“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”(Ephesians 2:8-9)
It’s all about how you need to understand that there is an eternal Heaven and an eternal Hell. My interest is in sharing with you how you can be saved and go to Heaven. I single out 3 pertinent statements made in the verses above:
You, yes you! must understand that you! are a sinner. That includes all of humanity (Ecclesiastes 7:20 says that ALL have sinned, me too)! You cannot save yourself from God’s wrath and eternal Hell by thinking you are not that bad! No matter what you say, think, or do will get you into Heaven! Good works mean nothing and are worthless! God doesn’t want them, and it surely will not get you to Heaven – – no rituals or any other expressions)!
Two important words from above need to be highlighted: The first one is the word GRACE. Let me give you an acronym formed from this word: Grace speaks of God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense! It is a gift from God – – nothing you earn or pay for by any means! It’s free to you, but God shed the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for your sins – – the costliest price ever! Grace is God’s source and provision for you.
The second word is FAITH. This speaks of the channel or instrument through which God funnels or infuses His grace. Another acronym might be helpful: Forsaking All I Trust Him (and Him alone! – – not any religion, not any human help, not any money, not anything or anybody else!)!! One Irish composer wrote a hymn entitled “Christ Alone!” That says it all!
So, what must I do to be saved? (This was the question a prison warden asked in Acts 16:30). The immediate answer given by the Holy Spirit in verse 31 is, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!” (Because) he who (whoever) calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:32)! Once you leave this life your eternal destiny is sealed!!
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