Do you know that you are saved?
My friend, are you dead or alive? Do you ever feel that there is something important missing from your life? A vital part of your existence that isn't there, and has never been there? An empty void and longing, deep within the depths of your soul, crying out to be filled? If you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ on a personal basis, that's the problem. God, the giver and sustainer of life, is missing from your life. The Bible says, without Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you are "dead in trespasses and sins;" Ephesians.2:1. Jesus wants to breathe life into you. This receiving of new life from Jesus Christ is what He called being born again. [John.3:3
You might say why do I need to be saved?
God leaves no doubt about our condition. We set our standards of right and wrong by society’s values. God’s standard for us is His own holiness. How do we measure up? "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). It’s only fair that God demands holiness; that’s how he first create mankind. We have rebelled against Him as a race and as individuals. Our pathway away from God has brought its consequences. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). The Bible compares sin to a cruel slave master. There is no mercy in suffering, no freedom from bondage, no lasting joy, no hope for the future. But most frightening is the final consequence of sin. The Bible warns that without God’s salvation, death is the doorway to eternal punishment (Hebrews 9:27). It is from this that we need to be saved. From our own sin. From its bondage. From its consequences. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).
How does God say I can be saved?
God is holy and God is love. His holiness demands that our sin be punished infinitely. His love provides a way for us to be saved from this punishment. How is this possible? Another was willing to suffer what we deserve. Our substitute had to be a sinless man, able to suffer the infinite anger of God against our sin.
The only one able to take our place was God’s only Son. The greatest display of God’s love unfolded as His Son left heaven to become a man. Born of a virgin 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ lived with His creation. Unable to sin Himself, yet He showed compassion to sinners all around Him. However, men hated Him because His holiness revealed their sinfulness. He willingly allowed them to nail Him to a cross of wood outside Jerusalem. They suspended Him so they could sit and watch Him die. The climax of God’s plan of salvation had arrived as God covered the earth with darkness. The Bible tells us that for three hours He laid on His Son the infinite punishment we deserve for our sin. The darkness was broken when Jesus Christ called out with a loud voice "It is finished". He had accomplished the mighty work, God’s great plan of salvation. After three days in death, Christ Jesus rose from the dead. This is evidence to all that saw him afterwards and to all who read God’s word that Christ’s suffering completely satisfied His father. He was victorious over death itself – the ultimate consequence of our sin.
Christ’s Answer
Because our sin has separated or disconnected us from God, we have been left with a God-shaped" vacuum or spiritual emptiness within. As Augustine put it, "You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." The world’s many religions are all evidence of man’s endless search to find God and fill this vacuum. However, because God loved us so much he sent his own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament. Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the consequence of and ransom price for our sins–death. Thus Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin and is the only way back to God and the only door into eternal life. God’s Word, the Bible says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all
men." Had there been any other way to save mankind Christ wouldn’t have had to die for us. Because he was without sin, he was the only one qualified to die for ours.
First: You need to be saved.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.
"Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.
Second: You cannot save yourself.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." Titus 3:5.
"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.
Third: Jesus has provided for your salvation.
"Who (Jesus) his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed." I Peter 2:24.
"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.
Fourth: You must accept Jesus for Salvation.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12.
"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 10:9.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13.
Your Invitation
If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, is offered, would you accept a free unconditional pardon? Because of Christ’s dying for us, that’s what God offers us and with it the gift of eternal life. All we need to do is to accept his pardon. Here’s how to do this?
First, confess.
God’s Word says, "If we confess our sins he is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins."
Second, repent.
That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways to
follow God and his ways. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near.
Repent and believe."
Third, believe.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be
saved," declares the Word of God.
Fourth, receive.
God also said, "To all who received him [Christ], to
those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of
God." Admitting our sinfulness, believing that Jesus died for our sins,
inviting him into our life as Lord and Savior, and accepting God’s
forgiveness makes us real Christians.
If you are sincere and want to become a Christian the following prayer should help.
Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me and I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give me the want to be what you want me to be and the want to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen.
Here’s Great Assurance
If you prayed this prayer and truly meant it, you are now a true Christian and have the gift of a new spiritual life as well as eternal life. You are also a child of God and a member of his family. God promised this. Choose to accept it. Take it by faith and not feelings. Feelings change but God’s Word never does. God’s Word says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." When you pray to receive Christ into your life, you have a brand new spiritual life and this life needs care and nurturing just as your physical life does.
Your Response
YES, I prayed and opened the
door of my heart 
and
invited Jesus Christ to come into my life as Savior and Lord.
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