Who Can Be Saved?

Very often the church, the body of believers, uses terminology that those outside the faith may not fully understand.  The primary idea is around the concept of salvation, why do I need to be saved?  Why are so many church members so interested in me being saved?

Men have developed their own ideas and have made grand statements about salvation.  Some believe that if they are "good" according to their own standards or according to their parents they will be able to go to heaven.  Yet this begs the question whose standard of "good"?

Some even believe that only a certain kind of person can be saved, but the practice of Macedonia is to turn to the Bible and find out what is written there. 

Jesus had answered the question and when recorded in the scripture of the New Testament the astonishment was clear, 

Matthew 19:25 (KJV) When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

First question: Who is Jesus?

Peter, an apostle of Christ when asked this question, answered, Matthew 16:16 (KJV) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

He came to save the lost

How did he accomplish this?

God requires that men pay for sin

to the individual that will not turn to Christ, that person will go to hell

but Jesus went to Calvary's cross to pay the price for mankind's sin

He was sinless, therefore was the only one who could pay the price. 

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Every person is guilty of sin, having broken God's law.  When an individual becomes aware of this guilt we call it conviction, a deep sense of guilt when presented with the demand of a Holy God to live a perfect life.

Mark 10:18 (KJV) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Romans 3:12 (KJV) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

While John 3:16 can be quoted by almost every person who has come in contact with a believer.   Verse 18 of the same chapter is equally part of the Word of God.

John 3:18 (KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Who needs to be saved?  Every person

Why?  We are all sinners

The action  called repentance means to turn from sin to Christ, both occurring at once.

a change of belief that leads to a change in action 

 Mark 2:17 (KJV) When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: 

If you see yourself as good I cannot help you, but if you see yourself as sinful then please read on

Third question: How can I be saved?

Acts 16:30-31 (KJV) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

To believe is to place trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Lord He rules over all

As Jesus He became the savior for all that will call on His name

As Christ He is the anointed Son and Servant of God who suffered and died in our place

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

a wage is what we are owed for work we have done, all men face death

grace is the unmerited favor of God, meaning you cannot work enough or do enough to be "good enough" to deserve heaven

but God has chosen to extend his mercy and grace to every man, woman and child who will call on the name of the Lord

If you see yourself as sinful, and Christ as the Savior 

Very simply prayer is talking to God, 

the prayer of salvation is not complicated and should be yours

speak to God as you are speaking to a person

Romans 10:9 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, 

and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Faith means to believe, the act of faith is trust, trust that what Jesus did on the Cross is sufficient for you

This turning from self and sin to cling to the Cross of Christ is called repentance.

Mark 1:15 (KJV) ...repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Romans 10:10-11 (KJV) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; 

and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, 

Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

God works on the inward part of man, it is there He brings about righteousness, but salvation is both speaking and believing, 

Romans 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

we know whosoever includes you

to call simply means to pray

upon the name of the Lord means to place your faith and trust in Jesus

by calling Him Lord you are acknowledging He rules over all

Ask Him to save you

believe that He is able

if you have been saved, tell someone

if we can be a help to you, or if you still have questions, please call 828-497-1611