My friend, I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon it. The question is: are you saved? I mean...are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die? It is not; How good are you?....but, are you saved?

No one can enjoy the blessings of God, nor go to Heaven without being saved. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:7, "ye must be born again." God gives us in His word the only plan for salvation. The plan is simple! You can be saved today.

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. "There is none righteous, no, not one." "For there is no difference; For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10,22,23.

There is no chance to be saved unless you come to realize you are a sinner.

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to die.

"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23.

"Sin...bringeth forth death." James 1:15.

This means separation from God, in hell, forever. How terrible. Yes, my friend, but it is true. But God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as your substitute, Who bore your sin, and died in your place.

"He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." II Corinthians 5:21.

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." I Peter 2:24.

Jesus had to die. He had to shed His blood. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission." Hebrews 9:22.

Now we cannot understand how our sin was laid upon Jesus, but God says in His Word that it was. So your sin, my friend, was laid upon Jesus and He died in your place. It is true. God cannot lie.

The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: "What must I do to be saved? And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31.

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried and was raised for your justification. Now call upon Him.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13.

The first prayer for a sinner to pray is given in Luke 18:13 "God be merciful to me a sinner." Now you are a sinner and surely you are sorry because of it. Right now, wherever you are, lift your heart to God in prayer. It does not take a long, loud prayer, for God is anxious to save you. Just say: "Oh God, I am a sinner, I am sorry, I repent, have mercy upon me, and save me for Jesus' sake." Now just take Him at His word.

"For whosoever (that includes you) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (shall be, not might or can, but shall be saved.)" Romans 10:13.

Just take God at His Word. When you have done what He has asked, claim salvation by faith, according to His word. Believe and thou shalt be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works, no one but Jesus only can save you.

The simple plan of salvation is: you are a sinner; because you are a sinner you must die or else believe on Christ, who was your substitute and died in your place, was buried and was raised again. Just call upon God, realizing you are a sinner and ask Him to have mercy upon you and save you for Jesus' sake. Then just take Him at His word and by faith claim salvation. You say, "Surely that is not all that is necessary to do to be saved." Yes it is, absolutely all. Thank God many have been won to Christ by this simple plan. It is scriptural. It is God's plan. My friend, believe it and follow it today. Now is the time - today is the day.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." II Corinthians 6:2.

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1.

If it is not perfectly clear, read it over and over until you understand it. Do not stop until you do. Your soul is worth more than all the world.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul." Mark 8:36,37.

Be sure you are saved. You need salvation above everything else. If you lose your soul you miss heaven and lose all. God help you to be saved today.

He will save you and also keep you!

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I Corinthians 10:13.

 

Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God's promises. They never change.

After you are saved there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth: PRAY - you talk to God. READ - God talks to you. WITNESS - you talk for God. Then you should be baptized and unite with a Bible believing church.

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven." Matthew 10:32.

 

-Dr. Ford Porter, God's Simple Plan of Salvation