Salvation is available to all humanity; it is a gift of God’s grace.  We can only receive this gift through faith.

Everything I write is so that those who have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior may do so.  There is no greater message than the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He came to earth and died in our place so that we may receive salvation and the gift of eternal life.

So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 5:21)

Faith in Jesus Christ is the only condition that God has for salvation.  It cannot be earned or purchased; it may only be received.  Salvation is necessary because without Jesus Christ, all people, because of our inherent natures, are sinners; we are incapable of obeying and pleasing God.  We are born again or regenerated when we repent of our sin, turn towards God and place personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

1. Faith is more than the repeating of a prayer or creed.  Faith is an activity that comes from our heart.  The New Testament reveals four main elements to this saving faith.  Faith means to firmly believe and trust in the crucified and resurrected Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.  This faith involves a belief that is rooted in our heart and requires that we surrender our will and total self to Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the New Testament.
2. Saving faith involves repentance; we are to turn away from sin with genuine sorrow and turn to God through Jesus Christ.  Saving faith always involves repentance.
3. Saving faith includes our obedience to Jesus Christ and His Word.  Our way of life is to be inspired by our faith, our gratitude towards God and by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Saving faith produces a desire to be like Jesus.  Saving faith must include a commitment to sanctification.
4. Saving faith results in love towards Jesus Christ.  Our faith produces a heartfelt personal devotion, trust, love and gratitude towards Him.  Faith at its ultimate level cannot be separated from love.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:1-10)

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6)

 

• Your past does not affect your ability to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
• Your current religion does not affect your ability to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
• Your sins do not affect your ability to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.

God made it easy for us to experience His love, forgiveness and salvation.

• We must be willing to admit that we are incapable of saving ourselves.  For only sinners need a Savior.
• We must be willing to surrender our life, past, present and future to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• We must believe that He is who the New Testament reveals Him to be.

He is the Son of God

He died upon the cross to pay the penalty for our sins

He rose from the dead in victory over sin

• We must invite Him into our lives.
• We must confess our faith to those we know

An old preacher said, salvation is as easy as A, B, C

A – accept

B – believe

C – confess

My hope and prayer for you is that you will read the New Testament and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  May His love reach you wherever you are.