God’s Plan of Salvation
What is salvation according to the Bible?
Salvation is the great work of God (Jonah 2:9) in which He forgives sin and gives eternal life to a believing sinner as a free gift of His grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Forgiveness is needed because all people are born sinners showing their sin nature soon after birth (Gen.
“Salvation is free!. God puts no price tag on the Gift of gifts. But like any other gift, salvation is not ours until we reach out and accept it. But what does that mean, especially for people whose faith traditions teach that attaining eternity is based on a person’s merits?
Salvation cannot be earned. Ephesians 2:8–9 states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
God’s gift was sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sins. God’s grace covers our sin. You can be a loving person, a good person and even volunteer of the year, but it will never be good enough; we were all born with a sinful nature. That is why Jesus’ sacrifice was the only solution to wipe our sins away so we can be in heaven with a holy God.
The path of the Christlike life is the greatest adventure anyone can experience. To know that God our Creator is daily working within us to shape us into the image of Christ is an incredible experience. Getting started is a simple process, as easy as the ABCs. Consider this “ABC” process as a guide – admit, believe, and confess.
ADMIT You Are a Sinner
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This verse tells us that everyone disobeys God at some time, and that disobedience is sin. No one is without sin.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When we sin, we earn the punishment of death. But God offers us a gift of eternal life if we are willing to accept it.
BELIEVE in Jesus
John 3:16 – “’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.'” God hates sin but loves each of us, even though we all sin. He loves us so much that He gave Jesus, His Son, to die and take the punishment for our sins.
CONFESS that Jesus is your Lord
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When we admit our sin and ask God to forgive us, he will do it, no matter what. Asking Jesus into your heart is the start of a new life, a life where Jesus is your savior, leader, and Lord. He will never leave you alone.
If you are ready to ADMIT you are a sinner, BELIEVE that God has provided forgiveness and eternal life through Christ, and CONFESS Jesus as your Lord, pray this simple prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I have disobeyed You. Please forgive me. Come into my heart and life. Help me love and follow You. Thank You for the gift of salvation. Amen
This doesn’t mean we never need to ask for God’s forgiveness—quite the contrary. We need to and can go directly to Jesus Christ in prayer.
Wondering whether you’ll go to heaven? Worried your sin will keep you out?
These questions weigh heavily on people.
According to the Bible, you can know for sure that you will go to heaven if you believe in Jesus Christ and repent of your sins. The Bible says that Jesus’s death on the cross satisfied God’s wrath and paid the penalty for our sins and that God raised Jesus from the grave to defeat the consequences of sin. By confessing your belief in Jesus as the Son of God and what he has done for you, you can have confidence that you have eternal life. Some Bible verses that support this include: 1 John 5:13
The Bible says you can know for sure that you will be with God after you die. Romans 10:9 says, “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.”
Let us know If you have prayed this prayer and asked Christ into your life at drdeb@d4lmi.life.