Salvation, God's plan and You
Adam and Eve when first created by God, were perfect. They soon fell into sin when they ate of the fruit of the tree that God had told them not to eat. We may think that this was no big deal, it was only eating of the fruit; but in fact they disobeyed and sinned against God. In God's eyes sin is sin, no different than us trying to justify the "little sins" that we do. Whenever we do anything that violates God's Word that is sin, regardless of the size or magnitude of that sin.
After Adam and Eve sinned they covered themselves with fig leaves; but God quickly stepped in and covered them with animal skins because their attempts to cover themselves was not acceptable unto God. From the moment that they had sinned, God initiated His plan of redemption so they could be redeemed back to Him. Also from that point all mankind has been born with a sin nature. The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
From the time that Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves man has been trying many different avenues to cover themselves in such a way that he could somehow earn his way into Heaven. All down through the ages right to the present, man has tried to earn a right into Heaven through doing good things, joining a Church, baptism, christening; and sadly many are resting in false hopes of these things being enough to earn them a right into Heaven someday. It is mainly because of improper understanding of the Bible, wrong teaching of the Bible within many Churches, and traditions passed down through families that many people are led astray and don't even realize it.
God had sent Jesus Christ to come to this earth to teach us His ways and also to die as an acceptable and sinless sacrifice for us. It was through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that He paid for all sin committed by all mankind. Interestingly Jesus paid for the sin of all mankind and that means that in theory every person could have ended up in Heaven.
The Bible says that few will end up in Heaven and many will be on the wide road to destruction or Hell. Why? Because even thought Jesus paid for the sin of everyone it is because of sin and unbelief. Each person has to come to the realization that they acknowledge that they are a sinner, and that they have sinned against God. They have to come to believe and trust that Jesus already paid for their sin back at the cross; and that there is nothing whatsoever they can do to earn their way into a right relationship with God and Heaven.
There are those that may say, well that is too easy to be true. Well, if it is so easy then why are there so few that are true believers and have become children of God. If you are one of these people and believe it is that easy then why haven't you been able to take that step. Actually according to God's Word you could not take that step of faith anyway unless the Spirit of God was drawing you to come to Him.
No sin can ever enter Heaven or it really would not be Heaven if there was sin there. All mankind has sinned there is no other choice for fallen man left except for Hell. There is no in between, all those who are not of God will end up in Hell forever and ever.
A man needs to be saved or born again if he wants to escape the Hell that awaits him and also so he can live in fellowship with God. Eternally it is far better to end up in Heaven than to end up in Hell. If you think Hell isn't real then you need to read about it in God's Word. Jesus talked more about Hell than about Heaven; because He was warning man about it so we would come to Him for salvation.
The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. The Bible says that you must be born again. God knew from eternity past that man would fall and so he did fall. God provided a means of reconciliation for man because there was nothing that man could do to reconcile himself and become acceptable to God. Jesus Christ with His own life and the shedding His own blood provided the only possible restoration for man.
How can a man be saved or born again?
Every human being on this earth could be saved because Jesus Christ died on the cross, took on all the sin of mankind upon Himself and provided salvation for all as the Bible says. Salvation has been provided to all but it must be accepted individually by each person. Each one individually has to recognize their need for salvation and realize that God has provided for your salvation through Jesus Christ, and then you have to embrace it.
Salvation is the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil. Salvation or becoming saved simply is the process of confessing and believing. You must confess that Jesus is Lord and that you are a sinner in need of salvation. Then you need to believe that God has given us His Son Jesus Christ to die for your sin and also that He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus has paid for all sin and provided man a life free from the penalty of sin to those that accept Him as their Savior.
The Bible says "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Also as the Bible tells us, For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
In the beginning, God created us in His own image. He planned for us to have an abundant life. But He did not make us as robots, so we do not "automatically" love and obey Him. God gives each person a will and a freedom of choice.
Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and to go their own willful way. All of us have inherited the results of that first bad choice. We still make the same choice today. Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die (Romans 5:12).
This choice produced separation from God.
The Bible says in...
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Our attempts to reach God all have failed
People have tried in many ways to bridge the gap between themselves and God.
But the Bible says in...
Proverbs 14:12 'There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and removed the barrier that separates people from God.
The Bible says...
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
God has provided the only way but it is our choice.
Salvation is totally free for us, it was completely paid in full and a great sacrifice by Jesus Christ, through an awful and agonizing death on the Cross. Individually we must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Romans 10:9 That 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.
What does it mean to receive Christ?
Receiving Christ involves a change of heart, a turning from your old path to a new path that God has for you.
Accepting Jesus means to:
1. SINNER - Confess you area sinner and to admit your need.
2. REPENT - Be willing and have a heartfelt need to turn away from your sins.
3. TRUST JESUS - Believe that Jesus Christ died for 'you' on the Cross and rose from the grave to offer you eternal life.
4. RECEIVE HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR - Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come into your life, and to control your life, through the Holy Spirit.
If this prayer below expresses the desire of your heart
Why not pray right now?
The exact wording of this prayer below, is not important; as long as you truly have a desire from your heart that you want to give yourself to Him. You can pray something like this.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I want to turn from my sins. I know You are the only way to God so now I want to turn from disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me and change my life. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed something like this you are now a child of God. God offers His assurance to us through His promises in the Bible:
The Bible says...
Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.