1. First, the bad news - we’re all sinners in the eyes of God.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
2. More bad news - the result of sin is death.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death.
There are two parts to death. The first death is a physical death here on earth. The second death is the lake of fire (hell).
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.
That’s a pretty bad list, right? But, notice at the end of the list it said “all liars.” The Bible says, “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). The point here is that we’re all sinners and we’re all condemned to hell - even if the only thing you have ever done wrong is tell a lie.
3. Now the Good news – God has a gift He wants to give you (eternal life).
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God has a gift He wants to give you and that gift is eternal life and it is through Jesus Christ. You don’t have to work for the gift and you don’t have to pay for the gift.
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.
4. More Good News – Jesus paid the price for our sins.
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.
Just because the gift is free doesn’t mean that someone didn’t pay for it. Since God wants to give you a gift, He’s the giver and you’re the receiver, so He paid for the gift. Jesus paid for the gift by His death, burial and resurrection. Do you believe that Jesus died, was buried and was resurrected on the third day to pay for our sins?
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
God says he wants to give you eternal life, that is life that will never end. This means that when you die the initial physical death, you will not die the second death of being cast into the lake of fire but instead you will go and live with God forever in heaven.
Titus 1:2: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Our hope for eternal life is that God cannot lie. So if God promises you life that will never end, then He will give you life that never ends. Salvation had nothing to do with you, remember it’s “not of yourselves” (Ephesians 2:8). When God forgives you of your sins; He forgives you of all your sins—past, present, future. That is how he can guarantee us eternal life.
5. All you have to do is accept God’s gift for you by faith.
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 someone were to buy a gift, wrap it and write your name on it, it would not become yours until you accepted it. The gift from God is exactly the same. It’s already been paid for by Jesus Christ and God offers it to everyone but you need to accept it. You accept the gift of eternal life by confessing with your mouth while believing in your heart.
Do you want to accept Jesus Christ and be saved from your sins right now? Then just say this simple prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried and rose again to pay for my sins. I ask you to save me, forgive me of my sins and take me to heaven when I die. Thank you for giving me eternal life. Amen.
Congratulations, you are saved!
If you prayed that prayer and got saved, send me a message - it would make an old Canadian guy very happy to hear that you got saved. God bless.
Well done, good and faithful servant! I might add one thing. This acceptance of Christ means a full surrender to His will. One should not think that praying a prayer will lead to eternal life. Jesus said unless you repent, you will perish. We must count the cost!!! He also commanded the rich young ruler to give away all his riches (this was his god), and come follow Him. The rich your ruler turned away sad. He would have prayed the prayer, but would end up with false assurance of salvation. He would be like the seed planted among thorns that grows up and looks great, but the trials (temptations) of life choke it out.
Agreed. As James says in Chapter 2: “Faith without works is death.”
I remember the 1986 World Series Game 6. Ouch!
Sir you need to reconsider what you are writing here. Salvation by obedience-faith is unbiblical, even if Roman Catholics teach it as official doctrine.
Please review the basics of the epistle to the Romans; where works (anything, literally anything we can do or continue to do to please God) and faith are two SEPARATE paths to being justified before God. One of those paths is strictly hypothetical, that if we wish to do well we can inherit eternal life on the grounds of full, perfect, and perpetual obedience. Or what you call "full surrender".
This was precisely the legal argument Jesus gave to the rich young ruler. He did not come to Jesus as the messiah, crying out for mercy as someone in a helpless state. He called Jesus "Good teacher" because he had moral conduct as a basis for eternal blessings on his agenda. He wanted to know what else must be done to fill out the required goodness that makes eternal life a reward. Jesus' response accepts the ruler's premise for the sake of argument. His response was not "Oh just be a disciple like these 12 guys here, do good make some sacrifices and follow me". Jesus in fact was saying this: you must be just as I am: give up everything (he set aside his glory to become a humble servant completely voluntariliy), sell to the poor (all that you possess and value in this life are now the property of strangers and even sinners who may not appreciate you whatsoever), and come follow me (literally, walk with me towards Jerusalem, to also be falsely accused, arrested, beaten, and allow yourself to be put to death purely out of self sacrificial love for your neighbor).
