Salvation 
Have you ever wondered what it means when someone says “are you saved?” What exactly is Salvation and why do I need it? I would like to break it down for you today and make it so you can really understand salvation, and who Jesus is. In the Bible it says
John 3:16 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world (that’s us) that he gave his one and only Son, (Jesus) that whoever believes (cling to, rely on, remains steadfast) in him shall not perish but have eternal life (live forever in Heaven).
Before I was saved (accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior) I was pretty wild. I didn’t really care what Jesus thought or anyone else for that matter. I was going to party and have fun as much as I wanted to. At the time I believed we had several lives and I was on one of my first lives, so I had plenty of time to get it right. I thought Jesus was a prophet, a person just like you or me. Thing is I just didn’t understand. I am not sure at the time it would have made a difference. Some just don’t what to hear it. Well I’m guessing if you’re here you must be somewhat interested. Let me explain;
God does so love the world and that would be you and I. We are the world he is talking about. He watched us and knew we are all sinners. That we alone could not be perfect. No matter how hard you try you never will be perfect. I have been serving the Lord for about 22 years and I still have a long way to go.
God loved us so much he thought to Himself, how I can make a way for the people I have created to get to heaven to live with me forever. According to Romans 8 we are all born with a sinful nature. Because of Adam and Eve. God told them in the garden not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were not obedient and they ate. Their eyes were opened to good and to evil.
Now the good in life is just a little harder to have in our lives because it costs us something. We have to make an effort to be good. We have to have self control, and be able to say no to things that are not good. But evil on the other hand comes easy. No restrictions in our lives. We can do what we want when we want and feel no guilt or pressure to be pleasing to anyone. We answer to no person. If you don’t like it that’s your problem. If I want to drink I’ll drink or do drugs I will it’s none of you business. I can sleep around if I want, be who and what I want, if it doesn’t bother me don’t let it bother you. I know I been there done that.
The thing is we cut off our own blessings when we live like that. I remember I was not ever truly happy when I was that way. Don’t get me wrong, I have always been the kind of person that was happy all the time. But I didn’t know true joy. I thought I had to go out and party every night or I would just get hateful. Where was the fun if you weren’t stoned or high. I was looking for something. I didn’t know till later it was Jesus.
Anyway, God knew we were going to fall into sin and He knew He wanted to make our lives better. In the Old Testament times in order to make it to heaven the people had to follow the law, and make sacrifices for the sin.
But God changed all that when Jesus was born. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus was born to a human mother and God was the father. (another teaching) Matthew 1:18-24 now the whole purpose of Jesus’ birth was to be the sacrifice for all sin for all men. He is also called the lamb of God.
1 John 4:9 (New International Version)
9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[a] into the world that we might live through him.
Luke 22:63-65 (New International Version)
63The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" 65And they said many other insulting things to him.
Jesus was beat beyond recognition He was hung on the cross and died. This all took place so He could accept punishment for us because He knew we would never be able to make it to heaven on our own. Sad but true. We are weak. We need worldly things to make us happy and the sad part is we only think we are happy because we don‘t know the full joy of Jesus. We don’t know what true joy is, or being content in life. Jesus did all this for us and we most times don’t give Him the time of day.
Jesus descended into hell for 3 days and conquered death, therefore opening the way for us to get to heaven.
You know Jesus could have said I don’t want to save the world to His Father and He would not have to do it. He did it because He knew it was the only way for you and for me to get into heaven. So He did it freely out of love for us. If it had just been you or just been me He still would have died for our sins. He loves you and me. He knew what He was going to have to do to set us free and it was not easy for Him. Remember He was part man.
Now I say all this so you know that Jesus is the only way to heaven. But why wait till the last minute to accept Jesus. You can start now to live a good and joyful life here on earth. John 3:3-7 says we must be born again to make it to heaven.
John 3:3-7 (New Living Translation)
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.[b] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[c] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[d] must be born again.’
To be born again we must accept Jesus as our Savior. We are born the first time in the flesh and we have a sinful nature that we have naturally. Then when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are born again, born into a new life. We are babes in Christ. We start to learn about the Lord and how He wants us to live. We must realize we cannot change on our own. He will help us.
The thing is we may be at a place where we don’t really want to change. If that is where you are then start there, where you are. Jesus will come in and change the desires of your heart. I didn’t think I would ever be happy being straight. But I am happier now than I have ever been. Because I have a new hope in Jesus.
Some may think they have too much past to come to know Jesus. He loves you no matter who you are or what you have done.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Means starting over. We can start over in this life no matter what we have done. Jesus forgives all our sins and we get a whole new start. Nothing matters to Jesus but what we do after we accept Jesus as Savior. He will even help us from that point on. We can be whatever we want to be as long as it is good and acceptable to Jesus. Is that not the greatest new you have ever heard?
I’m not kidding you. You have no idea how wonderful life can be. The hard part is to get you to understand, Jesus changes you. All you do is read the word and try to apply it to your life. Yes I said try. No one is perfect and Jesus knows that. That is why He died for us. Just give it a try. Jesus love you. I’m excited for you. I know it’s a whole new start.
I remember when I first accepted Jesus in my life and I just kept on partying. It was my sisters Birthday and we were going to Gilleys in Pasadena TX. Ray Price was going to be there and we were all going. I was in the shower and I got a feeling like I was doing something I shouldn’t do. I know now it was conviction. Then I just knew I couldn’t go. So I got out of the shower and told Doug (my hubbie) I can’t go tonight. I feel guilty. He was so happy. He had been praying for me to get it. I was going to church and doing the party thing. One had to go and Doug was praying for me to be right with the Lord. I called my sister and told her I couldn’t go and she was disappointed at the time. She is also now serving Jesus and very happy and full of the joy of Jesus.
So if you have not yet said the sinners prayer say it now.
Say,
Heavenly Father I come to You now in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ. I confess that I am a sinner and that I have sinned against You. I ask You to forgive me for all of my sins and I repent for my sins and I choose to follow and obey and accept Your Son Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that Your sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins on the cross at Calvary and that I am set free from sin and death. It no longer has a hold on me. I believe Jesus is alive today and still saves. I ask You to be Lord of my life and to be my Savior. I thank You Jesus and I ask You to teach me how to live for You and to have a personal relationship with You. In the precious name of Jesus Amen
If you said this prayer I would like to know about it.
Please share with me