Page 85 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAVED

Without Christ as my Savior I am a condemned sinner (John 3:18). I am utterly lost (John 3:36). As a condemned
sinner I am spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). I have no hope and I am without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).

But when Christ comes into my life, He forgives my sin (Acts 10:43). He writes my name in the Book of Life
(Revelation 21:27). He saves my soul (Luke 19:10). Believing in Christ as my Savior, I am a new creation (2
Corinthians 5:17). I am a child of God (John 1:12).

For Christ to be a Savior to me I must realize that I am a lost sinner and that He came into the world to save me
(Isaiah 53:6; 1 Timothy 1:15; Matthew 1:21). I am saved forever by repenting of my sins (Luke 13:3) and
believing in Jesus as my Savior (John 3:14-16; John 5:24; Acts 20:21; 11 Timothy 1:12).

When I repent of my sins and ask Jesus to save me, I am immediately and
publicly to confess Him as my Savior and Lord (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans
10:9-10).

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: From what does Jesus save us?
Answer: From our sins. (Mark 2:1-11; Matthew 26:28; 1 John 1:7).

Question: What is sin?
Answer: Sin is disobedience to God, or breaking of the law of God. (1 John 3:4).

Question: Who has sinned?
Answer: All of us have sinned. We all have sinned. (Romans 3:10, 23).

Question: What is the penalty for my sins?
Answer: Death. (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23). I die two ways; one, my body dies
(if I did not sin, I would never die): two, my soul dies. I am separated from
God forever. The Bible calls that the second death, hell.

Question; How can I be saved from this death?
Answer: I can be saved from eternal death by trusting Jesus as my Savior. I am
sorry for my sin and turn from it (this is repentance) and look to Jesus to forgive me (this is
saving faith). (Acts 16:30-31).

Question: Do I work for this great salvation?
Answer: I do not work for my salvation. It is a free gift of God. It is wholly of grace. I just receive it; I just
take it; I just accept it. My salvation is something God gives me through faith in Jesus Christ.
(Romans 4:2-5; Eph 2:8-9).

Question: Why should I seek to do good works?
Answer: Because Jesus has saved me, and I seek to honor Him in my life.
(Ephesians 2:10; James 2:26; John 15:14). If I am truly saved, I will obey my Lord. Good works
are the result of my salvation, not the means by which I obtain it. Only after the tree is made
good, can it bring forth good fruit. (Matthew 12:33).

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