If you want to be saved please read this. It is extremely important, please read thoroughly now. Your life depends on it! If you were in front of God and God asked you, “why should I let you into My Kingdom what will be your response?”

If you don’t know or say things like I’m good, I go to church, I pray, I believe in God, you know my heart, I love you, I obey the Bible, or I got baptized, then be very afraid!

Beware: God’s wrath towards sin.

Colossians 3:5-6 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.”

Zephaniah 1:14–16 “The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.”

Jesus who is God in the flesh, warned a lot about the horror of Hell.

Luke 16:24-28 “So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

Matthew 13:50 “throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 18:8 “So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.”

Matthew 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”

We are all under a curse and we are all doomed.

Why, you ask? God desires perfection. Look at all your sins and failings right now. You and I are far from perfect.

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Galatians 3:10 “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Deuteronomy 27:26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

The scary truth of the Bible.

The scary thing is that God is good. The bad thing is that we are not. We are evil. You say you’re not evil. To me you are not evil, but to a holy and just God that is a different story. It’s something different to punch me in the face, but how about if you punch the president in the face? Clearly there will be greater consequences. Examine your thoughts. The things you thought about your friends and family. Have you ever lied, stolen, lusted, cursed, said God’s name in vain, had a jealous thought, strongly disliked or hated someone, or dishonored your parents? We’ve sinned against everything. If God is holy, perfect, and just, then He cannot forgive us. Your good works are nothing. One sin and you are separated from God.

How does God justify the wicked without being an abomination to Himself?

Proverbs 17:15 “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.”

Romans 4:5 “However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”

Ask yourself this!

I want you to picture someone killing your entire family. After they do the crime, they go to jail and eventually they are in court for the murders. Can a good, honest, fair judge say, “I’m loving so I’m going to let you go free?” If he did he would be an evil judge and you would be outraged. You would tell the world about that judges wickedness. It doesn’t matter if the murderer said, “for the rest of my life I’ll give, I’ll help everyone, and more.” Nothing can erase the sin that person has done. Ask yourself can God forgive you? He is an honest judge and just like any honest judge He has to sentence you. God set up the legal system and while on earth you will be sentenced to prison for a crime. If your name is not found in the Book of Life you will be sentenced to Hell for eternity.

God came down.

The only way God could forgive a vile person like you and me was for Him to come down in the flesh. Jesus lived a sinless perfect life. He lived the life that God desires that you and I can’t live. In the process He taught us to pray, fight temptation, help others, turn the other cheek, etc. Jesus took upon the wrath of God that you and I deserve. He bore your sins on His back and was crushed by His Father because of you and me.

No man killed Jesus.

You can only do what God allows you to do. If Jesus wanted He could have sent angels to kill everyone, but someone had to die. Someone had to satisfy God’s wrath and it was only Jesus who could have done it because He is God and He is the only perfect man to have ever lived. It doesn’t matter if it were 1000 angels only God could die for the world. Only His blood is pure enough.

Jesus cursed!

We were cursed, but Jesus became a curse for us. If you are not saved you are still under a curse.

Galatians 3:13-15 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

Jesus drank your sin and not one drop fell from that cup.

Matthew 20:22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.”

Luke 22:42-44 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

Because of Jesus we can know and enjoy God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

How to be saved?

Christians are not saved by what we do or have done, but we are saved by what Christ has done for us on the cross. God commands all men to repent and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark 6:12 “So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.”

Is there a sin that you want to keep that is stopping you from trusting in Christ? Sexual immorality, pornography, clubbing, greed, drunkenness, drugs, pride, lying, cursing, anger, gossip, stealing, hatred, idolatry, etc. Is there something you love more than Christ? The blood of Christ is strong enough to break every chain!

Matthew 19:16-22 “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

What do we learn from this?

There is something the rich man wanted more than Christ and he did not want to give it up. He loved his wealth and chose it over Christ. He was not willing to die to self.

What is repentance? 

Acts 3:19 “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

Luke 3:8 “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham. That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.”

Acts 26:20 “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”

2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

To repent is to:

• Admit your sinfulness
• Regret
• Change one’s mind
• A change of attitude towards God’s truth
• Change of heart
• It is a change of direction and ways
• Turn from your sins
• Hatred for sin and the things that God hates and a love for the things that God loves.

 

God grants us repentance. Repentance is a work of God. It is not a work we do to earn salvation. Repentance does not save, only Christ. Repentance is a change of mind about Christ which will lead to a genuine change of life and turning away from sin and rebellion. Repentance leads to hating sin more. No one is perfect, but you can’t practice sin saying I’ll just repent later I’m a sinner anyway. (Evidence that someone is unregenerate).

