WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Generally, sin is defined as any thought, word, or action that goes against God's will and breaks His commandments. It is a separation from God and a rebellion against His perfect and holy nature. Sin is seen as a universal problem that affects all human beings since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, as stated in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The consequences of sin before God are severe. The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), which refers to both physical death and spiritual separation from God. Hence, sin creates a barrier between humanity and God, preventing a close and intimate relationship with Him. It also leads to guilt, shame, and a sense of spiritual emptiness.

Despite the consequences of sin, God offers forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus paid the price for humanity's sins, offering salvation and the opportunity for reconciliation with God. By repenting of our sins, accepting Jesus as their Savior, and following His teachings, we can be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. The question now is, how can I be saved?

In the book of Acts 2:37-41: "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls".

Sin is the root cause of our separation from God and the path that leads to eternal destruction. Among the myriad of questions one could ask, "How can I be saved?" stands as the most crucial and profound. It addresses the very essence of where we will spend eternity once our earthly lives come to an end. The Bible provides a clear answer: salvation is attained through belief in Jesus (Acts 16:31). This belief determines our eternal destiny, making it a matter of utmost importance. In recent times, the sinner's prayer has become increasingly relied upon as the means of accepting Jesus' offer of salvation. Our eternal destiny surpasses all other concerns in this world. While peace, happiness, and love are universally sought after, only a select few truly understand the concept of abundant life. God's love is available to all, but it requires a willingness to receive and embrace it. By understanding God's nature of love, identifying barriers, and taking practical steps to cultivate a relationship with Him, you can experience the abundant life He has planned for you. Don't miss out on the incredible love that God offers; open your heart and allow His love to transform your life.

1. GOD’S LOVE: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God's love is not conditional or limited; it is an inherent part of His nature. He loves you unconditionally, regardless of your past mistakes or shortcomings. Understanding this fundamental truth is crucial in experiencing His love fully.

1. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

2. MAN’S PROBLEM: Throughout history, humanity has grappled with the consequences of sin, which has caused us to lose our inherent nature and the privileges that come with it. Sin acts as a barrier, separating us from God and preventing us from fully experiencing His love and the abundance of life He intended for us. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Recognizing the reality of this separation is the first step towards seeking a solution. Only by acknowledging the existence of this barrier can we begin to explore ways to overcome it and restore our relationship with God.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1,2).

3. GOD’S SOLUTION: Fortunately, there is indeed a way out of the separation caused by sin. Recognizing that our own efforts are insufficient, God, in His infinite love for humanity, devised a plan of salvation. He understood that we would be unable to find a solution on our own. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” – (Ephesians 2:4). By accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and embracing His sacrifice, we can experience redemption and find a way out of our separation from God. It is through this act of faith and surrender that we can receive forgiveness for our sins and embark on a journey towards a restored and abundant life in communion with our Creator.

4. MAN’S RESPONSE: Indeed, while salvation is a free gift from God, it requires our personal response in order to fully benefit from His love and provisions. God's offer of salvation is available to all, but it is up to each individual to personally receive and accept this gift. “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” (Romans 10:9).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). Just as a gift remains unopened and unused until it is received, we must actively accept and embrace God's gift of salvation in order to enjoy its full benefits. It is through this personal response that we can enter into a life of restored relationship with God, experiencing His love, forgiveness, and the abundant life He has prepared for us.

STEPS TO SALVATION

Salvation is not a matter of following specific steps to earn it; rather, it is a gracious gift bestowed upon us by God through our faith in Jesus Christ. This gift encompasses complete deliverance from the consequences of sin, and it is through our belief in Christ that we attain this salvation. Consequently, it is important for Christians to openly acknowledge Jesus as their Savior. While it is true that we should turn away from sin and dedicate our lives to obeying God, these actions do not serve as prerequisites for salvation. Instead, they are the natural outcomes of receiving salvation. Our sinful nature renders us incapable of earning salvation in any way. This is precisely why Jesus sacrificed Himself on our behalf. We are utterly unable to repay our debt of sin to God or cleanse ourselves from it. Only God could accomplish our salvation, and He has done so. God Himself has fulfilled the necessary "steps" and now extends salvation to all who are willing to accept it from Him. The steps are:

1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned and comes short of the glory of God. [and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23).

2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9). deals with where we will spend eternity after our lives in this world are over. deals with where we will spend eternity after our lives in this world are over.

3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

A SUGGESTED PRAYER FOR SALVATION:

"Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise … For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. " (Jeremiah 17:14; Romans 10:12-13). Therefore, you can choose any of the suggested prayers of repentance below for salvation:

Here is the late Billy Graham’s example, from his book How to Be Born Again (169). “O God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against You. I am sorry for my sins. I am willing to turn from my sins. I openly receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Savior. I confess Him as Lord. From this moment on I want to live for Him and serve Him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Almighty God, I thank you because you love me. When I was lost in sin, you sent Jesus Christ to die for me. I believe that the blood He shed was for my pardon. Today, I repent of my sins and ask for forgiveness. Lord Jesus, come into my heart and be my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for coming into my heart according to your promise. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Lord Jesus, I come before You with a sincere and humble heart. Acknowledging my sins, I repent wholeheartedly and seek Your abundant mercy. Let your blood shed on the cross of calvary wash away my sins and make me whole. In Your forgiveness o Lord! may I find salvation for my soul. Enable me to turn from my wrongful ways, embracing Your divine precepts and sin no more. Amen!

