HOW TO BE SAVED
John 3:16 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.
The simple explanation for “Being SAVED” is that a person is SAVED from hell. Since man cannot go to heaven … he is on the wrong road … he must be SAVED from that road and put on the right road. So, how can a person BE SAVED?
There are four things you must KNOW and two things you must DO in order to “BE SAVED”
THE FIRST THING YOU MUST KNOW – “You are a sinner in the sight of God”
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Two things that God says here … First -- “for ALL have sinned” – it matters not WHAT sin you have done at this point … just that we ALL HAVE sinned. (Adam only ate of a forbidden fruit) Any ONE sin makes us all a sinner.
Second … we all have … COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD …
Let’s say that we all are given one task … to jump across the Grand Canyon. How many will make it? NO ONE …
we will ALL fall short. Now, it matters not that one can jump further than another … (it would not matter if I jumped but 3 feet and you jumped 6 feet – we ALL would still fall short.) That is what happens to all of us. We cannot compare ourselves with another sinner and think that we are okay because we are BETTER than he. Our comparison is NOT each other but God Himself. NONE of us are as “good” as God.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
THE SECOND THING YOU MUST KNOW – “Sin has a price tag. It MUST be paid for.”
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; …
This is a wage that all of us have EARNED … but no one WANTS. To put it another way there is a COST on sin, and therefore, sin must be paid for before a person can have eternal life. To give an example: "let us say that you went into a pharmacy to purchase a medicine that you needed. This was very important medicine -- a matter of life and death. Take it and you could live … fail to take it and you would die. Now let us say that this medicine has a price tag of $200. If you were to try to pay for it with only $20 you would FALL SHORT. You could not pay for it … unless you paid the PRICE THAT IS ON IT. That is just like sin. Sin also has a price tag … DEATH. That is what God said, "For the wages of sin is death …" But the death that God is talking about here is NOT the Physical Death that we associate with "death". And it is not "spiritual death" … for we are already dead spiritually when we are born into this world. No, this death is the death of Revelation 20
Revelation 20:11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The physical death delivered up the dead so that they could be judged and those who did nothing about their sin while on earth received the SECOND DEATH … the price for sin. This is a wage that no one wants but ALL have earned. "the wages of sin is death …".
The ONLY price for sin is death. Once a person has sinned, and ALL have sinned, he has earned the price for sin. Death MUST pay for sin. No good deed or religious act can pay for sin. That is the 2nd thing you must know.
3. THE THIRD THING YOU MUST KNOW -- Jesus loved you and paid the price for your sin.
Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God loved you so much, and wanted to show it so openly (commendeth) that Christ died FOR YOU. HE paid the price that you and I should have paid. Let us go back to our illustration. YOU have tried the best you can to purchase the medicine, but you just do not have enough. Now, let us say that I come along and want to purchase it. How much will I have to pay? The same amount -- $200. Therefore, let us say that I DO pay the price. I NOW own the medicine.
That is what Christ did for each of us. He came from heaven to pay the price for sin. DEATH. His death, being God, was more than just a physical death; it was the full payment for sin. He did not NEED to die for Himself. He had no sin, and He was already in heaven. No, His death was for us.
Romans 5:12 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:
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Now the PROVISION for life has been made. However, this provision is just that: God PROVIDED a way for man to have life by paying for his sin, Himself. That brings us to the 4th thing you must know.
4. THE FOURTH THING YOU MUST KNOW -- Eternal life is A GIFT
We looked earlier at a verse from Romans and by choice we did not, then, consider the whole verse. We stopped at the first part of the verse … but God did not stop where WE stopped.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let us return to our illustration. YOU needed to purchase the medicine, but did not have enough -- you fell short. I HAD enough and purchase the medicine, by paying the full price. I NOW own the medicine. The question now is, "How are you going to get this medicine FROM ME?"
There are but two ways for you to get this from me: 1st you could PURCHASE it from me. IF I wanted to now sell it to you for the price of $20 -- you COULD now purchase it from me. I HAVE lowered the price to that which YOU can afford to pay. IF I decided to sell it you for $10 -- a better deal -- you could STILL PURCHASE it from me, just at a different price. Even IF I decided to sell it to you for 1 CENT … IF you got it for 1 cent you would STILL BE PURCHASING FROM ME. IF instead of money, I asked you to do something for me, you would still be purchasing it from me, (not with money … but with some work) In other words, the FIRST way you could get this from me is to BUY it from me; all that would have to be worked out would be THE PRICE. What would you have to give or do for me for this medicine? If you were to acquire this as A PURCHASE?
