HOW TO BE SAFE

©Rod Smith

We are safe when we have salvation. Jesus shed His blood on the cross to achieve salvation for us. He was crucified, dead, buried and rose again on the third day. That is the gospel. Probably the most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16 (that means John chapter 3 verse 16, in the New Testament) - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son [Jesus] that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." But we have to respond to that.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CROSS

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7. Through whom? Through Jesus. When we recognise this, do something about it, repent, believe in Christ, we can have salvation. That is the way to heaven. Jesus said there is no other way. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No-one comes to the Father except by me." John 14:6. So if we want those promises we have to act.

RECOGNIZE

We must recognize we are all sinners, for the Bible says in Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." That applies to everyone, no matter how decent, how respectable, we think we are. And if we stay in that condition? "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23. So we must repent.

When we make a decision to receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we fulfil the will of God for every human being. 2 Peter 3:9 says: "The Lord is. . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." To repeat, we must repent.

To repent means to have regret, sorrow for what we have done in the past. To deplore it. To be willing to turn our life around. The Bible says it: "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38. That verse says we must be baptized also, as Jesus was (in the river) by John. We must decide to take a different path. To follow Jesus.

WHAT IF WE REJECT JESUS?

The Bible makes it clear that those who reject the gospel go to eternal death in the lake of fire. Jesus (speaking of Himself) says: "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18.

Revelation 20:15 says:"Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Not pleasant. Dogmatic, emphatic, uncompromising? Yes, but it is the truth of God's Word. That is why I beg you, urge you to come to Jesus.

SAY THIS PRAYER

You must be sincere. "Lord Jesus, I admit I am a sinner, as the Bible says. I turn now to you, I ask forgiveness for the wrong things I have done. I repent, and ask now for your salvation, and I ask you to come into my heart and life. I decide now to follow you. I want to be baptized in your name. Amen."

Then, find a church where Christ is foremost, and get involved. Ask them to baptize you by full immersion. Talk to God every day in prayer, and read His Word - the Bible. Start with John in the New Testament.

When you have salvation you will never fear the future.

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