"saved" or "born again." Everyone agrees that salvation is a good thing, but we do not all agree on how to go obtain it. There is so much confusion on the issue that often sincere, God fearing, children of God spend countless hours and years unsure of their salvation. As always God's Word clears away the confusion when we allow it speak for itself. In I Timothy 2:3-4 God's desire is plainly stated:
[3] "This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
[4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."--NIV
God's will is not for man to live in a state of doubt and sin, living in a world unto himself in guilt and shame. He wants to save mankind from the hurtful and evil schemes of this world. His alternative is to offer a better way for mankind to live via his Son Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, Nicodemus, a wise scholar, approached Jesus with the same questions many of you are asking today. Who is Jesus Christ? How does one obtain access to the Kingdom of God? Out of his questioning came this fundamental verse used throughout Christendom John 3:16:
[16] "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." --NIV
This verse, like all of God's Word means what it says. We dare not add to it or subtract from it. By believing in him, Jesus Christ, we have eternal life and shall not perish. Yes, God really made it simple for us. He knew we needed it easy and simple. This is a perfect example of the KISS principle, keep it simply simple, in action.
Often John 3:16 is quoted as the salvation verse. However, there is more take a look at the following verses:
[17] "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [
18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."--NIV
Again, we see that God's desire is NOT to condemn the world or any individual. God's will is to save not condemn.
There is also no need to confess your sins in order to be saved. Instead, you confess and believe on the Savior from sin, Jesus Christ. Confession of sin is work. (In fact, for many of us it ís a work too enormous to think about, much less accomplish.) Salvation is available because of God's grace and the life, obedience, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we are saved and not through any act of praying, begging, pleading, or living perfectly that we obtain so great a salvation. It is simply God's grace and the life of Jesus Christ that has made it available.
Romans 10:9-10 established this great truth regarding what we must do to be saved:
[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.
[10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." --NIV
What does it mean to confess, "Jesus is Lord"? Is it merely a meaningless verbal repetition, "Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord"? Or is there more to it?
"Lord" simply means leader or ruler. It can also be thought of as one who is the head of something or someone. Confessing that Jesus is Lord means you are making him Lord in your life. He is now head, or the leader of your life. Before this confession you were the ruler and you did things your way, and it most cases you made a mess of things. God gives us the opportunity to change the leader in our life from self to Christ. Once you make this confession things are forever changed for the better.
A simple confession that Jesus is Lord in your life and believing that God raised him from the dead are the only requirements that God has for salvation. Remember, it is God's desire for all mankind to be saved. Therefore, he made it easy for us to accomplish it. The only work that is required is to simply accept God at His Word and believe Him. When we do this, salvation is ours to enjoy for eternity!
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