AnswerWhat does it mean to be saved?
In Romans 10:13, the Bible says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Man rebelled and brought sin and death to the earth and broke his relationship with God. But God loves us so much that He wants to restore us to Himself so we can live with Him for eternity. This is what it means to be saved. God gave us His Son Jesus to pay for our sins by dying on the cross. Our part is to believe that Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead. When we do this, our sins are forgiven, our relationship with God is restored and we can live forever with Him. If we do not accept this free gift, we must pay for our own sins and will be completely separated from God forever. This is called Hell. God wants to save you from Hell. That is why He gave His own son as a sacrifice for your sins and my sins. You can accept this free gift and be saved. Have you made your decision yet? You can become a part of God's family!
Should a Christian be Baptized in Water?
Yes, Jesus said we were to be baptized. In Matthew the disciples were told to "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Baptism in water is a way to publicly proclaim that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you have not been baptized, we would encourage you to find a church and ask to be baptized.
Why did Jesus have to Die on the Cross?
Jesus did not "have" to die. He had a choice. He asked God that if there was any other way for our sins to be forgiven, then let that happen. But there was no other way so He prayed for God's will to be done. God's law says the punishment for sin is death. Jesus loved us enough to become a man, becoming the substitute for mankind, and take our punishment. It may be hard to understand in your heart that Jesus really loved YOU this much, but He does. Have you received His love?
Is There Just One Path to God?
Why does God say there is only one path for salvation? It is because God does not want us to miss it! He wants to make it as simple as possible for everyone to understand and spend our eternal life with Him in Heaven. God is the great designer. Think of a flower and its beautiful design. Would God not offer a perfectly designed path for our eternity as well? Jesus already did the hard work – by dying for our sins on the cross. He is now in heaven and wants us to accept His free gift of salvation. His gift has everything to do with what He did. It is not something we can ever earn. We could not save ourselves from our sins and the penalty for our sins, so God paid the penalty for us. What good father answers a child's question with false answers? He gives the true, correct answer. If He loved us any less He would not even have offered a gift at all or would make it harder to find. John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Are you on the right path?
How Can I be Sure I Am a Christian?
Have you truly accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The Bible says "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" (Romans 10:9). You have been saved for all of eternity because of your faith in Jesus Christ by the grace of God. But what about those days when you don't feel saved? We all have those days. Some days you may wake up and think about your mistakes or who you may have hurt the previous day. That may be when you feel like you are not saved. When you focus on your feelings or your actions, they may not echo your salvation. Thank God that your feelings do not determine your salvation; your faith in Jesus does. Romans 10:13 reminds us that "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." So the next time your feelings try to convince you that you are not saved, speak this Bible verse out loud. Speaking God's Word against the lies you hear in your mind is a great way to transform your thinking in to God's way of thinking.
Do I Have to do Something to be Saved?
Yes, and it is very simple! All we have to do is believe that Jesus died for sins and accept His gift of eternal life. You should ask His forgiveness for your sins and ask God's help to turn from your sins and live a life for God. You can ask Him to be your Savior and Lord by praying a prayer like this: "Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always." Have you prayed this prayer? If so please let us know.