Salvation is a fancy word that defines what God has done for us in Jesus. The Bible tells us that everybody has sinned…that means everybody has disobeyed God. The Bible tells us that our sin has separated us spiritually from God. If we do not pray for God to forgive us for our sin, we will be separated from God forever after we die.
The Bible tells us that we are either sinners, who are children of the devil; or we are “saved” from our sins and we are God’s children. Everyone is not God’s child.
So, how do we gain God’s forgiveness and become His child? How do we go to heaven? Can we earn our way there? The Apostle Paul told the Ephesian Church: 8 For by grace (God’s free gift) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
First, we must agree with God that we have sinned against Him.
1 John 1:8-10 says, “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive (fool) ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins (agree with God that we have sinned against Him), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (every bad thing we have ever done or thought). 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Second, we must believe in our hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead. We serve a living Savior, not a dead teacher.
Third, we must ask God to forgive us of our sins and save us. Remember our word “salvation?” Someone said the word “salvation” means that God will salvage us and make us new in Jesus! That is like going into an auto salvage yard, buying the junkiest old car and spending thousands of dollars to make it brand-new.
Wow, that is what God wants to do for you…today…right now. He wants to take you and recreate you into His child…give you a whole new start! Will you still sin? Yes, you will never live sinless, but you will sin less and want to sin even less.
Will you bow your head; agree with God that you have sinned against Him? Will you trust the only living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?
Ask God to save you. You will be forgiven and adopted into His family forever.
Speaking of family…God established the church so Christians could grow up in the knowledge of God and be encouraged by other believers. God never intended us to try to serve Him alone. We would love to have you be a part of God's family at Oak Grove.
If you prayed to receive Jesus today, I would love to know it! Please email me at andy@oakgrovecovington.org and tell me about your decision.