The 2nd way that you could get this medicine from me would be for me to GIVE it to you AS A GIFT. Question: What do you have to do to get a gift? Answer: RECEIVE IT … If you offer to DO anything except receive it, then it is no longer a GIFT.
Therefore, the only two possible ways that you can get this medicine is to PURCHASE it OR … RECEIVE it as a Gift.
Now, we all deserve death … but NEED life. Jesus has paid the price for it by dying on the cross. So, how do we get life from Him? It can be only one of two ways: purchase it or receive it as a gift. IF we could purchase it, then God would have set a price and would have TOLD us what that price is. (He would have said something like … 'Do THIS thing and you will have eternal life') -- OR -- if it were a GIFT, God would have told us so. So which is it?
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now, like ANY gift … how do you get a GIFT?? The ONLY way to get a gift is to receive it. HOWEVER, if you do NOT receive this gift, though it is offered freely to you, you do not have it. Though the gift is OFFERED to all … ALL will not receive it, and therefore, ALL do not have it.
***************************************************************************
Therefore, let us review:
The FOUR things you must know:
1. You are a sinner before God
2. The price of sin is death … the 2nd death … the lake of fire
3. However, Jesus, as God, paid that price on the cross
4. Therefore, He can and does OFFER that payment and thus life … as a gift
******************************************************************************
Therefore, the next logical question is HOW can one RECEIVE this gift? You cannot climb up into heaven and take it from God. What are the mechanics of receiving this gift? This brings us to the TWO THINGS YOU MUST DO in order to get this gift.
TWO THINGS YOU MUST DO IN ORDER TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
Let us return to our illustration of the medicine again. #1-YOU need this medicine. #2-YOU have fallen short of the price, you cannot afford to pay for it. #3- I come along and pay the price to purchase it. #4 - now I want YOU to have this gift. ----- NOW if I were to say to you, "Look, I will give you this GIFT … IF you will ASK ME FOR IT." What would you HAVE to DO in order to get this?
There are actually TWO things you MUST DO. FIRST -- you must BELIEVE certain things. -- #1-- IF you did NOT believe that you NEEDED this medicine … you WOULD not ASK me for it. #2 -- IF you did NOT believe that without it you would die and the ONLY way to live is for you to get this medicine… again you would not ASK me for it. #3 -- IF you did NOT believe that I had paid for it … but that I had somehow gotten it fraudulently … you would not ASK me for it. OR … #4 -- IF you did NOT believe that I would give it to you AS A GIFT … but that would somehow require you to DO something more … you would not ASK me for it, but instead would be looking for something to do yourself.
Therefore, the FIRST thing that you would have to DO is BELIEVE. Have a bit of FAITH. Believe what I said.
Then the SECOND thing you must DO is ASK ME FOR IT. IF you only have faith, but never ask me for it, then this gift would not be handed over. It would remain MINE and NEVER yours.
Those are the same two things God requires you to DO if you would receive HIS GIFT.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
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.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Verse 9 sets up the two conditions … though reversed in order . VERSE 9 -- "that IF … (big word that sets up the conditions as a POSSIBILITY -- in other words IF you do this … you shall be saved … implying that IF you DO NOT do this then you will NOT be saved.
First … "THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS" … the faith is there, (the second part of the conditions) now you must ASK or CONFESS that what Jesus did … He did for you, and it is enough. -- Verse 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Second … verse 9 … and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
You see the belief is all inclusive. Jesus died on the cross, but it was not finished until GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD -- meaning the sacrifice was ACCEPTED and would be applied to all who would RECEIVE Him and that sacrifice.
Now the rest of the passage: 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.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In order to BE SAVED -- one must first BELIEVE … believe those four things -- and then ASK Jesus -- "call upon Him". The thief who died on the cross next to Jesus is a good example -- First he BELIEVED that Jesus was more than just a man, and that His death was MORE than just a simple death. THEN He called upon Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (he had FAITH that though a sinner Jesus could provide life instead of punishment) --- and Jesus said to him … TODAY THOU SHALT BE WITH ME IN PARADISE. He DID absolutely NOTHING but believe and ask. No work .. no payment made for sin. NOTHING … He simply received the GIFT OF GOD.
