Getting Saved

Why do I need to be saved?

We are all infected with the virus of sin.

Since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 AMP)
We are all born with sin already inside us.

I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness; In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful]. (Psalm 51:5 AMP)

The Old and New Testament confirm that after being born in sin we all personally choose to sin.

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and who never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20 AMP)

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] (1 John 1:8).

The Sin virus is what makes us sick and in need of spiritual healing. Sin separates us from God. Sin is what has us on the path to eternal death.

How can I be saved?

Because of our viral sin sickness, everyone is heading to their spiritual and physical deathbed.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 AMP)

This sin that leads to death is ultimately committed against our creator God.

Against You, You only, have I sinned
And done that which is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And faultless in Your judgment. (Psalm 51:4 AMP)

Our sickness of sin condemns us to death.

Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.” (Matthew 25:46 AMP)

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

How do I get that right standing with God to eternally cure the sin sickness?

Only God could pay the penalty and provide the cure for our sin. God became a human in the person of Jesus Christ. God took on human flesh, lived among us, preached truth and sacrificed his life to cure us.

Even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep. (John 10:15 AMP)

Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death could pay for the sins of the world. Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin.

And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world. (1 John 2:2 AMP)

He took the consequences mankind deserved.

What do I need to do?

“Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].” (Acts 16:31 AMP)

God has already done all the heavy lifting for you. Now you need to receive His atoning sacrifice in faith to be saved.

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Fully trust in Jesus alone providing for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not die from the sin virus.

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 AMP)

God is offering the vaccine of health for eternity if you will accept it.

Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 AMP)

Frequently asked questions:

I’m depressed. Are there verses that can help me?

Yes, the whole book of Psalms has great verses of encouragement. Some of them are:

  • “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me” (Psalm 3:3-5).
  • “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
  • “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him” (Psalm 34:4-7).
  • “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along” (Psalm 40:1, 2).
  • “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11).
  • “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land” (Psalm 68:5-6).
  • “The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people” (Psalm 69:33).
  • “He heals the brokenhearted  and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
  • “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matthew 25:34-40).
  • “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:1-3).
  • “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

I’m struggling with a decision that I need to make. Can you help? See:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

How do I become a follower of Jesus, like His 12 disciples? See:

  • “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
  • “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15).
  • “For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory” (Colossians 1:27).
  • “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What are missions? How can I learn more about missions?

  • A mission is an important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel. A missionary is a Christian who is called to go out into the world and spread its faith.
  •  “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15-16).
  • We support several missionaries who have been called to go out into the world to preach the Good News – that Jesus died for their sins so they can have eternal life.
  • We also support several ministries here at home. See https://llwesleyan.com/index.php/ministries/ and let us know if you’d like to help with some of these missions or ministries.

I’ve heard the term, “revival.” What does that mean?

  • The dictionary defines revival as “restoration to life” It also means, “an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.”
  • Here in the Adirondacks, we want to revive people, to bring them back to Jesus so they can learn of His love and have eternal life. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).