You may have heard of the word, Salvation or being Saved.  What does it mean to be a Christ-Follower or to be saved?  Some believe that it means to be saved from yourself or to be saved from the devil.  This is not accurate.

To be saved is to be saved from the judgment of God.  This is a hard message!  Remember, God is perfect.  We are not perfect.  We have all sinned against God.  

Romans 3:23 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Because we are all sinners we cannot have a relationship with God.  To go a step further we are under the judgment of God because of our sin. 

IS GOD FAIR

God is not unfair!  He is holy and righteous and justice.  He must punish the sinner.  God is also loving.  HE loved you so much that he provided a way of escape, a salvation, so you wouldn’t have to come under his wrath.

This is called the gospel.  Gospel means, “Good News.”  God is both loving and Holy.

Acts 4:12 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

AM I GOOD ENOUGH

Many people believe that you must do a lot of good stuff to enter heaven.  This is not accurate.  It’s not based on what you can do, but on what has already been done for you.

 
Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

God sent his son, Jesus Christ, into this world.  Jesus was perfect, without sin.  He died, was buried, and rose again after three days.  God placed all of the sins of the world on Jesus Christ on the cross.

Acts 4:12 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

God wants to make a trade with you.  He gets all of your sins and you get all of his righteousness. 

HOW TO BECOME A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Admit that you are a sinner.  You must acknowledge that you have left Christ out of the equation up to this point in your life.

Believe that Jesus is Lord.  You verbally and mentally make a decision to put your belief in Christ.  Your beliefs will change your behavior.

Confess your sins and ask Christ to be the boss, coach, and CEO of your life.  Simply ask Christ to come into your heart and life and make change you from the inside out.

Once you receive Salvation in Christ you will never have to face God’s judgment.

John 10:27-29 (NIV) 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.