Why you need to be saved
The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23
It also says "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a).
It is from this that we need to be saved. From our own sin. From its bondage. From its consequences.
"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).
How you can be saved
1. God loves you
”For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
2. But you are a sinner
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
3. The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin
"When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt”(John 16:8-9)
4. Your response is to repent of sin
"...For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matt.9:13)
5. Trust in Christ as Savior and Lord
"If you believe in your heart Jesus is Lord and confess with your mouth that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9)
What the Bible says about salvation
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” Romans 6:23
" For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
“….who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9
- It is received by repentance and confession (faith)
“Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” Acts 2:38-39
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” Acts 3:19
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. Romans 10:9
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned” John 5:24
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-5
“And this is what he promised us--even eternal life” 1 John 2:25
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
"The blood of His Son Jesus purifies us from all sin" 1 John 1:7
FAQ on sin and salvation
Q. Can I lose my salvation?
A. No one can steal your salvation. The blood of Jesus that saved us is powerful enough to keep us. You needn’t fret. God will not let you go. But, the Word of God teaches that it is possible for a Christian to forfeit, or give up, his salvation. Judas the Iscariot is an example of an individual who forfeited salvation.
Q. How do I know that I’m saved when I don’t feel saved?
A. Feeling is a physical response from the body. How the body feels has nothing to do with being saved. If one is looking for confidence or assurance about salvation, then this grows as one matures in the Christian life. Even in our darkest hour, there is no need to doubt our salvation. It is God's work - not ours. It does not depend on us. As a born-again believer, you must learn to see yourself as God sees you. You should not see yourself as Satan sees you or as others see you.
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” 2 Cor. 5:17
Q. Can a Christian ever achieve sinless perfection?
A. It is unlikely that you will ever be perfect at all. But, you can be excellent. That only means there is always room for growth. Strive for excellence and not perfection. Remember: God is perfect but not a perfectionist. If you are a perfectionist, you will always be dissatisfied and grumpy.
Q. If salvation is by faith alone, does that mean I can do whatever I want and still be saved as long as I have faith?
A. If you are truly born-again, that in itself creates in you the desire to do God’s will. In other words justification always creates the desire for sanctification. True faith always results in action. That is not to say you will never sin again once saved. True believers have a genuine desire and make a genuine attempt to do God’s will. This genuineness is, in fact, what enabled you to receive your salvation.
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6:1-2
Q. Can I earn salvation myself?
A. The following verses make it clear that salvation is not earned but it is a free gift:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Ephesians 2:21
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23
Q. How do I receive Eternal Life once I am saved?
A. Eternal Life is one of the things we receive at the moment of salvation. At the moment an individual believes in Jesus Christ, God gives that person eternal Life.