When one is confronted with God’s law, or the Ten Commandments, conviction of sin is the natural response. Who could claim that he has never lied, envied or disobeyed his parents? The scriptures teach,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV)
Once the heart is convicted of sin, the natural question is “What must I do to be saved?” Christian churches exist for the purpose of answering that all-important question. Unfortunately, there seems to be confusion among Bible teachers as to the correct answer. On any given Sunday morning, one could walk into several different churches and hear several different explanations of how to be saved. Here are three of the most common:
1. “Repent or turn from your sin”
2. “Ask Jesus to come into your heart”
3. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”
It could be argued that all three answers are basically the same. But are they? Are all these gospels valid for today? Does each of these messages have the power to save a lost person from the penalty of sin? Only the Word of God can shed light on these questions, so let’s examine what the Scriptures say about each of these statements.
“Turn away from your sin” Our human nature likes to think that the answer to sin is simply to stop sinning. The assumption is that we must prove ourselves worthy of salvation before God extends forgiveness. However, according to the Scriptures, it is impossible for an unsaved person to turn from his sin. Look at what the Scriptures say about the original condition of man:
“And he has given you life [made alive]who were dead in trespasses and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV)
The unsaved condition of every man is that of being dead in sin. And more than that, all unsaved men are “the servants of sin.” In and by ourselves, there is no hope of freedom from the bondage of sin. (Romans 6:17 KJV). “So those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8 KJV).
That is why God had to intervene for us:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ…” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Only when a man is in Christ can he be free from the power of sin:
“Knowing this, that our old [our sin nature] is crucified with him, so that the body of sin may be destroyed, so that we no longer serve sin.” (Romans 6:6 KJV)
Before salvation, man is unable to turn from sin. Victory over sin is the result of salvation, not the means to salvation. Therefore, the exhortation to “turn from his sin” is not only a false gospel, it is an impossibility for an unsaved man.
“Ask Jesus to come into your heart”
This “gospel” is nowhere to be found in the Bible. It stems from a misunderstanding of Revelation 3:20:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Two things must be understood about this passage of Scripture. First, Revelation is a book of future events foretold by the Old Testament prophets and Jesus Christ in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Second, the context of Revelation 3 is the second coming of Christ to the nation of Israel. At that time, those in the nation who recognize him as their messiah and king will sit with him in his kingdom and dine with him. He explains this in verse 21 when he says, “…He who overcomes [the Great Tribulation] I will grant you to sit with me on my throne…” Revelation 3:20 has nothing to do with us living in this Age of Grace. Furthermore, it is not teaching us, or anyone else, to “ask Jesus to come in.” in your heart.” to be saved. This idea is a false gospel that is nowhere to be found in the Bible.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved
The original question “…what must I do to be saved?” was asked by a jailer to the Apostle Paul as recorded in Acts 16:30. Paul’s response was simple:
“…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31 KJV)
What exactly is one to believe about Jesus Christ? The Apostle Paul explains:
“I declare to you the gospel…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15, 1-4). )
Clearly, the only message for today that has power to save a sinner from the penalty of sin and the wrath of God is the message preached by the Apostle Paul, as verified by Scripture:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes;” (Romans 1:16 KJV)
Note that the gospel of Christ does not say “endure”, “confess”, “repent”, “ask” or “beg”. God’s salvation through Christ Jesus is offered to “all who believe” (Romans 3:22).
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus… so that [God] let him be just and justify him who believes in Jesus…” (Romans 3:24,26)