SALVATION: WHAT MUST I DO?

Many people are positive that they are saved. They base this on emotions. They may make certain comments, such as, “I am a good person. I do what is right. I’m not as bad as that other person. I had an experience with God. I feel that I am saved. I can feel God is with me. I know the Holy Spirit is inside of me. I am a preacher, or an elder, or a prophet. I am a preacher’s wife. I have prayed, and God answered my prayer. I believe in God. God did this or that for me. I sing to God. I sing in the choir. I go to church. I praise and worship God. I give my money to the church. I was baptized.” While all of this sounds very nice, it is not based upon biblical knowledge.

Many people, who are now in hell, have said such things. The Pharisees in the New Testament also could have said many of these things, but Jesus showed them clearly they were not saved.

If you have received Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, as your Lord and Savior, it is because God, in His mercy, has opened your understanding. As it is written,

FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM
-Eph 2:8-10.

You might ask, “What must I do to be saved?”

• 1. Admit you are a sinner. The Bible tells us, ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD (Romans 3:23) THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH (Romans 6:23)
• 2. Be willing to change, to forsake all sin, and live for Jesus. Repent.
  Be willing to ask God for His help, to help you make that change. The Bible tells us, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH (Luke 13:3)
  WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD (James 4:4)
  Jesus tells us, HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME (Mathew 12:30)
• 3. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son and that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Believe that He died for your sins. Believe on Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation. As it is written,
  THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED (Acts 4:12)

If we rob a bank, we have to go to jail. Jesus never sinned. When He died on the cross, He did not die for the things He did. He died to pay your jail sentence.

• 4. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for God’s mercy. By faith, receive Jesus Christ as your only hope of being saved and do not be ashamed. Confess Him openly as your only hope of salvation. As it is written,
  BE READY ALWAYS TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERY MAN THAT ASKETH YOU A REASON OF THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR (1 Peter 3:15)

The Bible tells us, GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS (Psalms 89:7)
WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US (1 John 4:19)

Water Baptism

“After” we believe on Jesus Christ, “after” we have repented of our sins, we are commanded to be baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. It is written, HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED-Mk 16:16. Note, believing on Jesus comes “before” water baptism.

Baptism prior to repenting and believing on Jesus has no meaning. You cannot be baptized into One whom you do not believe on. It is written, FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST-Gal 3:27. Water baptism is by full immersion. As it is written, BURIED WITH HIM (with Jesus) IN BAPTISM (or buried in the water)-Col 2:12. WE ARE BURIED WITH HIM (with Jesus) BY BAPTISM (or buried by water)-Ro 6:4. Jesus commanded, GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. AMEN-Mt 28:19,20.

Surrender means “you give up.” You stop putting your will before God’s will. You allow Jesus (God’s Word) to reign over you. You submit to Jesus and let Him become the Lord of your life.

You do not get to keep on sinning and say you are saved. Many times we say the prayer but we dont want to live the life. This is a false Salvation.

If you have never humbled yourself, and totally surrendered to Jesus, and become as a little child (ref Mt 18:3), and continued steadfast in the faith, I would suggest that NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION-2 Cor 6:2.

Please submit to God, say this prayer, and mean it with all of your heart.

DEAR JESUS, I AM A SINNER. I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD AND DIED FOR MY SINS ON THE CROSS. FORGIVE ALL OF MY SINS. JESUS, I REPENT. I ASK YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER, AND COME INTO MY LIFE. GIVE ME YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR POWER. HELP ME TO FOLLOW AND OBEY YOUR COMMANDMENTS, AND TO LIVE FOR YOU. JESUS, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY PRAYER. THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE. I ASK IT IN THE NAME OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

We have people standing by right now to pray with you for your salvation, or the salvation of loved ones. Simply click on our Prayer Request forums. Search around a bit, and if you feel so lead, go ahead and join so that you can either post your own prayer requests, or you can pray for others.

Author: Larry Williamson