WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
Do you see what is happening around the world today? Do you think that we may be living in the end times? If you have come to this site seeking the truth about the end times, and you want to know how to be saved, then please carefully read this page and find out the truth.
"Oh, but I'm too sinful to be saved!" No! It matters not who you are, or what you have done. Jesus Christ has already secured your salvation on the cross! You just need to accept this great gift of love and follow Jesus by faith.
John 1:29 ...'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.'
The conditions of obtaining the mercy of God are simple and just. God does not require us to do grievous penance or make some great pilgrimage. No! God's love is so complete, we need only confess and forsake our sin, and we will obtain mercy through the Son of God who took the punishment for us.
Oh 'behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us!' (1 John 3:1)
"If we confess and forsake our sin; if we come to Jesus in penitence and humility of soul, acknowledging our inability to remove one spot or stain of sin, and relying wholly on the merits of a crucified Saviour, we may expect forgiveness; for his word is pledged. He has said that he will pardon our transgressions, and blot out our sins. We must dwell upon the matchless love and compassion of Jesus, and not upon our own unworthiness and sinfulness. If we look to ourselves, all will be darkness; but Jesus is all light and life, and we have only to 'look and live.' We may look 'unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.' [Heb. 12:2.] What tenderness, what mercy, what love, are here manifested!" (Gospel Workers, p.437)
Eternal life is within your grasp! Reach out and claim it!
The Bible reveals that everyone (except Jesus Christ) has sinned ... Romans 3:23 ...'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' ... And what is sin defined as? ... 1 John 3:4 ...'Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.' ... What law? The Ten commandments.
And what is the penalty of sin? ... Romans 6:23 ...' For the wages of sin is death.'
So if we have all sinned and "come short of the glory of God", and we all deserve death, then how can we be saved? Can we earn salvation? ... Romans 6:23 ...'For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
Ephesians 2:8 ...'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' ... So salvation (the grace of God - eternal life) is a GIFT! So if it's a gift, then it cannot be earned by anyone. It is free, and is waiting for every one of us to accept it. No matter how bad your sins have been. No matter what you have done in the past, this gift is waiting for you to accept it. So how do we accept it?
First, we need to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to this earth in the form of man to die for us and our sins ... 2 Corinthians 5:21 ...'For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.'... He died the death that we deserve, so that we may live the life that only He deserves. We need to believe that Jesus rose from the dead and now sits on the throne of God in Heaven ... John 20:31 ...'But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.'
Please Note: Why is Christ Jesus the ONLY way? Because there was a price to pay for our sin against God and the only way that price could be paid, was by the perfect, obedient life and sacrifice of the Son of God. Jesus is the ONLY One who has paid that price with His own life. "None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption; for only He who was in the bosom of the Father could declare Him. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it manifest. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the Father's love to lost humanity." (Steps to Christ, p.13-14)
Now although the grace of God is a free gift and no one can earn it, we still have a part to play, because God doesn't bestow this gift on anyone who doesn't accept it, or anyone who doesn't want to follow Jesus. So what else do we need to do to accept this gift? We need to ask Jesus into our lives, to take control and to change us:
Acts 2:21 ...'And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Revelation 3:20 ...'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.'
Important Point: Jesus told us that only those who accept the kingdom of God as a little child can be saved (Mark 10:15). This means we are to bow humbly before the Word of God and accept it as it is, just like a little child. We are not to become 'puffed up' in our own 'wisdom' and think we have something to add to God's already plain truth. So please bear that in mind, as MANY a man has fallen away from grace by losing that child like attitude towards Jesus and His truth.
Repentance
We also need to repent of our sins. This is an important step. But true repentance can only come from the indwelling Spirit of Christ. So turn to Jesus on bended knee, and ask Him to take control of you, change you and give you a true repentant heart. Do not look to others and compare your life and character with others, as this will stop you submitting fully to the ways of Jesus. Look to the Son of God and compare your life and character with that of Christ's. This way, you will see your need of Jesus.
Psalms 139:23-24 ...'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.'
Matthew 4:17 ...'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Luke 13:3 ...'I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.'
Acts 3:19 ...'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.'
Acts 17:30 ...'And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.'
The prodigal son represents a change that needs to happen in us all ... "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father ... "But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him ... this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." (Luke 15)
The father represents God, and the son represents us 'lost' sinners. Those of us who show true repentance and turn back to our Father like the prodigal son, will see Him with arms wide open ready to accept us! What love!