This "full surrender" is a higher standard than you can imagine. It means completing the same mission as Jesus himself did. Who is up for it? Show of hands? The answer is only Jesus did what could be done to inherit eternal life. That is the sum conclusion and fulfillment of the Law, loving God and neighbor so that one may attain life and blessing. We need a substitute (faith in Christ, redemption by HIS blood), we cannot fulfill personally what is required. Period.
Repentance is also not the grounds of justification, i.e. being accepted before a holy God. Otherwise Christ died for no effectual reason, if we only had to be sorry and do better against sin to be saved. We cannot mingle the content of the gospel with the consequences of the gospel. Those who are saved by faith in Christ alone, with no works added, no tears of repentance contributing to God's judicial decision, certainly will have new life and walk in a desire to please God and turn from sin. As evidence of justification by faith. But none of that is the grounds of justification. Again, read Romans carefully. This straightforward structural overview of the epistle I think would help clarify some things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6PjL3quBk
Amen, it's a non good news "gospel". Their good news is, now that your aware, earn it. These people mix carnal salvation in this flesh passages with spiritual. They mingle non-salvific passages with salvific. Then become the very man in James 2 that demands to see works for proof of salvation, as if it's what God says and not a man like James is saying. James 2 is about showing MEN your faith by your works not God. Because he's asking what does our salvation profit unsaved men of we don't demonstrate our faith via works to them? They can't see our heart like God. God is only pleased with HIS finished work on the cross. We do not add to or take away. But we become Sons of God and seen without sin a second time like it or not folks praise God He made it easy.
Amen and amen! The more I study the bible from cover to cover, and see the blinding perfect glorious holiness of God's character reflected in the Law he gave to Israel through Mt Sinai, the more crystal clear it is how precious to all mankind that promised seed was in Genesis 3 and then again to Abraham in Gen 12, 15 etc. The Law came later (Galatians 3) to demonstrate that sin disqualifies everyone from obtaining life even through our best efforts; no one is righteous according to God's standards, even though the Law shows how righteousness and blessing must go together. We need an advocate and a substitute to go in the stead of God's judgment for us, to cover us and give us life by His righteousness according to the stipulations of divine Law. We can only hold out the empty hand of faith and receive the gift that was obtained by the bloody cross. And yes, works are absolutely necessary to demonstrate we are not playing games with God in confessing faith in Christ, but that we believe in our hearts.
o7 amen brother, our works are to been seen separate from salvation, as much as linen (flax/works) and wool (lamb/salvation) were to be separated as an image of our works separated fully from our grace based salvation in the OT. Good things but inappropriate to mingle the two given that context. They both have their place, but don't mix em. We gotta get out of His way, for our own salvations sake.
Hey, buddy! That sounds like works to me! I live by faith alone. In fact I didn't even repent for my sins or say that prayer because it just feels a little to worksy like what those wafer eating rat bastard Catholics do. Stupid Catholics with their seven sacraments and 12% more Bible.
Fren you seem to be very confused on your understanding. By accepting Christ into your heart you live like Him by His Grace. In doing this you do good deeds, be righteous, helping others, etc. That is not works, you aren’t doing those things to be saved, you’re already saved. You crucify your old life and do these things because Christ has transformed you.
If you profess to be a Christian and continue living your life the exact same as you were swallowed in sin… you might want to look over your life and ask if you truly accepted Christ.
Bro. One can point out false teachings and salvation by works without hating those who are deceived.
Calm down Francis.
Kek😂😂😂😂. I love this diversity in the Brethren. Love you all.
Dipshit, you are not following Q. The team told us not to let others divide us. Looks like that is what you're doing. I'm Catholic and while I cannot stand Francis, I do love my faith. I also respect the faiths of other people.