Is it possible to know? The epistle of I John was written to answer that question. Am I saved? Can I really know for sure? John's answer to us is a resounding "YES!" In I John 5:13 we read, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life." In the preceding verses, the Bible states, "He that hath the Son hath life [eternal]. He that hath not the Son of God hath not life [eternal]." According to the Bible, eternal life is found in one person, Jesus Christ. The question now is "How do you get Jesus?"
The Roman's Road. If you could only read one book of the Bible, you should consider the book of Romans. Why? Because this book specifically answers the question "How do I get Jesus?" For sake of brevity, the following will be a summary of the answer.
Understanding Sin. The first three chapters of Romans emphasize to us the fact that all of us have sinned. Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no not one." Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin, by definition, means to "miss the mark." We sin when we fail to live up to God's standard...Himself. This standard is revealed in His Word. This is why we call stealing a sin, because God says in Exodus 20:15, "Thou shalt not steal."
Understanding Death. Romans 6:23a states "the wages of sin is death". In fact, in chapter 5 we are told that, through Adam, sin entered into the world and with sin came death. Death is simply a separation. Our body and soul part ways. The body enters the grave, but the soul exists eternally. In Revelations 21:8 we read that there is a second death that we call hell. It is an eternal separation from God in a burning lake of fire.
Understanding Jesus. It is only after you come to grips with your sin and your impending death, that you truly understand the significance of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, Leviticus specifically, God informed his people, the Israelites, that through the shedding of blood, sin would be forgiven. In those days, the people sacrificed pure, spotless animals. Often the animal of choice was a lamb. It is for this reason that Jesus is called the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Romans 5:8 states, "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." All our sin was placed upon Jesus, the lamb of God.
Understanding Your Decision. As you are probably aware, the Bible records that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. Our sin debt has been paid. So what does God require of you in order for you to be saved. It's very simple: repentant of your sins by placing your faith in Jesus. Romans 10:9 says, "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." To "repent" is to change your mind. We must change our mind about sin and about the Savior, Jesus. To have "faith" is to put your trust or confidence in something. Biblical salvation occurs when you turn from sin to Jesus believing in the salvation that He has purchased.
Don't delay. Call out to Him today! Salvation is just one decision away. |