You must do TWO things in order to be SAVED from sin, the consequences of sin -- death and the ultimate consequence for sin … hell. WE MUST ALL BE SAVED.
Ephesians 2:8 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.
"Grace" is what we receive from God without earning it. "For by GRACE are ye SAVED … THROUGH FAITH (believing what God said) … and that NOT OF YOURSELVES … (nothing you can nor need to do) … IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD … (provided but only possessed IF received) … verse 9 -- NOT of WORKS -- (nothing you can do) … LEST any man should boast. (about how THEY got themselves into heaven)
No, now the ONLY person we can praise is GOD … for what JESUS HAS DONE.
John 3:16 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.
******************************************************************************
NOW if YOU are ready TO BE SAVED …
First -- I ask you IF you BELIEVE … (Believe what? -- These four things)
1. You are a sinner before God
2. That without Christ YOU SHOULD go to hell for the price for YOUR sin
3. However, Jesus paid the price for YOUR sin
4. and NOW offers TO YOU the GIFT of eternal life that you can have IF you will but ask Him for it.
Second -- Call upon Him … telling Him of your faith AND your of your CHOICE … to receive His gift of salvation
Calling on Him without believing is not enough. Nor is believing without calling on Him. HOWEVER, IF you truly believe … then call upon Him. (something like the following -- the words are not as important as the BELIEVING)
Pray a prayer LIKE the following --
"Dear God I know that I am a sinner and that I do not deserve to go to heaven. I recognize that without Christ I would not go to heaven but would instead go to hell. However, I now recognize that You died on the cross for me, to pay for MY sin. I also recognize that there is nothing I can or need to do to gain eternal life except receive that gift of eternal life that You offer me. And that gift I now receive. Lord, would You give me "eternal life" and take me to heaven when I die. I receive YOU as MY SAVIOUR."
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
******************************************************************************
See our other article -- "Ye Must Be Born Again"
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The simple explanation for “Being SAVED” is that a person is SAVED from hell. Since man cannot go to heaven … he is on the wrong road … he must be SAVED from that road and put on the right road. So, how can a person BE SAVED?
There are four things you must KNOW and two things you must DO in order to “BE SAVED”
THE FIRST THING YOU MUST KNOW – “You are a sinner in the sight of God”
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Two things that God says here … First -- “for ALL have sinned” – it matters not WHAT sin you have done at this point … just that we ALL HAVE sinned. (Adam only ate of a forbidden fruit) Any ONE sin makes us all a sinner.
Second … we all have … COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD …
Let’s say that we all are given one task … to jump across the Grand Canyon. How many will make it? NO ONE …
we will ALL fall short. Now, it matters not that one can jump further than another … (it would not matter if I jumped but 3 feet and you jumped 6 feet – we ALL would still fall short.) That is what happens to all of us. We cannot compare ourselves with another sinner and think that we are okay because we are BETTER than he. Our comparison is NOT each other but God Himself. NONE of us are as “good” as God.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
THE SECOND THING YOU MUST KNOW – “Sin has a price tag. It MUST be paid for.”
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; …
This is a wage that all of us have EARNED … but no one WANTS. To put it another way there is a COST on sin, and therefore, sin must be paid for before a person can have eternal life. To give an example: "let us say that you went into a pharmacy to purchase a medicine that you needed. This was very important medicine -- a matter of life and death. Take it and you could live … fail to take it and you would die. Now let us say that this medicine has a price tag of $200. If you were to try to pay for it with only $20 you would FALL SHORT. You could not pay for it … unless you paid the PRICE THAT IS ON IT. That is just like sin. Sin also has a price tag … DEATH. That is what God said, "For the wages of sin is death …" But the death that God is talking about here is NOT the Physical Death that we associate with "death". And it is not "spiritual death" … for we are already dead spiritually when we are born into this world. No, this death is the death of Revelation 20
Revelation 20:11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The physical death delivered up the dead so that they could be judged and those who did nothing about their sin while on earth received the SECOND DEATH … the price for sin. This is a wage that no one wants but ALL have earned. "the wages of sin is death …".
