The Pathway to Salvation

By Sheri Liegh Adams, copyright Sheri Liegh Adams, all rights reserved Also see: The Pathway to Destruction In the Bible it states that all men (and women) will eventually hear the truth of God’s word and be given the opportunity to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. Every man, woman, boy and girl will at some point in their life hear the Gospel. Romans 1:19-23 NLT - 19For the truth about God is known to them instinctively.[a] God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. 21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. 22Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. 23And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. Matthew 24:14 14And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. Mark 13:10 - 10And the Good News must first be preached to every nation. So if you have never heard the Gospel or how you can be saved, here is your chance - don’t waste it. It is THE MOST IMPORTANT message you will ever read. Please have an open heart to receive what you read and an open mind to understand what you are being taught. We know that Satan has a plan for our lives. His desire is to destroy us and to make us live out eternity with him in the fiery pits of Hell in eternal torment and fear. However, God has a plan to counteract that fatal flaw. The following is the Salvation message. If you are a Christian, you will rediscover the truths about what it means to be a Christian and it will give you a refresher course on how to reach the many who are lost. If you are not a Christian, it will give you an understanding of the importance of this plan for and in your life. The most important question you will ever have to answer in your lifetime and that any of us will ever have to face is “what will you do with Jesus?” The question will eventually reach all ears and each one will have to make a decision which will affect their lives here on earth but especially the other side of this life - the afterlife. And despite whether you believe there is a Heaven and a Hell is of no consequence. They are real and they are not far from us. It will all depend on which road we choose to follow. The road to Salvation starts by realizing that everyone ever born or will be born is a sinner that needs a Savior. Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” 1 John 1:8 goes on to say that “If we say that we have no sin, we deive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” You might be thinking, “but I am a good person. I don’t murder or rape or rob. I work hard, provide for my family…” But none of that matters in the grand scheme of salvation. The Bible will tell you in Ephesians 2:8-9 that "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.” You can be a good person and still wind up on the road to Hell if you refuse the Gospel of Christ. So now you realize that you are a sinner. The next step is to repent of your sin. What sin? White lies, taking a sick day when you aren’t sick, telling not so wholesome jokes or being a listener to them…we all have sin in our lives and it is up to us to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what they are and then repent of them. Luke 13:3 says "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Acts 3:19 goes on to say “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Can you imagine? Everything wrong or distasteful that you have ever done, forgiven - forgotten!!! What an awesome promise. Next comes confessing our sins to God. Similar to that above but with more emphasis on forgiveness, 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Romans 10:10 goes on to say that “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Don’t be ashamed of confessing what you have done wrong. God already knows what you have done. He is just waiting for you to go to Him and say, “Father, forgive me.” What are you waiting for? Confessing our sins is good, but not good enough. True repentance requires action. What I mean is this: if I were to repent of lying to my best friend about anything and yet keep on lying, there is no true repentance. True confession requires true repentance. In order for there to be repentance, you need to stop doing what it is you are confessing to God for any meaning to come out of it. Anyone can say they are sorry, but it takes a strong person to actually change their behavior so they don’t do those sinful things anymore. That is forsaking your sins. Isaiah 55:7 says “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord…for He will abundantly pardon.” So don’t just apologize, change your behavior. Another step in the Salvation pathway is to believe in the finished work of the cross. Likely the most popular verse in the Bible that even non-believers know is John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever shall believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We have to believe that what Jesus did on the cross was all that it took to change things forever. If we do not believe on what the cross represents, we have an empty faith. The next step is to ask Jesus to come into your hearts. This takes pure faith, like that a child has when s/he jumps into the pool trusting that mom or dad will catch them and not let them fall. In the same way, when you ask Jesus into your hearts, He will make sure you don’t fall. John 1:12 says “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons (and daughters) of God, even to them that believe on His name.” As soon as we ask Jesus into our lives, we become part of the family of God. We are like adopted children. We have been chosen by the God of all creation to be part of His family. What greater honour could there ever be in this life or the one thereafter? The final step in the salvation pathway is to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. This is done in two different ways, in my own personal opinion. First of all it happens at the time you give your life to Jesus. You confess out loud that you believe in Jesus. This also comes once you are a more mature Christian when you will go out and tell others the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9 and 13 say: “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 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So to summarize: First realize that everybody who has or ever will live, is a sinner that needs a Savior. Next, repent of your sin and confess your sins to God with the full assurance that He will forgive you of all you have ever done. Turn away from the wrong things you did to show God you mean business. Believe that what Jesus did on the cross was to finalize the process for the lost (us) to find a way back to God. The cross is the bridge between sinful man and holy God. Ask Jesus into your heart and proclaim that Jesus is Lord. A Sample Prayer might go something like this: Dear Jesus, I am sorry for my sins and I ask You for forgiveness and that you cleanse me with Your blood. Jesus, right now I confess that You are the Lord of my soul. I believe that God raised You from the dead. At this very moment, I ask You to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. Thank You for dying for me and thank You for now accepting me into Your family. I believe that now that I have confessed all these things, that I am saved. Thank You Jesus. Amen. If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!! Right now in Heaven all the angels and saints are rejoicing over you. All of Heaven is having a party because you decided to accept Jesus’ offer of salvation. Welcome to the family, brother or sister!!! Call a local church and tell them you gave your heart to Jesus. You will be pleasantly surprised at the response and joy you get and feel when you share your experience. If you have prayed that prayer before and found out that maybe you needed to do so again, a HUGE welcome to you as well. God has been reaching out to you and you have finally heard His loving whisper of saying, “Come home My child.” All of Heaven is rejoicing over you as well. Pray for strength and endurance to keep going and this time you WILL make it. The final step, is to get yourself into a church that fully preaches the Gospel of Jesus so that you learn what to do next and how to grow in the Lord. Being around other Christians is uplifting, enjoyable and strengthening. If you don’t know where to go, just call the churches in your phone directory until you find one that you think you will enjoy and find enrichment from. Don’t be discouraged if you have to try three or four before you find the one you like and fit in. God Bless you!!! MORE SCRIPTURES ON SALVATION Revelation 3:20 - 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. 1 John 1:7 - The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. Ephesians 2:8-9 - 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. Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 6:47 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. Behold, Jesus is standing at the door of your heart knocking. What you do now will affect your eternity once you pass from this life into the next. Will you open the door and welcome Jesus in, or will you turn away and ignore His call for you to join His family and end up in a lost and painful eternity? Jesus is calling - what do you say? Jesus ___________________ ©2005 by Sheri Leigh Adams - All Rights Reserved