The good news
How to be saved
Jesus spoke about hell because He came to save people from it. Here is the good news, in the words of the Bible.
1. God loves you
God is not waiting to condemn you. He sent His Son because He loves the world, and that includes you.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
John 3:16-17 (WEB) · context
2. Everyone has sinned
All of us have gone our own way. Sin separates us from God, and the Bible says its wages is death.
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 (WEB) · context
23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (WEB) · context
3. Jesus died for sinners and rose again
Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried and rose on the third day. He took what we deserve so that we can be forgiven.
8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (WEB) · context
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (WEB) · context
18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,
1 Peter 3:18 (WEB) · context
4. Turn to God and trust Jesus
Repent, which means turning from sin to God, and believe in Jesus. Confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead.
15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Mark 1:15 (WEB) · context
9that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 (WEB) · context
13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 (WEB) · context
5. It is a gift, not a reward
You cannot earn it and you do not have to. Salvation is by grace, through faith.
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, that no one would boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (WEB) · context
5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5 (WEB) · context
6. Jesus is the only way
Jesus said no one comes to the Father except through Him.
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
John 14:6 (WEB) · context
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
Acts 4:12 (WEB) · context
7. You can know
Everyone who believes has eternal life, now, and will not come into judgment.
24“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:24 (WEB) · context
13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 (WEB) · context
What now?
There are no magic words. If you want to turn to God and trust Jesus, tell Him so in your own words, honestly. If an example helps, here is one, but use your own words.
Show an example (use your own words)
An example only. God hears your own words.
God, I know I have sinned and I cannot save myself. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I turn to You and trust Him as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Help me follow You.