What must I do to be saved?

We just came out of extensive teaching on various topics and are heading into the Holy Spirit when God told me to “slow down”. “I want you to explain the process of what it takes to be saved by my Word“. This made me realize that there must be people out there that don’t know (by the instruction manual) what it means and the proper process. It also means that there will be people that read this post and actually get saved, preparing them for the future instructions that God will give by the leading of his Spirit. So this post will answer this question;

 What Must I Do To Be Saved?

 

Acts 16:25-31 (New King James Version)

The Philippian Jailer Saved

²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. ²⁷ And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
²⁹ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
³¹ So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Now in this situation, we have the Apostle Paul and Silas in prison singing and praying to God. Understand that as a child of God Paul and Silas knew that they could still have Joy on the inside, despite the circumstances outside.  If I had to sell an idea or concept, how would this be? NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, AS LONG AS GOD IS YOUR FATHER YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE. DON’T WORRY, DON’T STRESS, DON’T FEAR, YOUR FATHER (THE KING) IS ON THE WAY TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR TROUBLE!  Not bad huh? That is exactly what is being offered today. What makes this a better deal (as if it weren’t already great) is it is free. What it becomes is a choice, do you want it or don’t you…

In verse 27 you see the prison guard thinking that he failed in his responsibilities and decided it is better to die than be killed or tortured later for loosing all of his prisoners. (There are many people today that feel this exact way. 60,000 people a day try to commit suicide in the world). He didn’t just loose those two, everyone was set free. Disgraceful for a Roman guard.  Before he could make the biggest mistake of his life Paul yells out to him, hey man we are all still here. Now that takes some real faith and trust in your Father not to just run off.

After the guard goes into the cells recognizing, these guys are backed by true power (earthquake, every prisoners chains fall off and the door is made open, immediately - message here) falls down to his knees and begs, what must I do to be saved? Remember Paul and Silas were in jail for spreading the very answer to this question an now the Roman guard wants it too.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ= believe that Jesus was the sacrifice necessary for you to live the righteous life. Believe what Jesus did at Calvary is all you need to do, no physical effort required. No matter who you are (even a Roman guard) it is available to all.

You will be saved, you and your household. This example can be traced back to the book of Exodus with Moses. The passover lambs blood would mark the door of the houses of all that believe (on the Lord) and the Angel of Death would have to pass by your door and not enter. Everyone on the inside of your house was safe. Do you notice that you are safe under the shed blood of Jesus, which this was an example of, if you believe his sacrifice covers you personally.

John 3:1-8 (New King James Version)

The New Birth

 ¹ There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” d
⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus not understanding that Jesus is talking and representing spiritual things looks at his comments from a worldly position. How can a large man be re-born? Jesus is actually telling him and us that we must be reborn in spirit. This is done by accepting Jesus Christ into your heart by believing that his sacrifice paid your debt for sin. Once you do this, all your sins are forgiven and your “sin nature” no longer has dominion over you. God cleans out the sin and places in you HIS divine nature. Another way to describe this is to go from the “Law of sin and death” into the “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”. You see if you are DEAD to sin (spiritually), if you are going to live there must be a birth to do so (spiritually). This is the meaning of born again.

Romans 3:23 (New King James Version)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

You are not the only one. All of us fall short on our own effort to meet the standards that God requires (The ten commandments). No matter what disciplines you have you will never be able to meet Gods standard on your own efforts.

Romans 6:23 (New King James Version)

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The law of sin and death is what is inherent to us. So we start out in sin which leads to death or separation from God. God can not be around sin and dirtiness, it’s just not tolerated. So God provides a gift that can be found in Christ Jesus which is eternal life. Recognize without this gift, if you don’t open this present you by default get the booby prize of eternal death. By the way, how much does a gift cost? NOTHING… IT’S FREE.

2 Peter 3:9 (New King James Version)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,^[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 God is not wishy washy or forgetful. If HE makes you a promise HE will keep his promise! God is patient knowing who will accept him and be pliable so they can be used by him. It is not Gods intention that anyone should die, that’s why he made it a free gift. It actually says “not willing” so you go against his wishes if you do perish. It doesn’t require talents and abilities to be a child of God and receive eternal life. Notice a step to this new life, being born again, is repentance. I spent an entire post on this topic so if you are not sure what that means you can look it up. I will quickly say in order to repent, you must first acknowledge you are wrong and need a change.

John 3:16 (New King James Version)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God instructs us to believe that the sacrifice of his son will allow you to live eternally. He loves us truly. Who do you know (including yourself) will put up their child’s life to save someone else that is guilty of a crime?

Break this down… Someone just robbed your house. In the process they killed your spouse and kidnapped your child for slavery. As you fall to your knees and answer the police officers questions, they find a clue. The person dropped their drivers license, great. The police rush over and recover your property and child (this still doesn’t address your spouse though). He is tried in the court and just when the judge is getting ready to say guilty send him to death row, you jump up and say wait your honor. I would like my only child to go to death row for this man so he can be free (sacrifice).  Now this child is innocent of any of the crimes committed but the judge says as long as the penalty is fulfilled that will be fine, let the man go. That is what Jesus has done for us. We are the robber, he is the innocent child. We walk free, he goes to death row and is sacrificed for our indiscretions. That’s really an example of what happened. So God loves us to allow this to take place.

 

Romans 10:9-10 (New King James Version)

⁹ 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. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you will take a stand for Jesus, you will have no problem confessing with your mouth. If you have a spouse, you were married and took a stand in front of others and declared your love and allegiance for this person openly. If you have a favorite sport team (loyalty), I am sure you are not quiet about your belief in them.

verse 10- from deep down inside you must believe Jesus Christ died for your sins and is your saviour and vocalize it. This is what makes you in right standing with God. Once you are in right standing with God you are offered salvation. Salvation is protection, deliverance and preservation. Everything you need to live correctly is found at and through the cross. When Jesus said “it is finished” (completed) everything that can separate you from God was destroyed and our sins were paid for. This is only for those who believe though.

If you understand what scriptures I have presented and want this free gift, it is offered below. I suggest you take a moment and take a self assessment of your life. Allow God to show you your shortcomings, maybe you lie, steal or cheat. Maybe you were abused as a child and that holds you back from having true solid relationships. Maybe you just didn’t realize that this opportunity was available and that you are truly loved. Search your heart for what needs to be cleaned out and taken away…… Look forward to your freedom after we pray. Are you ready?

 

Now Pray with me and receive your assurance

DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT ME,

I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A LOST SINNER.

I AM ASKING YOU TO SAVE MY SOUL AND CLEANSE ME OF ALL SIN.

I REALIZE IN MY HEART I NEED SALVATION, WHICH CAN ONLY COME FROM JESUS THE CHRIST.

I AM ACCEPTING CHRIST INTO MY HEART FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR ME AT THE CROSS-TO PAY FOR MY REDEMPTION.

I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH “JESUS CHRIST IS LORD” AND BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.

YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.

I HAVE DONE SO ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD AND BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW “I AM SAVED”

Well Praise God, you are saved! Salvation means to be protected by God, preserved by God and delivered by God. They all belong to you now, all you ever need to do is keep looking to cross of Calvary where Jesus paid the debt for you. You are free of all unrighteousness and fit to spend an eternity with God himself.

(God Says) Welcome into my Kingdom

 

Congratulations! You made the most important choice of your life (literally). Every prisoner of the (Kingdom of darkness) sin nature, the chains just fell off and the door is made open (immediately) because you are now free. Walk out in newness of life in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New King James Version)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Continue to stay with me in my posts to come and learn how to keep this experience fresh everyday (santification).

Much more to come…