Are you Saved?
There are over 2 billion people in this world who claim to be a Christian, but not all of them are born again spiritually. There are many denominations and different doctrines that separate Christianity into several different groups, but there are really only 2 main ideas that all Christians are divided over. There are those who believe that salvation is given by God's grace through our faith in what Jesus did when he died and rose again. And then there is those who believe that we must do good works inorder to earn our way into heaven when we die.
I am a saved born again believer in Jesus Christ and I have become an Independent Fundemental Baptist after 43 years of being ignorant of my sinful nature. My goal in writing this post is not to convert the reader to becoming an Independent Fundemental Baptist, but to get the reader to understand the gift of eternal life that is available to everyone who puts 100% of their trust into what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross, was buried then resurrected 3 days later.
I believe the Bible is the Word of God, and I believe that He preserved His Word for all english speaking people with the 1611 King James Version, and any attempt to revise it only weakens it's power.
There are four main concepts we must understand inorder to recieve salvation:
The first concept is that we are all sinners.
Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
And Romans 3:10 says, "as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one."
Nobody is good enough to earn their way to heaven, everyone is a sinner and deserves to go to hell. In Romans 5:12 we see why we all have this sin nature, "wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned." Because Adam first sinned, he brought death into our existence, before sin there was no death.
That brings me to the second concept, there is a punishment for sin. The first part of Romans 6:23 says, "for the wages of sin is death,.."
We are all destined to die physically, but there is also a second death spiritually, that many people will also suffer.
Revelation 20:14, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
Revelation 21:8, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
God's Word is very clear about where people will end up if they fail to believe the truth He has given us.
The third concept we must understand is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gospel means good news, and after hearing about our sinful nature and the everlasting punishment for it, the good news is that God doesn't want anyone to perish, and he has provided a way out.
Romans 5:8 says, "but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
Romans 6:23 says, "for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ Our Lord."
Eternal life is a gift, given to you by the grace of God once you put your faith in Jesus Christ.
A gift is not something you earn, and it is not something that the giver can take away. If God could take away his gift of eternal life from you, then that would make God a liar, because it wouldn't have been a gift, nor would it have been eternal. There are many things God can do, but one thing he cannot do is lie.
There are many Bible verses that prove salvation is by grace through faith alone, here are a few more;
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
Ephesians 2:8-9, "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."
The forth and final step to being saved is to call upon Jesus and ask Him to save you.
Romans 10:9, "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."
Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
If you trust God's Word, and you want to spend eternity in heaven with Jesus, then pray this simple sinners prayer right now, and receive God's gracious gift of eternal life.
"DEAR JESUS, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER. AND I KNOW THAT I DESERVE TO GO TO HELL FOR MY SINS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU DIED ON THE CROSS FOR ME, AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS COVERS MY SINFUL NATURE, PLEASE SAVE ME RIGHT NOW LORD, AND GIVE ME ETERNAL LIFE WITH YOU IN HEAVEN. I AM ONLY TRUSTING IN YOU JESUS, AMEN!"
If you prayed that prayer or something similar to it, and you truly meant the words that came out of your mouth, then you are saved from the lake of fire, and you are born again spiritually. Now you must grow as a Christian and walk with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you. My suggestion to all new believers is to first get a King James Bible and read it daily. Starting in the Book of John helps to better understand your salvation and the sacrifice Jesus made for us. And the second step to growing as a Christian is finding a good church to belong to. This can be extremely hard to do these days since there are many false prophets and phony preachers who pray on good people who just want to know God's Word. Look for churches online whose doctrinal statements about salvation is by grace through faith alone, and that will narrow your search quite a bit. Also, a church that only preaches from the 1611 King Jame Bible is a must.
Ephesians 6:24, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."
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A further caveat to those who are resting in their works. The crowd in Matthew 7 surely had works yet Jesus will say He never knew them. They did believe the gospel of grace.
Matthew 7:14,22-24 KJVS
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
I agree with many of the premises of you article and find them to be biblical spare a couple. I reject the sinners prayer as even an unregenerate person, that is one not quickened by the Holy Spirit imputing Christ's righteousness to the sinners account in time, is able to utter those words yet fail to understand and believe the gospel of grace. God is both the author and finisher of the faith of the saints. Romans 6 speaks of a baptism in His death. I believe this represents a metaphysical event by which a sinner is converted and able to believe each and every God-glorifying proposition concerning the gospel. Yes, and to trust in it alone for their justification.
It is not their trusting nor their faith that saves them. It is rather His blood, His death like, Christ alone which be the object of God given faith. Jesus told the sick man when He saw His faith that His sins were forgiven.
This suggests that faith is the evidence rather of a saints sins already being forgiven. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5. Only one who is born again of the Spirit has the Spirit. It necessarily follows that faith is not the cause of being born again but rather an effect.
Again, I appreciate the post and the truth it presents. I hope you too understand that one who is saved is saved solely because Christ's death is reckoned to them freeing them from the guilt and curse of Adam. God gets ALL the glory. Amen!
Thank you for your reply, and yes, all the glory belongs to Jesus.
Baptism is a necessary part of growing as a Christian because it is required to become a member of a local church. But it is not required for salvation, and there is no scripture that explains it being a metaphysical event necessary for regeneration. It takes time and effort for one to become a Godly person, and that can only happen when you have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 John 5:13 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Go and spread the good news about Jesus Christ. It is the one and only truth that this wicked world desperately needs to hear.
God Speed!
Not talking about baptism with water though.
Romans 6:3-11 KJVS
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: [9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. [10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thanks for the reply.
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