The ONLY price for sin is death. Once a person has sinned, and ALL have sinned, he has earned the price for sin. Death MUST pay for sin. No good deed or religious act can pay for sin. That is the 2nd thing you must know.
3. THE THIRD THING YOU MUST KNOW -- Jesus loved you and paid the price for your sin.
Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God loved you so much, and wanted to show it so openly (commendeth) that Christ died FOR YOU. HE paid the price that you and I should have paid. Let us go back to our illustration. YOU have tried the best you can to purchase the medicine, but you just do not have enough. Now, let us say that I come along and want to purchase it. How much will I have to pay? The same amount -- $200. Therefore, let us say that I DO pay the price. I NOW own the medicine.
That is what Christ did for each of us. He came from heaven to pay the price for sin. DEATH. His death, being God, was more than just a physical death; it was the full payment for sin. He did not NEED to die for Himself. He had no sin, and He was already in heaven. No, His death was for us.
Romans 5:12 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:
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Now the PROVISION for life has been made. However, this provision is just that: God PROVIDED a way for man to have life by paying for his sin, Himself. That brings us to the 4th thing you must know.
4. THE FOURTH THING YOU MUST KNOW -- Eternal life is A GIFT
We looked earlier at a verse from Romans and by choice we did not, then, consider the whole verse. We stopped at the first part of the verse … but God did not stop where WE stopped.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let us return to our illustration. YOU needed to purchase the medicine, but did not have enough -- you fell short. I HAD enough and purchase the medicine, by paying the full price. I NOW own the medicine. The question now is, "How are you going to get this medicine FROM ME?"
There are but two ways for you to get this from me: 1st you could PURCHASE it from me. IF I wanted to now sell it to you for the price of $20 -- you COULD now purchase it from me. I HAVE lowered the price to that which YOU can afford to pay. IF I decided to sell it you for $10 -- a better deal -- you could STILL PURCHASE it from me, just at a different price. Even IF I decided to sell it to you for 1 CENT … IF you got it for 1 cent you would STILL BE PURCHASING FROM ME. IF instead of money, I asked you to do something for me, you would still be purchasing it from me, (not with money … but with some work) In other words, the FIRST way you could get this from me is to BUY it from me; all that would have to be worked out would be THE PRICE. What would you have to give or do for me for this medicine? If you were to acquire this as A PURCHASE?
The 2nd way that you could get this medicine from me would be for me to GIVE it to you AS A GIFT. Question: What do you have to do to get a gift? Answer: RECEIVE IT … If you offer to DO anything except receive it, then it is no longer a GIFT.
Therefore, the only two possible ways that you can get this medicine is to PURCHASE it OR … RECEIVE it as a Gift.
Now, we all deserve death … but NEED life. Jesus has paid the price for it by dying on the cross. So, how do we get life from Him? It can be only one of two ways: purchase it or receive it as a gift. IF we could purchase it, then God would have set a price and would have TOLD us what that price is. (He would have said something like … 'Do THIS thing and you will have eternal life') -- OR -- if it were a GIFT, God would have told us so. So which is it?
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now, like ANY gift … how do you get a GIFT?? The ONLY way to get a gift is to receive it. HOWEVER, if you do NOT receive this gift, though it is offered freely to you, you do not have it. Though the gift is OFFERED to all … ALL will not receive it, and therefore, ALL do not have it.
***************************************************************************
Therefore, let us review:
The FOUR things you must know:
1. You are a sinner before God
2. The price of sin is death … the 2nd death … the lake of fire
3. However, Jesus, as God, paid that price on the cross
4. Therefore, He can and does OFFER that payment and thus life … as a gift
******************************************************************************
Therefore, the next logical question is HOW can one RECEIVE this gift? You cannot climb up into heaven and take it from God. What are the mechanics of receiving this gift? This brings us to the TWO THINGS YOU MUST DO in order to get this gift.
TWO THINGS YOU MUST DO IN ORDER TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
Let us return to our illustration of the medicine again. #1-YOU need this medicine. #2-YOU have fallen short of the price, you cannot afford to pay for it. #3- I come along and pay the price to purchase it. #4 - now I want YOU to have this gift. ----- NOW if I were to say to you, "Look, I will give you this GIFT … IF you will ASK ME FOR IT." What would you HAVE to DO in order to get this?
