Accepting Salvation

The concept of grace seems so difficult for people to accept. So often, we believe in heaven and hell, but we think heaven is something we need to earn.

If you have not read the earlier posts on this subject, find the “Categories” list in the right-hand column of this page and click on “Christianity 101.” This will pull up all the previous posts so you can read through them in order.

I used to be one of those people. A young lady who worked for me would witness to me, and I would tell her I wasn’t as bad as most people and I was sure I’d make it to heaven. Fortunately, I was persuaded that’s not how it works.

The plain and simple fact is that we are all born sinners. From Adam right up to the present day, every human being born has been a sinner—except for Jesus Christ.

God is perfect, and His righteousness doesn’t allow Him to be in the presence of sin. But He’s also a God of grace and mercy. He wants to gather His children around Himself, to fellowship with them as any father would with his children, but His perfect righteousness cannot allow sinful man in His presence.

This is why He sent His Son to be born of a woman—to be the God-man. He needed someone without sin to substitute Himself and take upon Himself all the sins of every man, woman and child who ever lived or would ever live. By sacrificing Himself on the cross and being resurrected from the grave, Jesus triumphed over death and paid the price for my sins and yours.

That one sacrifice that one time was sufficient to cover the sins of all who would accept it. You and I don’t have to do anything to pay for our sins. That bill has already been paid. All we have to do is accept that payment as our salvation.

Many years ago by myself in a cabin at Lake Murray, Oklahoma, I finally reckoned on the truth of my secretary’s witnessing—along with witnessing from several other people—and knelt on the floor beside my bed. I confessed to God that I realized I was a sinner and that I couldn’t save myself. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and take over my life, and I’ve never been the same since.

I did nothing to gain my salvation except submit myself to Him in that prayer. I couldn’t then and can’t now do anything on my own to earn or lose that salvation. It was and is the free gift of God’s grace.

If you’ve never done that, please examine your life honestly and realize that you can’t live right, that you can’t be good, that you can’t be acceptable to God on your own. Quit trying to earn your salvation. Just submit yourself to Him so He can give it to you.

If you do this, find other Christians to associate with, whether in a church or Sunday School class or just one on one. Begin to spend time in the Bible to learn more about this wonderful God of ours. His Holy Spirit can help you understand what you read, and you can come to know Him better and better.

Beyond this, don’t let anyone start piling “oughts” onto you. You ought to do this, and you ought not to do that. That’s legalism, and you don’t want any part of it.

Being a Christian is not a burden weighing you down with rules and regulations. Being a Christian is freedom from those burdens. Accept that freedom and rejoice in it.

Do you have anything you want to share about your own salvation experience? I love to read your comments.

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If you abide in Me and My word abides in you, then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.