In a very complicated, “religious” world… God has made salvation simple. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Your salvation experience will be the beginning of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Understanding salvation is as simple as “A.B.C.”
1). Admit you are a sinner in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ;
2). Believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins;
3). Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.
1). Admit you are a sinner in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ: (Your sin separates you from having fellowship with God) Human Beings -Sin – God. A relationship with Jesus Christ begins with your admission that you need God. You must admit you need God to do three things:
A. You need God to forgive you of your sins, those attitudes or actions
that don’t meet God’s standards. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess ours sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:8,9);
B. You need God to give you eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23);
C. You need God to show you His purpose for your life. “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
2). Believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins: The penalty for your sin is death. God loves you so much, He provides a way for you to escape that penalty. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Jesus can and will save anyone from an eternity without God. He died and rose again for your justification, to put your relationship with God in right standing. “He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25) Belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus for your sins is essential for salvation, but it is not enough. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe God and tremble.” (James 2:19). You must do more than believe in Jesus. You must confess him as Lord or boss of your life.
3. Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life: Confessing Jesus as Lord means to commit total control of your life to Christ. You give him the ownership of your life. He becomes your new boss. If you confess Jesus as Lord of your life, the Bible says you will be saved. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus and Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9,10)
The following prayer is one you can use to confess Jesus as Lord and ask Him to save you: “Dear God, I admit I am a sinner in need of you. Please forgive me of my sins and give me abundant life here on earth and the free gift of eternal life with you in heaven. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. I confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Paul J. Fritz
Director of Missions, Trinity College of Florida
Answers2Prayer Subscriber PPaulfritz@aol.com
Appearing Sunday, April 21, 2002