There are actually TWO things you MUST DO. FIRST -- you must BELIEVE certain things. -- #1-- IF you did NOT believe that you NEEDED this medicine … you WOULD not ASK me for it. #2 -- IF you did NOT believe that without it you would die and the ONLY way to live is for you to get this medicine… again you would not ASK me for it. #3 -- IF you did NOT believe that I had paid for it … but that I had somehow gotten it fraudulently … you would not ASK me for it. OR … #4 -- IF you did NOT believe that I would give it to you AS A GIFT … but that would somehow require you to DO something more … you would not ASK me for it, but instead would be looking for something to do yourself.
Therefore, the FIRST thing that you would have to DO is BELIEVE. Have a bit of FAITH. Believe what I said.
Then the SECOND thing you must DO is ASK ME FOR IT. IF you only have faith, but never ask me for it, then this gift would not be handed over. It would remain MINE and NEVER yours.
Those are the same two things God requires you to DO if you would receive HIS GIFT.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
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.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Verse 9 sets up the two conditions … though reversed in order . VERSE 9 -- "that IF … (big word that sets up the conditions as a POSSIBILITY -- in other words IF you do this … you shall be saved … implying that IF you DO NOT do this then you will NOT be saved.
First … "THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS" … the faith is there, (the second part of the conditions) now you must ASK or CONFESS that what Jesus did … He did for you, and it is enough. -- Verse 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Second … verse 9 … and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
You see the belief is all inclusive. Jesus died on the cross, but it was not finished until GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD -- meaning the sacrifice was ACCEPTED and would be applied to all who would RECEIVE Him and that sacrifice.
Now the rest of the passage: 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.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In order to BE SAVED -- one must first BELIEVE … believe those four things -- and then ASK Jesus -- "call upon Him". The thief who died on the cross next to Jesus is a good example -- First he BELIEVED that Jesus was more than just a man, and that His death was MORE than just a simple death. THEN He called upon Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (he had FAITH that though a sinner Jesus could provide life instead of punishment) --- and Jesus said to him … TODAY THOU SHALT BE WITH ME IN PARADISE. He DID absolutely NOTHING but believe and ask. No work .. no payment made for sin. NOTHING … He simply received the GIFT OF GOD.
You must do TWO things in order to be SAVED from sin, the consequences of sin -- death and the ultimate consequence for sin … hell. WE MUST ALL BE SAVED.
Ephesians 2:8 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.
"Grace" is what we receive from God without earning it. "For by GRACE are ye SAVED … THROUGH FAITH (believing what God said) … and that NOT OF YOURSELVES … (nothing you can nor need to do) … IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD … (provided but only possessed IF received) … verse 9 -- NOT of WORKS -- (nothing you can do) … LEST any man should boast. (about how THEY got themselves into heaven)
No, now the ONLY person we can praise is GOD … for what JESUS HAS DONE.
John 3:16 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.
******************************************************************************
NOW if YOU are ready TO BE SAVED …
First -- I ask you IF you BELIEVE … (Believe what? -- These four things)
1. You are a sinner before God
2. That without Christ YOU SHOULD go to hell for the price for YOUR sin
3. However, Jesus paid the price for YOUR sin
4. and NOW offers TO YOU the GIFT of eternal life that you can have IF you will but ask Him for it.
Second -- Call upon Him … telling Him of your faith AND your of your CHOICE … to receive His gift of salvation
Calling on Him without believing is not enough. Nor is believing without calling on Him. HOWEVER, IF you truly believe … then call upon Him. (something like the following -- the words are not as important as the BELIEVING)
Pray a prayer LIKE the following --
"Dear God I know that I am a sinner and that I do not deserve to go to heaven. I recognize that without Christ I would not go to heaven but would instead go to hell. However, I now recognize that You died on the cross for me, to pay for MY sin. I also recognize that there is nothing I can or need to do to gain eternal life except receive that gift of eternal life that You offer me. And that gift I now receive. Lord, would You give me "eternal life" and take me to heaven when I die. I receive YOU as MY SAVIOUR."
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
******************************************************************************
See our other article -- "Ye Must Be Born Again"