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There Is Salvation In No Other Name

Believe In God

The first step in salvation is to believe that God exists. The Bible says,

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6 KJV)
and that those who do not believe that God exists are fools:
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. (Ps 53:1 KJV)


We are all born with the knowledge of eternity written in our hearts:

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Eccl 3:11 NIV)
This knowledge of eternity also has the knowledge of right and wrong written in our hearts with the conscience set up to monitor that knowledge:
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law ... Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, (Rom 2:14-15 KJV)
Indeed, all of creation gives evidence of God;
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Rom 1:19-20 KJV)


All Are In Sin

So, why, then, do people not know Jesus already? Because the Bible says:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isa 59:2 KJV)
The Bible also says:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Rom 3:23 KJV)
Not only have we all sinned, but we were all born in sin, separated from God from the beginning. King David said:
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Ps 51:5KJV)

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. (Ps 58:3 KJV)
Because of this separation from God at birth by sin, the evidence of God is diminished. The evidence of creation is ignored.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Rom 1:21-22 KJV)
The conscience lost sight of what is right and wrong:
... their conscience being weak is defiled. (1 Cor 8:7 KJV)

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Tim 4:2 KJV)

...but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (Titus 1:15 KJV)
And, finally, the heart has become so polluted with sin, that seeing eternity in the heart becomes hardened.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9 KJV)


Those who try to be good and to obey the law, find themselves in a schizophrenic position. Consider what the apostle Paul has to say to the Roman Jews who were trying to live by the law.

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (Rom 7:1 KJV)

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (Rom 7:7 KJV)

And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (Rom 7:10 KJV)

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Rom 7:14 KJV)

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom 7:22-24 KJV)

It is a great mistake to think that anyone get to know God by living a virtuous life. The 10 Commandments were given to demonstrate what is righteous living, but was also given to prove that none were able to live up to that standard. If you don't think so, consider just a few.

  • The Eighth Commandment: Thou shalt not steal. (Exod 20:15 KJV)
    How about theft? Can anyone honestly say that they have never stolen anything? The pre-teenagers are notorious for shoplifting. Even if one never went through such a phase, everyone has borrowed something at one time, then forgot to return it. To do such a thing is considered stealing, and all who do such things are thieves.
  • The Ninth Commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exod 20:16 KJV)
    This is also known as lying. Can anyone honestly say that they have told the truth at all times? The answer, again, is no. And all who tells lies, are called liars.
If the reader is honest, then you have now admitted that you are a thief and a liar. Perhaps you think that you've only done a few bad things, but overall you are good, so God should accept you. Wrong! God is holy, and none may come into his presence who are unholy. Consider this:
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10 KJV)
You have to be holy to be in God's presence:
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Pet 1:16 KJV)
and that is impossible for us. The truth is that there is nothing that we can do to earn our salvation. Jesus earned it for us and asks us to merely believe in his works.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9 KJV)
That is good news!

The Need for Salvation

You say you believe in God, and you even admit that you are a sinner, but what do you need salvation for? What do need saving from? You need saving from three things: yourself, the devil and God.

  1. Your Self: As already seen, life without Christ is a schizophrenic life. Sin creates confusion and all manner of emotional disturbances.

    For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:16 KJV)

  2. The Devil: Lucifer is very real and so are all the angels that fell with him that are now called the devil and the demons. These beings were created by God without death. They have been alive since the creation of the world. They know everything about you and know all the weaknesses of fallen man. No one wants to believe in the devil. Everyone wants to believe in some kind of beneficent being that will do them good, but no one wants to know that there is an enemy that wants their death. That suits the devil fine. If you don't believe he is there, then he can inflict the most damage in secrecy. Do not think he is as the halloween image of him. He and his angels are beings of great beauty. The Bible says:

    And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:14-15 KJV)

    Despite their beauty, they are malevolent beings seeking only death to mankind.

    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Pet 5:8 KJV)

    Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Rev 12:12 KJV)

    If you think the devil does not know who you are, then you are greatly deceived.

  3. God: Why should we be afraid of God? Isn't He good and loving? Yes, He is. However, He is holy, and cannot be in the presence of sin. He has made a way for sin to be removed through His Son Jesus Christ. God became the man Jesus Christ and took upon Himself the sins of the world. To reject the ultimate sacrifice for you, is to accept the ultimate rejection of you by God. All who reject Jesus will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity. Jesus said:

    And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:47-48 KJV)

    And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:15 KJV)

    It was never the intention of God for mankind to go into the Lake of Fire, for Jesus said:

    Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matt 25:41 KJV)

Christ Jesus Gives Salvation

The gospel is good news. God made a way out of our sins and the path to eternal damnation. No one who was born from Adam could deliver us from our sins. Sin has to be punished, but God wants to spare the sinner. However, sin and the sinner are inseparable. Therefore a sinless man had to bring deliverance. That is why Jesus was born from Mary when she was a virgin. As a sinless man, he could take the punishment we deserved, but be resurrected again. Why? Because the Bible says:

For the wages of sin is death; (Rom 6:23 KJV)
What that means is that Jesus could not die unless the sins were placed upon Him. Jesus said:

I am the good shepherd ... and I lay down my life for the sheep.(John 10:14-15 KJV)

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. (John 10:17-18 KJV)
When Jesus took the wrath of God upon Himself for the sins of the world laid upon Him, He could not remain in the grave, because the sins were not His but ours. Consequently, He was raised from the dead, defeating both sin and death. As it is written:
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55-57 KJV)


Repent

If you believe that you are a sinner as the Bible says you are, and that God became the man Jesus Christ to die for your sins, and that you need salvation, the next step is to repent. Jesus said:

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3 KJV)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9 KJV)
Repentance is not popular. We all want to have our cake and to eat it, too. But Jesus did not die on the cross so we could have a "get out of jail free" card. He did so that we may know Him and walk with him. If you realize the depth of your sins then you will have a godly sorrow.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Cor 7:10 KJV)


Confess Your Sins and Receive Christ Into Your Heart

Salvation is nearer to you than you realize.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Rom 10:8 KJV)
Since God is everywhere, He is with you right now, even though you can not perceive Him because of your sins. Jesus wants you to take a stand for Him. He said:
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matt 10:32-33 KJV)
Paul told the Romans how easy salvation is to acquire:
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. 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. (Rom 10:9-11 KJV)
Jesus said:
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13 KJV)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20 KJV)


Simply Pray Believing That God Will Answer

If you believe all that you have read, even if you do not understand it, Jesus wants to come into your heart. He said to Nicodemus:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 KJV)
The new birth is the recieving of the Holy Spirit into your heart, which gives membership into the family of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; (Rom 8:15-17 KJV)
To become a member of the body of Christ and to participate in His family, you simply need to pray this prayer, believing that God will answer it.

God in Heaven, I know I am a sinner and I deserve the punishment of death and the lake of fire. I come to you begging your forgiveness that you have provided through your Son Jesus Christ. I believe that He died for my sins and rose from the dead again. I believe that You became the man Jesus for my sake. I believe that you are going to answer my prayer for Jesus sake. Come into my heart and give me the new birth through your Holy Spirit. I repent of my sins, and trust you to help me forsake them. Thank you for answering my prayer. Thank you Jesus for saving me and becoming my Lord, my God, and my Savior. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Now you are saved and a member of the family of God. Now you need discipleship.
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