GOD'S Perfect Plan of Salvation

What exactly is this "born again" and this "saved" stuff really mean? We Christians speak in ways that are often completely understood within our own community of believers, yet leave others feeling confused like they are on the outside looking in. Salvation is the one point that needs to be clearly offered to anyone and everyone seeking answers to life and living.

Are you sure of where you will go after you die? Do you believe that you are right with God? Are your sins and mistakes covered and completely forgiven? Is your name in the Lamb's book of Life? If you're not sure keep reading!

You may have heard people state: "I got saved at a Christmas church service in 1989." Saved from what? Good question! Saved from a life that is spiraling down a difficult path only to end in despair. Unfortunately, our world today teaches us that there are many paths to God and it doesn't really matter what or who we call our personal God. I've even heard God referred to as a higher power, and this power can be anything you like - even a doorknob. I don't know about you but I somehow cannot imagine bowing before my bathroom doorknob with the expectation of salvation and eternal life! I needed power and not just a light switch!

We were all created with a yearning deep in our soul, an aching heart that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. I can speak from experience. I tried numerous other spiritual avenues, drugs, relationships, money….the list could continue, to find peace in my heart. I just wanted somebody or something to stop that constant nagging that there had to be more to life then what I was experiencing. These false-gods only brought me more pain and heartache.

Only after I "got saved" did I begin to experience the peace and freedom that I had been yearning for. So what does the bible say about being saved?

I believe Romans 10:3-9 (NLT) will help explain salvation:

For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way. For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.

For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you). And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again). Salvation that comes from trusting Christ-which is the message we preach-is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."

For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed."

Can it be that simple? Yes, it can. God asks that we confess out loud that we want to follow Him and we believe He is the Son of God, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through Him, and only Him, can we reach Heaven and experience any sort of lasting satisfaction here on earth. Would you like to have your name written in God's Book of Life? Then pray the following prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

Come into my heart today. I want to ask you to be Lord of my life. I believe you were sent to die for me and rose from the dead, and because of your sacrifice and love, I can be a new person from this day forth and have the promise of eternal life. Please forgive my sins and purify my heart, God. I want to follow you, to dedicate my life to you and your will. Take me Lord. I'm yours! In Jesus' name I pray this, Amen!

Welcome to God's family! You now have a new identity in Christ. Remember it is a gift of grace from God alone that we are saved. Trying to get good enough will not get us to heaven. It's about our faith in Jesus and Him alone as our Savior.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT) states the following truth:

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Where do you go from here? Find a church in your area where Jesus is recognized as the one true Savior, the only begotten Son of God who was crucified for our sins, died, rose again so that we may have eternal life and who is coming back to rapture His people in His Second Coming. Select a church to fellowship with other believers and a place where people are pursuing growth in Christ. Read the Bible. It is the one true source of information for us. The Bible is God's love letters to you! It contains the answers you need to live each day. And pray! Ask God to guide and direct you, to show you His plan and purpose for your life (you have one now!), ask Him to light your path in the days ahead. May God bless you and keep you… fellow Christian.