How to be Saved

Landmark Missionary

Independent Anabaptist

Today you got up feeling pretty good, but the fact is that you may die before night. The chances of that happening may not be statistically as great as breaking your arm or tripping over your cat. Though the statistics may seem to be in your favor, it could happen. Regardless, you are not going to get out of this world alive! So, have you made plans for "the other side?" After all, you will spend more "time" there than anyplace else you will ever be.

Of course you have, you say. You're not a bad person, you don't kill, or rape, or do other evil things. But did you know that ANY disobedience to God is a sin? That means that no matter how "small" the shortcoming, like telling someone they look good, when in fact the hat they are wearing makes them look ridiculous. This would still be telling a lie. The Bible says that all liars have their part in the fire that "burneth forever." Such a "small mistake," yet one that will cost you your soul, forever.

You might even try to say that you have never done anything wrong. That in itself would be a lie, because God said, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) The truth of the matter is this; you don't live without sinning. God said that,"…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

That means that everyone from Adam to you, has done something wrong or sinned. When you do something wrong, there is a price that must be paid. You've heard the old phrase "If you're going to dance, you'll have to pay the fiddler." That is pretty much what the Bible has to say about the matter, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

God went on to say that, "…he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:8) In other words, you can do as you please, live as you want, but eventually it will catch up with you, either in this world or on "the other side." People, who drink, don't die of cirrhosis of the liver overnight. Nor do people that smoke get emphysema the day after they light up. But it catches up, in time, or on the other side of time.

Now, you can take your word for it, that you are not a sinner, or you can take God's word for it that you are a sinner. If you take God's word and believe that you are a sinner, let me show you something you may not be aware of.

Did you know that "…the wages of sin is death;…" (Romans 6:23) The price of sin is pretty heavy, death, not just regular physical death, where your body is placed in a hole in the ground, but this death is spiritual death and is bad news. God said in Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." This second death merits the lake of fire, a place of unimaginable horror! This place is not for a little while, it is forever! Listen, you don't want your worst enemy to go there.

If you were to read Luke 16:19-31, you would find a man who died one day, he didn't expect to, he just did, and he woke up in Hell, a place so hot that he desired just a drop of water on his tongue. In agony he was "paying the fiddler."

Think about it, you are a sinner and the wages or payment for that sin is eternal torment!

There is some good news. In fact that is exactly what the word "gospel" means, good news. The good news is this: you don't have to experience this "second death." You can be delivered. Here's how:

"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 with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

First you understand that you are a sinner and there is nothing you can do to change that fact. However, God did do something, He sent His son to pay the wages, or penalty that was due you. He died for your sins, He paid the price of your sin! If you will repent of your sins (to repent means to tell God with all your heart, soul and mind that you are sorry for your sin, and that you have changed your mind about what you're doing and that you will not do this anymore) and then you ask Jesus to forgive you and then trust Him to do just that, forgive you, He will save your soul! You will not face this second death. Isn't that good news? You don't have to go to Hell. Jesus died to make a way of escape for you.

When you are saved this is what happens; The Holy Spirit will "quicken" or make alive your dead spirit. (Your spirit is dead because of sin). This is what we call the new birth or being "born again." We call it this because that is exactly what happens, you are born from above. You become a child of God.

Let us review:

Realize you are a sinner
Understand that the payment of this sin is the eternal Lake of Fire.
Realize that Jesus became a man and died on Calvary to pay the price of YOUR sin.
Repent of those sins and ask Jesus to forgive you.
Trust Him with all your being to forgive you.

In your own words you can bow your head right now and do those things we just mentioned. If you will do this, God promises to save you.

If you have prayed to God and ask for His free gift of salvation, we would like to hear from you and share in your joy. This is the single most important decision that you will ever make.