How Can I Be Saved?
If you know that you are a sinner, that Jesus died for all sinners, and that eternal salvation is available to you, then the next logical question is, “How can I be saved?” A Philippian jailer asked a similar question to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30-31: “…and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
You cannot be saved by good works, baptism, or having a good family. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that it is a free gift for which you cannot work: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
You are saved by turning from your sin, and instead, believing from your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again – in your place! Jesus’ shed blood on Calvary paid the price for your sin. If you have not received the Lord as your Saviour, call out to Him in prayer today!
Romans 10:9-10 and 13 says, “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. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Salvation is a transaction that occurs at a specific time in your life – when you believe on Christ alone, and receive the free gift. It is like unwrapping a birthday present – it will not do you any good, unless it is opened. Calling upon the name of the Lord for your eternal salvation is like unwrapping your gift – Christ’s blood is immediately applied to your spiritual account, and you are passed from death unto life at that very instant. Jesus said in John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
There are no “magic words” to pray; simply talk to God, and ask him to forgive your sin and give you eternal life. Jesus is sufficient to take all your sin away – all at once! “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.” (John 3:36)
How Does Salvation Bring Deliverance from My Sin?
The moment that you receive Christ as your Saviour, you are born again! You become a new creature in Christ, with the ability to choose to obey the Lord instead of sinning. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
How exciting to know that the old man who was stuck in sin no longer has to control your life! From the time that you get saved, you are a brand new person in Christ! You receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which allows you to choose to serve the Lord instead of sin. Galatians 5:16 explains the simplicity of our daily choice: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Will I Still Sin After Being Saved?
It is wonderful to know that you become a new creature in Christ at the moment of salvation; however, until the Rapture or physical death, you will still remain in the same physical body in which you were born. What is inside (your soul and spirit) is new and secure in Christ, but what is on the outside still has bad habits. Over time, you will be more and more like Christ as you learn from Him daily in prayer and Bible study.
However, you will still sin from time to time. First John 2:1 gives us a wonderful promise, when it says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
Jesus is there to help when we fail as Christians! All we have to do is be honest about our sin, and pray to Him for forgiveness. Then, fellowship is immediately restored with the Lord, and you can continue on in your daily walk with Him. First John 1:9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Rest assured that nothing – even your own failures – can separate you from the love of God. This precious promise for the Christian is found in Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Dear friend, has there ever been a specific time that you passed from death unto life by receiving Christ as your Saviour? If not, today should be that day! Do you know that you are a sinner? Do you know that Christ died in your place, and offers eternal salvation to each and every one who will receive it? Then simply turn to Him in prayer today, and ask Him to forgive your sin and give you everlasting life. Today is the day for you to get victory over sin, once and for all!