What is the gospel?

Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and He was resurrected.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

This is how Christians feel.

“All my sins are gone! Jesus died for me! He saved me! I can begin to know Him!”

We don’t deserve God’s love and mercy, but He still gives it. 

Romans 5:8-9 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

Why we obey?

We love God so much and are so thankful for what He has done in the finished work of Christ. Read more reasons here on why Christians obey God.

There are massive false conversions going on in Christianity today. People say their Christians, but live like the devil. They know what God’s Word says, but say, “no I won’t listen.” They try to find every excuse and false teacher to justify their sins. They want the world and its pleasures, beware! Most people who say they are Christians today will spend eternity in Hell. 

Matthew 7:21-24 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Luke 13:23-28 “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”

Evidence of true salvation in Christ.

• You will have faith in Christ alone.
• You will have a greater sense of your sinfulness more and more and you will see your great need for a Savior.
• You will confess your sins daily and grow in repentance. 
• You will be a new creation.
• Obedience to God’s word.
• You will have new desires and affections for Christ.
• God will work in your life to make you into the image of His Son.
• You will grow in your knowledge of the gospel and dependence on Christ.
• Seeking a pure life regardless of the world.
• Desiring to have fellowship with Christ and with others.
• You will grow and produce fruit (sometimes people grow slower than others and sometimes it will be three steps forward and two steps back or one step forward and two steps back, but you will grow.

Wait, so can a true Christian backslide?

Yes, but God will bring that person to repentance. He will even discipline that child if He has to. Just like a loving father disciplines his children, God will discipline His child out of love. If He lets you go astray and you stay that way you were never a Christian to begin with. A Christian will not live a lifestyle of continuous sin.

Wait, so can a true Christian struggle with sin?

Yes, now there are people who say I’m struggling with sin as an excuse to continue in their sin, but there are genuine Christians who struggle and are broken over their struggles, which shows true repentance. PS. It’s always good to repent every day. The question should be what is your response to struggling? Your response should be to come to God with all your heart and say, “God I need your help I can’t do this on my own. Please Lord help me.”

 

What doesn’t save you?

Baptism – But it’s still important and after you are saved you should get baptized because it is being obedient to God.

Praying– A Christian will desire to have fellowship with the Lord.

Going to church – It is essential for you growth that you find a biblical church.

Obeying the Bible – You’re not saved by obeying the Bible, but the evidence that you are saved is that you will grow in obedience.

You are saved by faith alone and you can’t add anything.

Why Christianity over other religions?

• Every other religion says you are saved by works, Christianity says you are not good enough to be saved by yourself. God is holy and He demands perfection and Jesus became that perfection.
• Jesus says all the other religions are false – John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• Religions contradict so they can’t all be true.
• Christianity is the only religion where a man’s God comes and lives inside of him.
• Fulfilled prophecies which happened before Jesus, in His time, and they are still happening today. 100% accurate!
• Jesus made claims and backed it up. He died and rose again.
• The Bible has archaeological, manuscript, prophetical, and scientific evidence.
• There are eyewitness accounts.
• The Bible was written over 1500 years, has 66 books, and it has over 40 authors, but it still comes together perfectly. It is the most scrutinized book ever, but it still stands strong because God preserves His Word.

 

Come to God with all your heart. You can’t deceive Him. Cry out to Him. Repent and believe on Christ and you shall be saved. Call on God to save you now.

Steps 1-3

1. Repent: Are you having a change of mind about sin and what Christ has done for you? Do you have a greater sense of your sinfulness and your need for a Savior? 

2. Believe: Anybody can say something with their mouth, but you must believe with your heart and truly mean when you say, “Father I believe you brought Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and rose Him from the dead. Jesus will save me from Hell, He is the only way to Heaven nothing else can save me.” You must trust in the Lord, for example if you die and God asks you, “why should I let you into Heaven?” The answer is (Jesus). Jesus is the only way into Heaven. He is my only claim. He died on the cross for my sins. (Believe in your heart and know Jesus is the only way to Heaven). We all deserve death, but God’s grace is so amazing. Do you believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, Christ was buried, and rose from the dead?

3. Surrender: Your life is for Him now.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

 

Advice for new believers

Pray daily: Find a quiet place and go be alone with the Lord.

Find out why you need to read Scripture daily.

 

God bless you my brothers and sisters in Christ.

For more information about evidence of salvation please read this article.