Am I saved?" This is the single most important question that each of us must face before we end our short and transient days in this world. Maybe you have been living in shame and darkness; maybe your life seems empty and aimless; maybe you have come to the end of your rope and have no one to turn to. It's time to reach out your hand to Jesus. He is the only Savior who can provide meaning to your life and hope of an everlasting life.
WHAT IS SALVATION?
We always hear the word "salvation" from the mouths of professed Christians and evangelists. But, what is salvation? Saved from what?
Webster's dictionary defines "save" as "to rescue or preserve from harm or danger." Applying this definition to the Biblical context, salvation is rescue from the power of Satan and sin leading to eternal punishment in hell. The goal of salvation is for human beings to restore their relationship with God, receive eternal life, and enter the Heavenly Kingdom in the future.
WHY DO I NEED SALVATION?
Here is a common reaction to the subject of sin: "yeah, I do make little mistakes every now and then, but eternal punishment in hell? No way! That's for people who are really evil and commit outrageous crimes, not me."
The Bible Defines Sin
As far as God is concerned, disobedience to his laws is sin, and the result is eternal death. Failure to worship and honor the true God who created us is in itself a great sin. Not only so, we are often selfish, dishonest, jealous; and our hearts are filled with hatred, bigotry, greed, and lust. In God's eyes, we sin daily in our speech, in our conduct, and in our thoughts.
Everyone Has Sin
The Bible places everyone in the world--old and young, men and women, rich and poor, well-educated and unschooled, past and present--under the category of "sinners": "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). However virtuous we may think of ourselves, we are actually sinners who deserve punishment for our transgressions. All of us desperately need to be saved from the dreadful end of eternal condemnation.
WHO CAN SAVE ME?
The Only Savior
No one other than the true God himself. It is God who prescribes the Law for human beings; so only he has the sovereign authority to condemn and the power to save humankind.
For this reason he came to the world in the þesh as Jesus Christ. He came without sin and lived a holy and blameless life on earth. He not only overcame sin in his lifetime, but conquered sin and death by offering himself as a perfect sacrifice on the cross for our sins and by the power of his resurrection.
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, opens the way back to God for everyone who puts his faith in the Savior. After he ascended to Heaven, the Lord Jesus also poured out the Holy Spirit on the believers so that they may lead a holy life just as he did.
WHEN CAN I BE SAVED?
Now. Accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior today and submit yourself to his word while the door of grace is still open. Tomorrow may be too late.
HOW CAN I BE SAVED?
Believe
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31)
Believe in God's existence and trust his sovereign power.
Acknowledge that the Lord Jesus is the one and only God.
Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Submit to God's word--the Bible, and to the gospel of salvation preached by the true church.
Repent
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
Confess to God, with sincerity and humility, all your past sins, be they transgressions in your daily life, refusal to believe in God, or belief in false doctrines.
Ask for the Lord's forgiveness.
Determine to change your ways and to obey the commandments of God.
Be Baptized
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
(Mark 16:16)
Accept baptism performed by the true church according to Biblical instructions for the remission of your sins.
Receive the Holy Spirit
"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
Pray sincerely and earnestly for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by the speaking of tongues.
Live by the Holy Spirit and become a new person.
Obey the Commandments
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
Love God by practicing his word.
Love others as yourself by doing good deeds.