"What must I do to be saved?"
That's probably the question that's in your heart right now, or "Do I need to be saved? What do I need saving from exactly?"
I'm not sure about your situation friend but I hope you would at least read through this message entirely- I've known of young women abused sexually at such a young age by people who should have protected them, I've known of children who were beaten and hurt, rejected and left at the foot of the door of centers who would by a chance, "take them in". I've known of a man who've been cheated by his friend of what he's earned, leaving him with a broken marriage and ultimately, a broken family; I've known of the sick, murderers, drug addicts, rejected by society and secluded from society feeling as though they don't belong. And to you neighbor? I may not know entirely what you're going through, you might be hurting, you might want to stop living a messed up life, you might be sick or you might be seeking forgiveness for the wrongs you've done, I don't know... but I do know someone who does, His name is Jesus Christ.
Whatever your situation is right now, I'll leave that between you and Him, and I do mean to say between you and God. But let me share to you something about what God is like from His word, the Bible and what He's done for you that could settle the convictions in your heart.
God, who created the heavens and the earth is Holy, God is righteous and God is just and all His ways are good. The Bible says that God is a Spirit and He comes in three persons, and yet one. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and they are one.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
Psalms 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy.
Dan 9:14 ...for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does..
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
God is perfect, righteous and holy and the simple truth is, we're not. We've all done something wrong: we had at some point in our lives have either lied, cheated, maybe stolen, or something worse... we've all fallen short from God's standard of Holiness and perfection, all of us have sinned and Sin is what separates us from a Holy God. It's not your race, it's not the color of your skin, it's not our upbringing or our backgrounds, what separates us from God is our sin.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Lord said in the Psalms that He was grieved that the people go astray in their hearts, and they don't know His ways. We've gone our own way separate from God's way, in Isaiah it reads All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way. And though we'd like to do what's good, we often fail; it's only when we're deep in trouble that we later attempt do what's right, but then we're gripped by the wrongs we have done and spiral down even further not knowing why it's so difficult.
Rom 7:19-21 When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
We have become a slave to sin. We've rejected God's ways for a lie, and exchanged God's joy for a moment's pleasure; for only after a while we again lust after that pleasure, craving for satisfaction; but when we try come back to it, it leaves us emptier than we were before.
Revelations 12:12 Rejoice, O heavens! You citizens of heaven, rejoice! Be glad! But woe to you people of the world, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.
1 John 3:8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil.
Jesus said to them who had hardened their hearts and refused to listen to him in and sought to trap him John 8:44 For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2 Peter 2:4 For God did not spare even the angels when they sinned; he threw them into hell, in gloomy caves and darkness until the judgment day.
Jesus tells us that no servant can serve two masters; it's either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. We can't serve both God and the devil. We can't enjoy sin while changing our ways and turning to God. What then can I do to be saved? The truth is, no man save himself from sin and death. It is only when we repent, when we turn away from the sins we have done and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross can man be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 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.
God the Father, who was far beyond our reach came in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ on this earth. He was born to save us from our sins, to show us what God is like (John 14:7) , He showed us what the Father loves and what He hates,and redeemed us of the penalty that we rightfully deserve as the devil's servant of sin.
Philippians 2:5-8 Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men.And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
John 14:7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!
The cross of Jesus Christ was set on high for all men to see, the punishment of death that Christ bore on that cross was supposed to be for man, it was supposed to be for me, it was supposed to be for you, along with all the curses, guilt and shame that all of us deserved. But God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. It was on that cross that God showed His righteousness and His justice where sin was punished, and showed His mercy and love in that while we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God. He died for you friend! He died for me. But I share to you a Jesus who is not dead but One who is alive forevermore! I share to you a Jesus who was dead but then rose again the third day and ascended on high to the right hand of God (Ephesians 1); and He is to come again having given all men a chance to repent! I share to you that the kingdom of God which is now at the reach of your hands and not something far away and that you need not attempt to bring peace for yourself with God, for the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ the Son of God made peace for you. Your were justified by His blood friend. We were all bought for a price for the penalty of sin we didn't meet but deserved.
Romans 5:9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment.
Today friend, the Lord Jesus Christ is inviting you today to receive this gift of salvation. Though the gift of God through Jesus Christ's redemption is free, it is the priciest and costliest to gain: for the cost dear friend is your all: you're His and He's yours. Now that you know the cost friend, would you still like Jesus as your Lord? He says to you who are weary and who have a sincere and repentant heart, Jesus says Come and He will give you rest, His yolk is easy and burden light. Let Jesus come friend, to take away your sins and He will free you from those devilish things that are trying to master you,
1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...
I would like you to pray, to talk with God but if you don't know how yet then please repeat these words, line by line as you make this decision today to turn away from your sins and turn to God:
Father I commit myself into your hands today,
I thank you Lord that you are good,
I thank you that you've sent Jesus Christ for me to know You,
Thank you Jesus for your holy precious blood that washes away my sin,
Today I renounce my [your sin(s)],
Please come into my life Lord Jesus,
Please change my heart and my mind,
Change me to the person you want me to be,
And please fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Friend, if you've made this wonderful decision today, please send me a message. You can download these resources for free if you would like, it'll help you and guide you in your walk with the Lord:
Titus 3:3-5 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.
Kevin
