The Plan of Salvation

Dear Friend,

If God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” what would you say? If you are not sure or if you hesitated for a moment to answer that question, these two pages have the best news you could ever hear and will be the most important time you will ever spend!

Are you aware that God said you can know for sure that you will have eternal life and that you can go to be with Him in Heaven?

“I write these…that you may know that you have eternal life.”
(I John 5:13)

How can you know for sure? Here’s how…


Eternal life is a free gift!

When we hear something is free, we tend to think, “What’s the catch?” but God says . . .

“. . . the gift of God in eternal life . . .” (Romans 6:23b)

And because eternal life is a gift, like any other genuine gift. . .


It cannot not earned or deserved!

No amount of personal effort, doing good things, or religious deeds can earn eternal life for us. God says,

“It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” (Ephesians 2:9)

So, why can’t we earn eternal life??


There is a worldwide problem

According to God this problem is called sin.

“All have sinned; all fall short of God’s standard.” (Romans 3:23)

We all sin: lying, cheating, evil thoughts, gossip, lust, greed, hatred, immoral behavior. And because we’ve all sinned, then it’s also true that . . .


We cannot save ourselves!

Have you ever wondered just how good you would have to be to get into Heaven? God said:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Matthew 5:48)

Even the smallest sin disqualifies us from Heaven, and makes it impossible for us to be perfect. We can’t be good enough, so . . .

There must be a completely different way . . . God’s way!


On the one hand

God is love. He loves us and doesn’t want to punish us. He says:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3b)

But the same bible that tells us God loves us, also tells us that . . .


On the other hand

God is just, and so He must punish sin.

“He . . .does not leave the guilty unpunished.” (Exodus 34:7b)

We have a problem. God loves us and doesn’t want to punish us. But He is just and must punish sin. God solved this problem in the Person of Jesus.


Jesus Christ

Who would you say Jesus is? Jesus was and is God.

“Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15)

Anyone who wants to know what God is like should check out the perfect life of Jesus Christ. But we may also ask . . .


What Did He Do?

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place for us in heaven which He offers to us as a free gift.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity (sin) of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Jesus took our place. He paid the penalty. Does everyone receive this gift? No. This gift is received by . . .


Faith

Faith is the key that opens the door to eternal life. Many people mistake different things for saving faith:

• Saving faith is not a “blind leap in the dark: Faith that gives us eternal life is based on what is true, not on “hope-so’s”.
• Saving faith is not just “head belief”. We’ll never get to Heaven simply because we know about God or Jesus Christ.
• Saving faith is not just a “temporary faith” in God for times of emergency, only to forget about Him until the next crisis comes along.

Saving Faith

. . . is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life and that includes a personal relationship with Him.

“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)

You can unlock the door to eternal life and Heaven with the “key of saving faith”. So the important question is:

Would you like to receive the gift of eternal life?

Because this is such an important matter, let’s clarify just what this involves: It means that you need to:


Transfer Your Trust

From what you have been doing to get to heaven to what Christ has already done for you on the cross.

Receive Christ as Savior
Open the “door” to your heart and invite Him in.

“Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my
voice and open the door, I will come in. . .” (Revelation 3:20)

Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord

Give Him the “driver seat” and “controls” of your life, not the “back seat.”

Repent
Be willing to turn from anything that is not pleasing to Him. He will reveal His will to you as you grow in your relationship with Him.

You can go to God in prayer

If this is what you really want, you can go to God in prayer right where you are. If you want to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, then call on Him asking for this free gift right now.

“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. . .”. (Romans 10:10,13)


Here’s a Suggested Prayer
“Dear God, I know that I have done many things wrong and do not deserve eternal life. I believe You died on the cross and rose from the grave to purchase eternal life for me. Lord, come into my heart. Take control of my life. I confess my sins and now I place my trust in You alone. Thank You for giving me Your free gift of eternal life.”

If this prayer expresses what you believe in your heart, look at what Jesus promises you:

“. . .he who believes in Me has eternal life.”. (John 6:47)


Now you have eternal life and no one can ever take it away from you.

Congratulations! If you meant in your heart what you just prayed, then you have the promise of Christ, that your sins are forgiven and that you have the gift eternal life.

“. . . to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)


Today is your Spiritual Birthday

The date of your physical birth was probably marked by a birth certificate.

The Bible speaks of those who receive eternal life in these words:

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is
forgotten, and everything is new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

To help you recall what God did in your life today, please use the following


What’s Next?

Just as a newborn baby grows physically, in a similar way you can grow spiritually, by taking the following steps:

Read the Bible
Start with the Gospel of John, read a chapter each day.

“As newborn babes desire the pure milk of the
Word (of God) that you may grow . . .” (I Peter 2:2)

Prayer
Spend time each day talking to God.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” (Philippians 4:6)

Worship
Regularly attend a church that honors Jesus Christ and teaches you the Bible.

“I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the
house of the Lord.” (Psalms 122:1)

“GOD is a Spirit and those who worship Him, must
worship Him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

Fellowship
Partner with Christians who will help you grow in the faith.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen, and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (I John 1:3)

Witness
Tell others what Jesus Christ means to you!

“But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world” (Acts 1:8)


If you have appreciated the GOOD NEWS you have just read, please let us know. We want to rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you grow spiritually. Please call, visit or write our church using the link on this page.