Heavenly Father, I come to you with a repentant heart, seeking your forgiveness and salvation. Please cleanse me of all my sins through the blood of my Lord Jesus Christ and help me to live a life that is pleasing to you from today onward. Amen!

AFTER SALVATION, WHAT NEXT?

After experiencing the transformative power of salvation, the ultimate objective is to foster a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. This entails not only growing closer to Him but also cultivating connections with fellow believers, striving for godliness, righteousness, and actively working towards the salvation that has been granted. It is crucial to persevere in the journey of grace, seeking subsequent encounters with Christian sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, all in order to wholeheartedly serve God until the glorious day we meet Jesus face to face.

1. Go and sin no more. In John 5:14, Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Afterward, Jesus finds him in the temple and says to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you”.

2. Read and live by the WORD of God every day – (Psalm 119:9,11). This means, you need to attend the bible study with other children of God, but more importantly, personal time for reading, understanding and meditating on the Bible must be a priority, allowing them to shape your thoughts, actions, and character. The Bible is a divine roadmap that illuminates the path to a closer relationship with God.

3. Spend some time in PRAYER every day – (Philip. 4:6). Engage in heartfelt conversations with God, expressing your gratitude, seeking guidance, and pouring out your innermost thoughts and desires. Prayer is a powerful tool for deepening your connection with Him.

4. FELLOWSHIP with other believers in the Church so that you can be cared for and grow up spiritually – (Hebrews 10:25). Though salvation is a personal decision, the journey afterwards cannot be navigated in isolation. New believers need the encouragement of more established and spiritually matured brethren, participating in small groups, and attending church services can provide opportunities for mutual encouragement, accountability, and spiritual growth.

5. YIELD your life to God, be baptized: As a new convert in Christ, baptism by immersion in water is simply non-negotiable, (Acts 22:16). WITNESS daily for Christ and BRING others to Him – (Mark 1:17).

6. Serve others selflessly: (1 Peter 4:10-11; Hebrews 1:14). Follow in the footsteps of Jesus by actively demonstrating love, compassion, and kindness towards others. Engaging in acts of service not only reflects God's character but also deepens your understanding of His love and grace.

7. Embrace spiritual disciplines (2 Corinthians 13:5-7; 2 Peter 1:5-11): Incorporate disciplines such as fasting, solitude, and silence into your spiritual routine. These practices create space for reflection, self-examination, and a heightened awareness of God's presence.

8. Engage in worship and praise (Isaiah 43:21; Psalm 150:6; Hebrews 13:15): Lift your voice in adoration and thanksgiving, both privately and in community. Worshiping God through music, song, and expressions of reverence helps to cultivate a spirit of intimacy and awe.

9. Stay connected to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-17): Continually seek the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. Allow Him to lead, teach, and transform you, enabling you to live a life that honors God.

You are now born again because of following the steps stated above! Therefore, continue in His love, word, and the new life of obedience to God. Remember, growing your relationship with God is a lifelong journey that requires dedication, perseverance, and a genuine desire to know Him more intimately. By actively engaging in these practices, you will find yourself drawing closer to God, experiencing His love, and being transformed into the image of Christ. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples; indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32).

CHILD-LIKE ATTITUDES FOR KINGDOM PEOPLE

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-4). There is a sense in which we must have certain attributes of children to be qualified to inherit the kingdom of GOD. The Lord isn’t commanding us to be babyish Christians. We are not exhorted to adopt children's temperament and disposition. As a matter of fact, there are traits unique to children that God won’t approve in adults both in Christian and lifestyle patterns. For example, children are impatient, rash, and naturally disobedient - always willing to have their way in all things. These are characteristics that are not admirable in true Christianity.

In the same vein, there is a sense in which we have to be like children in order to be qualified to receive salvation and eternal life. We must be as humble as a child, simply believe the gospel, and be equally flexible to receive the bible doctrines and practice them. The reason why many people remained unsaved is that they lack a child-like attitude to the gospel. They harden their hearts and question the logicality and validity of the gospel. They do not open their hearts, as children do, to receive the Lord. And unlike children, they lack simple faith. Are you saved? If not, why not. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The sinner however will not be able to start the process of salvation unless he has the humility of the child. Nor can he accept the gospel unless he believes easily like a child. He cannot keep his salvation by living on in holiness unless he’s child malice, sensitivity, kindness, and flexibility. ” That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:6-7). Being born-again means changing from living in sin to living in holiness. The sinner must (i) acknowledge his sins (ii) confess them (iii) repent from them (iv) forsake them (v) believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as “ propitiation for her sin ” and (vi) abide in this faith with constant holiness of character. This process is a genuine conversion that results in behavioral transformation.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The believer receives the grace to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11b). The new believer needs to pray for more grace to overcome temptations and live holily, study the word of God, and pray daily. He also needs to employ grace in practicing positive child-like attributes, shunning pride, loving all, believing easily, hating racism and stubbornness, keeping no ill feelings, being fervent in the spirit, and serving the Lord. Moreover, the believer’s victory over Satan is sure if he can resist the devil through (i) God’s word (ii) Fervent prayers mixed with faith (iii)Self-discipline and self-control (iv) Employing and deploying the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:12-18), Abiding in Christ and remaining steadfast in the faith (James 1:12).

