It's free but you have to ask.
If you die tonight....if your heart stops beating.....where would you go?
Do you know that you know?
Religion doesn't matter. Denomonation doesn't matter. Jesus does not care at all. All He cares about is the faith that you have in Him and acceptance of the free gift that He has already paid for. It's deep....but it's simple.
In the Bible is the book of Romans. This book has a selection of verses that the writer, Paul, takes you through, that fully explain salvation. It is named the Roman Road to Salvation and is a selection of Bible verses that present the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
So. let's look at a few questions that help to outline the Roman Road, the need for salvation and the steps involved in accepting Christ.
1. I'm a pretty good person shouldn't that be enough to make it to heaven?
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:10 – As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned
The answer is No. God is a holy God and created a world that was pure and without sin. But sin entered the world through the garden and we were born into sin. We, as human beings and having a sinful nature, have no ability to save ourselves. God, being pure and holy, cannot reside with the darkness of sin.
2. Is sin really that bad?
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yes it is. Anything that separates us from God is bad. It's death to our souls. God created us from the beginning with an eternal soul. He wanted communion with us. Since He cannot reside with sin, in order to reside with Him forever we must be cleansed from the darkness that we were born into. He cannot reside with man without forgiveness. So, He provided a way and came up with a plan.
3. What hope do we have?
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In God's plan there had to be a sacrifice for sin. In the beginning, before Christ, man had to sacrifice animals as a blood atonement for their wrong doing. But God loved us so Hecame up with a better plan. He sacrificed His own Son as a one-time-sacrifice for our sin. John 3:16 says that:
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
When Jesus died on the cross, He was mocked, spit upon, and cursed. But even with the torture that He endured, Jesus cried out to God, Father forgive them for they know not what they do... (Lk 23:34). That is love. Paying so highly for something that you did not owe.
Jesus chose to die for our sins, chose to be that one-time blood sacrifice, suffer and die so that we would not have to and so that we could live eternally with God. He carried our sins on His shoulders to the grave only to defeat death and be raised to life three days later. Overcoming darkness for us. That is the hope we have.
4. What do I do to be saved?
Romans 10: 9-10 – that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
You don't have to do anything - you only have to accept what has already been done on the cross. It is free. But you must ask, believing. God only wants us to:
A: admit to God that you are a sinner
B: believe that Jesus came and died to save you of your sin
C: confess your sins and ask His forgiveness and commit yourself to living for Him.
Just talk to God. Tell him that you realize that you are a sinner. Tell Him that you know that Jesus died for those sins. Ask God to forgive you and come and live in your life - changing what He needs to and turning you around. Let Him know that you want a daily, minute-by-minute relationship with Him and ask God to make Himself real to you.
5. Did God actually hear me? Did He accept me?
Romans 10:13 – For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
God is true to His promises. He is trustworthy. If He says it - He does it. You are saved and forgiven. If you died this minute you would be with God the next - you do not need to fear death because Jesus overcame death for us. You have placed your life in God's hands. Ask Him, when you waver in that faith, to make Himself real to You. He will.
6. What do I do now?
Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
You completed your first step. Next is to build the relationship with God and grow stronger in your faith. Try these things:
a. Just as you would do with anyone that you have a realationship with - spend a few minutes a day talking with Him. It does not need to be a big, complicated prayer - in fact that's not what God wants. You are His child. Just as your children would come to you for love, affection and encouragement - go to God the same way.
b. Read God's word. Start in the book of John. Just read a few verses a day and think on them. Ask God to help you understand His word. He will. That is your instruction book.
c. Listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance. That still small voice inside is God speaking to you. Listen.
d. Find other believers to be with - have a relationship with. You may have to change some of your habits if they are not conducive to a relationship with Jesus. Find a Bible believing church to worship with.
e. Tell someone. Share what you have done. If you have noone else - email me and share with me.
Blessings to you!
