Salvation

Knowing the plan of salvation is essential. You must first be saved, and second, share this good news with lost friends and family members. The steps you will find on this insert are not comprehensive but just one way of presenting salvation in a simplistic, understandable fashion.

First, the listener needs to know salvation is by grace (Ephesians 2:8). No one can save oneself by keeping the laws found in the Old Testament. No one can be saved by being good enough. The reason is God is holy (Psalm 29:2). In order to live with God we must be holy too. That’s why Jesus left heaven to die on the cross. He was sinless, yet he died a criminal’s death! God gave Jesus to die in our place. When we place faith in Jesus’ work on the cross, His righteousness can be imputed to us! He actually can take our place! Jesus became our substitute. Not only that, once His blood cleanses a person from sin, God’s spirit dwells in the new believer! Our body becomes God’s temple (I Corinthians 6:19). God has called us to a new life of faith. The question is, “How does one accept this free gift of grace from God?”

Belief in Jesus. One must acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God, sent to this world to die in our place. One must believe that it is impossible to get to heaven any other way but through the work of Jesus on the cross, dying for our sins. One must acknowledge that he/she has sinned and that sin will send him/her to hell, but God has graciously provided another way through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:22)!

Repent of sins. Repentance means to change your mind and direction. Repenting means you acknowledge Jesus is the only way to live and walk (Acts 2:38).

Confess Jesus as Lord. Confession is a continuous action, involving a daily walk. Jesus as Lord means we obey Him in the dealings of life, and have godly relationships with all people (Romans 10:9).

Be baptized into Christ. Baptism is the beginning of the new life. We are buried (dead in our sins), and raised to a new life (Romans 6:1-11).

Be faithful to God. Faithfulness is required to go to heaven-faithfulness to the teachings of Christ and trusting Him for your salvation (Revelation 2:10).