How To Be Saved

It All Begins With God:

The Bible tells us in John 6:44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God draws people in different ways; you may suddenly have an overwhelming realization that you are lost. Some have described a feeling as if their heart was going to beat out of their chest. Others are simply made aware of their need to be saved. However it happens to you, one thing is for sure, God is drawing you.

It takes more than just believing in God:

The Bible says in James 2:19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Obviously the devils are not saved but they believe in God. So simply believing in God does not save you.

It is not about how good you are:

Some people think as long as they are a good person that they are saved. That simply is not true. In fact, the Bible tells us in Romans 3:10-12: 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Sin separates us from God:

Romans 3:23 says: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 says: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

The Bible also says in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death.

That means the payment for sin is death. If we are not saved, that means that WE will pay the penalty and that penalty is spending eternity burning in an everlasting lake of fire.

Fortunately for us, the Bible goes on to say in that same verse in Romans 6:23 but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

That means that we do not have to pay the penalty for sin because Jesus has already paid it for us!

So how do we receive this free gift of salvation?

Well, clearly we must understand that the only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ. The Bible says in 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.

Jesus is the exclusive way to be saved and go to Heaven. You cannot get there any other way, it must be through Him.

We must repent of our sins:

The Bible says in 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;

Jesus said in Luke 5:32: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Repentance is not just a feeling of guilt or shame. Feeling guilty of sin may terrify you but being terrified is not repenting. A man can feel guilty and terrified of his sin but go right along sinning.

True repentance comes from your heart, it is much more than just being sorry, it is a brokenness and a sickness over the fact that you are a sinner and a overwhelming desire to not sin anymore. So repentance is turning from sin and to the loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

We must believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and by faith trust Him as our Savior.

The Bible says in John 3:16-17: 16. 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. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9: 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Finally, the Bible says in Romans 10:9-11:

9 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.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Just use your own words and speak to God just like you would to anyone. An example prayer could be: Dear God, I repent of my sins, I believe in my heart that Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins. By faith I trust you as my Savior. Amen.

After reading and understanding the above, if you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, please email us a praise report by sending us an email: pastor@hbcknox.org Under the subject heading simply type "Saved". We would love to hear your story and testimony.