Do You Know What It Means To Be Saved?
http://blog.guidedbytruth.com/lesson1.php
Some people do not realize that they are sinners in need of salvation. Before we get saved, we must first realize we have a problem that we need saving from. What exactly is is that problem? As the verse above tells us, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Is this true, are we all sinners? Are you a sinner?
Take this test to find out. Below is a list of questions based off of the 10 commandments. Answer these questions honestly:
Take this test to find out. Below is a list of questions based off of the 10 commandments. Answer these questions honestly:
- Do you put God above all else?
- Is there something or someone else you worship instead of God?
- Have you ever used God's name as a curse word?
- Do you neglect the things of God?
- Do you always honor your parents?
- Have you ever hated anyone? (Jesus said if you hate your brother you are a murderer)
- Have you ever lusted after anyone? (Jesus said you lusted after a someone you commit adultery in your heart)
- Have you ever stolen anything?
- Have you ever told a lie (even once)?
- Have you ever coveted what is not yours?
How did you do? According to James 2:10 if you keep all the law except for one small part, does that make you innocent or guilty?
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
We are all guilty of sin. We “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If you were judged by these standards you would be found guilty. So what is the verdict for that sin? Look at Romans 6:23 to find out.
We are all guilty of sin. We “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If you were judged by these standards you would be found guilty. So what is the verdict for that sin? Look at Romans 6:23 to find out.
What, according to Romans 6:23, is the penalty (wages) for sin?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The wages for sin is death. Death does not mean that we cease to exist, but rather that we become separated from something. For instance, when we die physically our spirits live on, but they are separated from our physical body. The same thing happens to us spiritually. We are born “spiritually dead”, which means we are separated from God. Those who are born again are made spiritually alive by Christ, those who die having rejected Christ will remain separated from God for eternity. (Col 2:13, John 3:16-18)
The wages for sin is death. Death does not mean that we cease to exist, but rather that we become separated from something. For instance, when we die physically our spirits live on, but they are separated from our physical body. The same thing happens to us spiritually. We are born “spiritually dead”, which means we are separated from God. Those who are born again are made spiritually alive by Christ, those who die having rejected Christ will remain separated from God for eternity. (Col 2:13, John 3:16-18)
So, we have this problem called sin and because of that we are separated from God. There is nothing we can do to change this condition. No matter how hard we try we will always “fall short of the glory of God.” This is the predicament that we need to be rescued from. We are already spiritually dead and we need someone to “save” us before we remain that way and become separated from God forever.
The good news is that we have someone who can rescue us. God saw our condition and cared enough about us to send his Son.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
According to this verse, how did God demonstrate his love for us? What was our condition when he died for us?
God showed his love by sending his Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. He did that when we did not deserve it. That is what is so awesome about salvation. He died for us while we were sinning. He did not wait for us to change, shape up, or become worthy. If He had waited for any of those things we would never be saved because we all fall short and can never be worthy of the glory of God.
God showed his love by sending his Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. He did that when we did not deserve it. That is what is so awesome about salvation. He died for us while we were sinning. He did not wait for us to change, shape up, or become worthy. If He had waited for any of those things we would never be saved because we all fall short and can never be worthy of the glory of God.
Earlier in Romans 6:23 we discussed that the wages of sin is death, but what does it say gives us eternal life?
The “gift of God” is eternal life. A gift is something that you are given, not something that you earn or “work” for. Read Ephesians 2:8-9 and meditate on its meaning.
The “gift of God” is eternal life. A gift is something that you are given, not something that you earn or “work” for. Read Ephesians 2:8-9 and meditate on its meaning.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Why is salvation not made available by works?
If you could do something to earn salvation by doing something like get baptized, join a church, be a good person, or perform any kind of ritual, you would be able to boast and say you were saved because you did one of those things. God knows that man is prideful and does not want man to have any credit in accepting his gift.
Look at these two terms, wage and gift.
A wage is something you earn. An example of that is the money you get for going to work. When you have a job you “work” for a week and the company pays you wages for doing that work. Wages are earned. The wages of sin is death. We have earned and deserve death.
A gift is something given for free. There is nothing you to do earn a gift, it is freely given out of generosity. It is never considered a gift if there are any strings attached. The gift of God is eternal life. God gives us eternal life for free. There is nothing we can do to earn it.y
While God offers this gift to everyone, he does not force anyone to take it. It would no longer be a gift if he forced someone to accept it if they did not want it. God died to save us from our sins, but he will only save those who believe in Him.
John 3:16 "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.
We must believe in Jesus Christ to be saved, but what is it about Him that we must believe?
1 Cor 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Believing that Jesus died for our sins is only half the story, Jesus also rose again. That is extremely important to realize. See, it was his death that provided the payment for our sin, but it was his resurrection that actually gives us life. Will you believe in Him today?
Dear Lord,
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
Amen.
What's next?
First steps in the Christian life:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/becoming-a-christian/how-can-i-be-saved/first-steps-in-the-christian-life
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