Are You Saved?
You might want to know what this really means.
Salvation is a subject that is often talked about but also frequently misunderstood. What is it to be saved? What are we supposed to be saved from? Can we work our way into God’s good graces? These are frequently asked questions. Although we could deal with all of the misrepresentations of salvation and what it means, it would be better for us to rely on God’s Word to tell us what we must do to be saved.
When it comes to mankind’s standing before God, we need to understand that all have sinned and come short of God’s Glory.
| For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
As a matter of fact, this sin came into the world a long time ago and now all have been declared sinners before God. This is a fact that we know if we are honest with ourselves.
| 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: (Romans 5:12)
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, their relationship with God was severed. That “one man” brought to himself, as well as all of his descendants, the consequences of that sin. In fact, the Apostle Paul, in the book of Romans tells us that what sin earns us is death.
| For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23a)
This death is both physical (we all grow old and die) and spiritual in that our sin earns us an eternity in an everlasting fire. God, as a just Judge, will declare us to be guilty of violating His law.
| And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
| And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13-15)
This should be very concerning to us. In and of ourselves, we could never pay that penalty and satisfy our own guilt. That is where the good news comes in. God has already done this for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
| For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
| 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 3:16)
In fact, the penalty of our sin was paid in full on the cross of Calvary and God’s justice was satisfied. Jesus was the only one who could be the perfect sacrifice for us, as He never sinned.
| But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
| For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1Peter 3:18)
That’s great news for ALL of us. It was Jesus Christ that paid the price of our sin on the cross, and did ALL the necessary work for us to be saved. That’s right! No wondering if we are in or out, whether or not we are good enough to go to heaven, and no wondering which of the works we can perform here on earth would make us right before God. There is nothing we can do that would merit salvation; Christ did it all!
| 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. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
| Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
The question then comes up, “what must I do to be saved?” Great question. The Bible tells us we must repent of our sin and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone as the one that can pay the penalty for our sins.
| And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)
| Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19)
| 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… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9,13)
When we are presented with the truth of salvation, we are brought to a decision. Will we place our faith and trust in Christ or not? Will we see our sin for the offense that it is to God and rely on His Son to save us from the penalty? Will we call out to Christ to save us? He is our only hope!