The Gospel— How Can I Be Saved?
There isn’t a more important question Where will you spend eternity?
The Bible tells us that eternal life is not something we can earn by becoming better people, doing good works, joining a church, being baptized, giving money or practicing religion. Salvation is the gift of God, made possible entirely through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before we can understand that good news, however, we must first understand why we need to be saved.
We Have All Sinned The Bible is unmistakenly clear about the condition of mankind:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” — Romans 3:23, KJV Every one of us has sinned. We may compare ourselves with other people and believe that we are good, but other people are not the standard. God is.
And none of us measure up to His perfect righteousness.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” — Romans 3:10, KJV
Sin separates us from God, and it carries a consequence that we cannot remove by our own efforts.
The Wages of Sin Is Death “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 6:23, KJV
A wage is something that is earned. Because we are sinners we have earned death.
The Bible speaks not only of physical death, but of a second death — eternal separation from God.
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14 KJV
That is the terrible consequence of sin.
But Romans 6:23 does not end with death.
It ends with a GIFT.
“…. but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus Christ Paid the Price for Us
God did not leave us without hope.
We could never make ourselves righteous enough to reach Him, so God provided the way of salvation Himself.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8, KJV
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died in our place. He took upon Himself the judgement our sins deserved.
He was buried.
And on the third day , He rose from the dead.
The Apostle Paul gives us one of the clearest declarations of the Gospel in Scripture:
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
That is the Gospel:
Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again.
The work necessary for our salvation has already been accomplished by Jesus Christ.
Salvation is a gift — Not a reward for good works
This is one of the most important truths to understand.
You cannot earn salvation.
You cannot purchase salvation.
You cannot become good enough to deserve salvation.
God offers eternal life as a FREE GIFT.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV
Religion often asks, What can I do for God?
The Gospel tells us what Jesus Christ has already done for us.
Good works have their proper place in the life of a believer, but they are never the payment for salvation.
Jesus Christ made that payment.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
When a frightened jailer asked Paul and Silas the most important question a person could ask—
Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
— their answer was wonderfully simple:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” Acts 16:30-31, KJV
Salvation is received by faith.
Not faith in your own goodness.
Not faith in your works.
Not faith in a church or religious system.
Your faith must rest in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished for you through His death, burial, and resurrection.
Scripture says:
“For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:13, KJV
Notice the promise:
Shall Be Saved
You Can Know That You Have Eternal Life
God does not intend for the believer to spend life wondering whether salvation has truly been received.
Our assurance rests upon God’s promise, not our feelings or our performance.
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” 1 John 5:11-13, KJV
Not Hope.
Not Guess.
KNOW.
Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
What will you do with the Gospel?
If you understand that you are a sinner who cannot save yourself, and you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, then place your trust in Him alone.
There is no religious ceremony you must perform to complete what Christ has already finished.
There is no list of good works you must accomplish first.
There is no price left for you to pay.
Jesus Christ Paid It.
Receive God’s gift by faith.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”— Romans 6:23, KJV
The greatest gift ever offered has already been paid for.
The question is whether you will receive it.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.