True repentance isn't just saying a quick prayer asking God for forgiveness and then continuing to sin. True repentance is being very sorry for your sins, knowing the love that the Father and His Son has showed toward us, and asking God for forgiveness and actively turning away from sin ... 1 John 1:9 ...'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us FROM ALL unrighteousness.'
Acts 26:20 ...'that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.'
Why do we need to repent and turn away from our sins? ... Galatians 5:19-21 ...'Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.' ... Because no sin can enter into Heaven. No one who continues to live in wilful sin can enter into God's holy, heavenly kingdom.
So what does true faith in Jesus produce? True faith in Jesus is an obedient faith.
James 2:17-18 ...'Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.' ... You see, if you truly want to follow Jesus and give your heart to Him, then your faith, by the indwelling of Christ's Spirit, will PRODUCE a change in you. You will want to obey God and keep His Commandments and do good works.
John 15:4-5 ...'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.'
Romans 8:1 ...'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'
Galatians 5:16 ...'This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.'
To whom is there now no condemnation? To those who "believe" in Jesus but continue living a worldly, sinful life? No! Only to those who DO NOT walk after the flesh, but walk in the Spirit of Christ and abide IN Christ. Can we just "believe" without really changing our old ways and still be saved?
James 2:19 ...'Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.' ... You see, we can't just simply believe in Jesus without wanting to change our ways and walk away from our sins and still expect to be saved. The devils believe, but are they saved? No. So we need to WANT to change and need to WANT Jesus in us, making us whole again.
Now the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in our hearts. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of His indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace and will certainly have something to tell others ... Romans 10:9-10 ...'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'
So, if we believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and ask Him into our lives, and we truly repent of our sins, then He will come and dwell in us and change us ... 2 Corinthians 5:17 ...'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' ... We do not have the power to change ourselves and turn from sin ourselves, no, we need the power of Christ Jesus dwelling in us. With the sanctifying help of God's Holy Spirit dwelling in us, our old sinful ways can be cast off, and we will walk in newness of life in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:20 ... I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.'
John 14:23 ...'Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.'
When we truly repent of our sinful ways, just like the prodigal son and desire to live for God and the Lord Jesus, then they will make their abode in us through their Holy Spirit, and it is through God and Jesus living IN us that causes and helps us to change from our sinful ways.
But how do I start? Where do I begin?
Begin by falling on your knees and pouring your heart out to your Heavenly Father. Confess your sins, and be honest with God, as He knows everything anyway. Ask for Jesus to make His abode in you and change you. And study God's Word in the Bible. Seek the truth and find out how Jesus lived. Learn from the character of Jesus in the Bible and follow Him.
Mark 14:38 ...'Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.'
Baptism
Mark 16:16 ...'He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.'
Acts 2:38 ...'Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'
Acts 8:36-38 ...'And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.'
Acts 22:16 ...'And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Ephesians 4:5 ...'One Lord, one faith, one baptism.'
There are a few reasons to be baptized. Baptism is a symbol of us being buried with Christ when we are fully submerged in the water and then resurrected with Him as we come out of the water. It's a symbol that our old self (our sinful ways) has died and been left behind in the water and we come out being a new person. We are baptized in obedience to Jesus, who through His Word commands us to be baptized, as you can see in the above verses. It is also an outward sign to other people that you are now a 'new person', as you are leaving your old ways behind and living a new life with Jesus.
As already mentioned, our own efforts do not save us, because the grace of God is a free gift. But a true relationship with Jesus will cause us to change and to turn away from our sins and produce good works for His glory. We become a commandment keeping people ... Revelation 14:12 ...'Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.'
Did you catch that in Revelation 14:12? It doesn't say the saints are those who merely 'believe' in Jesus. But those who KEEP the commandments of God and the faith OF Jesus. In other words, the saints are the one's who are LIVING OUT the faith of Jesus in their lives.
None of us know when our last day will be, and you can see from the disasters that are happening around the world now (see end times news) that this world is getting old and the end is soon to come. So if you haven't given yourself to Jesus yet, please do it now! Submit your life to God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son, and through your faith, Jesus will enable you to live an obedient, commandment keeping life ... and eternal life in heaven and on the new earth will be yours, in Jesus!
Jeremiah 29:12-13 ...'Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.'
Isaiah 45:22 ...'Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.'
John 14:6 ...' Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'
Matthew 11:28-30 ...'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'
Please also read our page, Christ and His righteousness in conjunction with this page.
Jesus is the only way. Submit your life to Him today! If you would like to learn more about giving your life to Jesus, then as well as Bible studying, read this little, beautiful and simple book - STEPS TO CHRIST.