if we have faith in Jesus Christ.
John 5:24 – “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life”.
Jesus tells us in this verse that if we hear His words and believe in Him we have eternal life. We therefore can be assured of our salvation and will not be judged by God when we stand before Him when our time comes. We have already passed the judgment as far as salvation is concerned. Those who have not received Jesus are under God’s judgment.
Revelation 3:20 – “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me”.
This is an open invitation to all people to accept Jesus Christ into our lives and accept the gift of salvation that He purchased for us when He died on the cross for our sin. Jesus does not force His way into our lives, but waits patiently to be asked in. He promises that when we ask Him to be a part of our lives He will respond and be with us always.
Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”.
There is great power in the spoken word and salvation comes by confessing with your mouth what you believe in your heart. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for your sin, you confess your sin to Him and turn away from your sin and you want to ask Him into your life as your Lord and Saviour, you will find salvation. Why not confess this today?
How can I receive Christ?
Is there any reason why you can not receive Jesus Christ today? Why not ask Jesus Christ into your life and be assured of your salvation? Receiving Christ means confessing Him as your one and only Lord and Savior. The prayer below allows you to make a connection with God and allows you to begin a life of fellowship and relationship with Him.
Pray to Receive Jesus Christ into your life.
At this moment you can pray the most important prayer of your life:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know and confess that I have sinned and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross and shed Your Blood for my sins and that You were raised from the dead to life by God the Father. I want to turn from my sins and I ask You now into my heart and life. Please help me to live for You. I ask You to be Lord and Savior of my life. I thank you now for my salvation. I thank you that I know that I will live with You now and for the rest of eternity. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!
If you have just received Jesus Christ into your life, we want to rejoice with you.
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