What does it mean to be saved?
For someone to be saved, there must be some problem or disaster that threatens survival.
What is the problem?
Simply put, it is death. Everyone is going to die. But the problem is bigger than that. After one dies, they will go to either hell or heaven. God’s plan was for people to go to heaven with Him. But people rebelled against God and rejected Him and His ways. This is called sin and everyone is a sinner. The Bible says “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Rom 3:10)
In short, sinners are headed to an eternal hell when they die.
Does God want us to go to hell?
No! “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
What is repentance?
The word means a change of mind or a change of direction. It means to turn around. When someone is going away from God, not living according to His commands and instructions, and then stops and decides to follow God and live for Him, that is repentance.
For this to happen it means that
1) you must admit you are a sinner
2) you must admit your sin is taking you away from God and eternal life
3) you must decide to stop going in that direction
4) you must decide to follow God and live in a way that pleases Him.
So, it is possible to live for God and go to heaven?
Yes, but not by yourself. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” (Isaiah 64:6)
We need our past sins and rebellion forgiven and we need internal help to live for God .
Is there a solution?
Yes! “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.” (Jn 3:16)
Jesus is God’s Son and came to earth to make it possible for you to have eternal life in heaven. He took the penalty for your sins (For the wages of sin is death, Rom 6:23a) and died in your place so that you could be forgiven. When you accept Him as your savior, He forgives your sins and becomes a part of your life, making it possible to live in the way that pleases God. He gives you eternal life (the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:23b).
What must I do to be saved?
That same question was asked by an earnest man who wanted to be saved. The Apostle Paul, a great evangelist in the Bible, said to him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31)
How do I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?
This is more than head knowledge or knowing some factual information. It means to trust and depend on Jesus for your forgiveness of your sins and to commit your life to Him. You need to accept Jesus by faith as your Savior. “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.” (Eph 2:8-9)
What do I do?
Talk to Jesus now. (We call that prayer.) Admit to Him that you are a sinner and you need His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life. Ask Him to forgive your sins and to become a part of your life. Tell Him that you believe in Him. Tell Him that you will live for Him. Ask Him to help you stop the things which are wrong and to do the things which are right.
Does it really happen?
Yes! The Bible assures us that “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1Jn 5:11-15)
If you have prayed and asked Jesus to forgive you, to become part of your life, and trusted Him for your salvation, we’d like to know about it and help you to know more about living for Him. Email PastorTom@FiveMileChurch.org and tell us all about it.
For more information, click here to listen to: Look to Jesus by Pastor Tom.
For more on Salvation and our beliefs, check out Pastor Tom’s book “If There Is A God” at lorimerbooks.com