Are you saved?

Salvation can be defined as “The saving and liberation of human beings from the power of sin and its consequences and being protected from the evil forces”.

Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

What is salvation and what does it mean to be saved?

To be saved is to believe in your heart that Jesus is the Lord of all and that He came to this world to die for your sins and the sins of the world. To be saved is to believe that you are a sinner and that you need a helper, Jesus Christ. Knowing that salvation can only come through Jesus is the right step forward to assuring your salvation ( John 3:16).

We are not meant to fight life’s battles ourselves, nor are we made to live life on our own. But we were created to know and be aware that help is available to us by the one who formed us, God.

Ever wonder, why you are here and for what reason and purpose you are who you are and where you are?

Jesus came into this earth so that we can have life and have it in full (John 10:10). Salvation is found in him. He knows the reason why you are here on Earth. To know your purpose, you must first know him and then He will show you your purpose because your purpose is for him, and your purpose is to glorify him.

Jesus is the foundation for our salvation and also the way to enjoy abundant life. You can not go to heaven just because you think you are good. No, that’s not how it works. Doing good alone will not win you a ticket to heaven. But 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 ( Romans 10: 9-10).

There is only one true hero on this earth and that is Jesus Christ, our elder brother who has triumphed where all of us have failed.

Do you have assurance before God right now that you are saved? If Jesus came back today, are you sure you will go with him? If you are in doubt about your salvation, you still have time to make things right and accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour.

How do you know you are a true follower of Jesus Christ? What is your evidence of conversion?

The following are a few examples that will tell you whether you are truly a true follower of Christ:

• We must walk in a manner worthy of the calling in which we have been called. We must “live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behaviour—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation” (Ephesians 4:1). God has revealed to us in His work what his will and characters are and He has shown us all of this in His will. So, if anyone says they are saved, but yet walks in a manner that contradicts what God has revealed in the scriptures about his nature and about his specific will, they cannot have assurance of having come to know Christ.
• You have a new relationship with sin. You begin to hate sin. Also how you react when the Holy Spirit reveals the sin you have committed also shows your relationship with sin.
• You walk with godly friends who encourage and help you to ignite the fire in you for Christ. What are your friends like? Do they love the world? Or do they follow Christ as you follow Christ?
• You don’t look at the world but you look at Jesus.
• Knowing and believing that your faith is in Jesus alone.  We are told in 2 Corinthians 13 vs 5-6 to test ourselves to see whether or not we are in faith.
• You believe that Jesus is God and that He came to earth, died on the cross, rose from the grave and that He offers forgiveness and new life to all who believe him. He gives us assurance of salvation.
• You act in obedience and you are careful to do the will of God. It is not everyone who thinks they are saved that is actually saved (Matthew 7 vs. 21-23).
• You desire to obey God. You want to do his will and you want to seek him to know his will for your life
• Your life reflects Christ – You seek to be an imitator of Christ and you fear him.
• You have the conviction of sin. You want to confess your sin and are willing to repent from them. You know you are saved when conviction, confession and repentance are present in your life (1 John:5-10 & 1 John 2: 1-3).
• You walk in the light, not darkness (1 John 1:5-7). You don’t live a sinful life but you walk in truth and holiness.

What must you do to be saved?

• Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Believe that He is the way, the truth and the life.

You don’t have to straighten out your life first, nor do you have to do something amazing in order to come to Christ. You do these things WITH Christ after you come to Him. We don’t have to make ourselves well before going to the doctor. You wouldn’t go to the doctor when you are well, it’s only when you are unwell that you go. Likewise, salvation is knowing you need Christ and believing when you come to him, He will help you with everything else.

In the Bible :

• The blind man came to Jesus just as he was
• The leopard came to Jesus just as he was
• Mary Magdalene came to Jesus just as she was and that was enough for Christ.

God doesn’t expect anyone to be at any level for them to reach out to Jesus. It’s just your heart He’s looking for. You can come to Christ as you are, you don’t have to figure things out first or wear your Sunday best to impress God.

When you come to commit your life to Christ, you must commit your mind, emotions, feelings, will and body over to Him. There is no salvation in any other except through Christ (Acts 4 vs. 12).

If you were to die today, where will you go? Tomorrow may be too late. Accept Jesus today and be sure of your salvation. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is love and ask him to forgive your sin and believe you have been forgiven.

Salvation is for everyone who is willing to receive it!

Bible Verses to Meditate on:

• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)

• We are all sinners. But God did not leave us in that state. He did something about it  ( John 3:16).

• For he says, “In the time of my favour, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)

• For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)                                                                                  
•  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (Romans 10: 9-10).

If you are willing to accept Jesus and build your trust and hope in Him then take just a few minutes wherever you are and repeat these few words;

“Lord Jesus, I am ready to give you a chance in my life. I am sorry for all my sins and I want to build my foundation in you. I welcome you into my heart and into my life. Lord, come and have your way in me. God, I thank you for the love you have for me and the blood you shed for me on the cross. I am ready to follow you and I will not look back”. In Jesus’ Name. Amen