THE GOSPEL LANDMARK

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” ( 2Timothy 3:16-17). Bible doctrines to the church are like what a foundation is to the erected building. It is the canon of faith on which a believer’s faith is firmly hold. A building with a weak foundation is likely to collapse under intense unfavorable weather and environmental conditions while a building with a solid foundation would weather through every storm (Mathew 7:24-27).

However, a believer’s steadfastness and stability in the Lord is dependent on a firm grasp of the truth revealed in the Bible. Whereas lack of knowledge of the fundamental truth leads to backsliding and destruction as stated in the book of Hosea 4:6. Likewise, Second Timothy 2:15 admonished every believer to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. In a world of deceit and error which is engineered by Satan and his cohorts (John 4:44), a better needs to be well grounded in the truth in order to defeat every lie of Satan if He is to remain in faith..

The early believers perfectly understood the need to be grounded in the Bible doctrines of the truth. All believers without exception engaged in spiritual activities of the that built up their Christians characters and convictions. They study the Bible, prayed and celebrated the Lord’s supper (Acts 2:41-47). It should be observed that the study of bible doctrines took a place of pre-eminence in their life and ministry..

These spirit-directed programs of the church led to the phenomenal growth of the early church. With exception of this, it brought about boldness of faith, steadfastness of conviction, and growth to the extent that the whole of Jerusalem was filled with Christ’s doctrine of Jesus Christ. “Saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us” (Acts 5:28).Not only that, Paul understood the uniqueness of Bible doctrines to Christian maturity; Hence, he counselled the Ephesians church that spiritual gifts were given them in order to teach doctrines of the Bible that would bring about Christian perfection (Ephesians 4:11-14). He told Timothy his son in the Lord was, “take heed unto the doctrine, continue in them; for in doing this thou shall both save thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16). He also advised Titus who was left in Crete to set things in order there and hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers (Titus 1:9)..

As believers, workers, leaders, preachers/pastors, missionaries, and leaders like Paul, Timothy and Titus, our steadfastness to the end is dependent of on the understanding of the doctrines. Also, the salvation of the church members depends on the understanding of the doctrines. A thorough understanding of the doctrines then is essential to every believer in the church. The strength or weakness of the church depends on the member’s understanding of the doctrines (John 5:39; Colossians 3:16)..

The Bible clearly teaches on Repentance, Holy living, Heaven and hell, and the second coming of the Lord, among others. These Bible doctrines revealed treasures that a Christian cannot do without. The reason and hope of our faith are embedded in these doctrines (1 Peter 3:15). Every believer today, old and young needs to benefits from the doctrine. This can only come through in-depth studies and prayerfully imbibing its teaching and practicing. Neglect of Bible doctrines and the pursuit of superficiality have done in-calculable damage to the church in our generation. Significance on activities with the attendant and neglect of God’s word has ruined many lives. This ruinous effect has manifested in superficial Christian living, incessant backsliding, worldliness, lukewarmness, and entertainment of false doctrine..

We are in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-5), and to be able to hold our heads above waters for sustenance, it is imperative that we must earnestly contend for the faith. Believers (spiritual solders) are constantly on the battlefield and we must take it by force by doing violence with Satan and his hosts before we can have entrance into heaven (Matthew 11:12). Our chief weapon of warfare is the truth, which is embedded in the doctrines of the bible. Knowing the truth, we make us free from the lies of Satan and guarantee us true freedom (John 8:32). In order to counteract the devil’s strategies, we need to dig deep into the doctrines of the holy Bible.

The mission of the church as light to the world (Matthew 5:16) is only achievable with a grasp of the fundamental truth. A church that is ignorant of the fundamental truth cannot teach the world as the blind cannot lead the blind. Yet the mission of the church is clearly stated in (Matthew 28:19-20). The church is to evangelize the world and teach the world. The responsibility of this falls on individual believers within the fold today. It is the aggregate that makes the whole and without a well-informed congregation, the church would be unable to fulfill this goal. Knowledge of the fundamental truth greatly helped the early church to fulfill its mission. The early church was able to establish new converts in the faith, challenge the errors of the Pharisees and Sadducees and go through the persecution of adversaries..

The time has come to accomplish Christ’s mission to the world but the battle for the truth can only be fought by the enlightened believers. We as individuals’ members of the church ought to arise today and fill the gaps left by the saints of old. Lastly, Jesus said, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13).It is our sole responsibility to spread the gospel of Christ to every creature, and obedience to this call bring the blessings.