Five Keys of Salvation
First things first
The most important message we have for you is the message of salvation. Begin right now considering whether or not you are genuine Christian. Take a look at the following Five Keys to help you to determine your personal relationship with God.
1st Key
The Bible is very clear, that even though we may think very highly of ourselves, from God’s point of view we all are sinners.
“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’” ( Romans 3:10-12, 23).2nd Key
Throughout time mankind has always resented and resisted the idea that they are sinners. We usually consider ourselves to be basically good. But God has already declared us to be completely sinful – and it is what God says that really matters. What makes this even more sobering is when we discover what the punishment is for being a sinner.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” ( Romans 6:23).
Because we all are sinners, we then are all spiritually dead. This means we have no love for the things of God; we cannot understand the Bible; and we have no way of communicating with or pleasing God. Furthermore, because we all are sinners, we then are facing the second death, which is an eternal death in hell that begins when we die physically.
I know this is not very pleasant news, but it is very important to know the truth (and keep reading – good news is on the way!).
3rd Key
Before we get to the good news, there is one more Key you must understand, and that is that you can’t do anything on your own to save yourself from this awful predicament. Down through centuries there have been scores of people who believed they could be good enough to warrant God’s blessing on them and to earn eternal life. But the Bible says that this is impossible. We all are sinners who are incapable of measuring up to God’s perfect standard. There is no amount of good works that we could do that would transform us from sinner to saint.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” ( Ephesians 2:8-9).
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” ( Isaiah 64:6).
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” ( Isaiah 59:2).
4th Key
So far we’ve learned that we all are sinners, separated from God and His heaven, with no way of remedying our terrible situation. This is the truth. And now the good news. God knew that we were incapable of paying for our sins and becoming righteous in His sight. This is why He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross – to pay for the sins of the world.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” ( Romans 5:8).
God the Father laid our sins on His only Son, and then sent Him to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all’” ( Isaiah 53:5-6).
“For our sake he (God the Father) made him (Christ the Son) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Not only did Jesus Christ die for our sins. He rose again. He conquered death and the grave. Those who put their faith and trust in Him have their sins forgiven, are given Christ’s righteousness, and receive eternal life.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
You see, mankind has a sin problem that on his own he can do nothing about. We may try to believe that we’re okay, but we’re not. We may try to do many good works to become acceptable to God, but we will fail. God has declared all of us to be sinners, incapable of saving ourselves. But because God is rich in mercy, grace, and love He has provided a way of salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
5th Key
Our only hope for salvation from sin is to admit that we are sinners,
turn from our sin and our own efforts, and put our faith and trust in
Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” ( John 3:16).
That’s the key – to believe. This means to stop relying on yourself, and put your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Confess to Him that you are a sinner. Ask for His salvation. Bow your heart before Him as Lord. Turn from your sin and commit your life to Him. You will no longer be your own—you will belong to God. You will no longer serve yourself—you will serve the Lord.
“Because, 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 with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” ( Romans 10:9-10, 13).
So there you have it – God’s plan of salvation.
- Admit that you are a sinner, separated from God and incapable of saving yourself.
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins on the cross and rose again.
- Turn from your sin and your own efforts to save yourself – and put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord – committing your life and obedience to Him. Put your faith in Christ today. Commit your life to Him today.
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” ( Matthew 16:25-26).
Call out to Christ today…
O Lord, I know that I am a sinner separated from you. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I now turn from my sins and any efforts to save myself to You alone. I put my faith and trust in You for salvation. Please forgive me and wash me clean of my sins. I commit my life to obeying You. Amen.
This is the most important message. It is the good news of salvation. If we can help you understand it more clearly please talk to us right away.