There are five things you must know in order to be saved
1. You must know that you are a sinner in the sight of God.
The Bible says: «There is no one righteous, not even one» (Rom. 3:10). If there is nobody righteous, then you are not righteous, and if you are not righteous, then you are a sinner. «We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way» (Isaiah 53:6). «All» means all, therefore you are included. There are only two ways you can turn, your own way or God’s way. If you have not turned to God’s way, then you have turned your own way, and if you have turned your own way, you have gone astray. If you have gone astray, then you are a sinner in the sight of God.
You are not a sinner because you sin, you sin because you are a sinner. An apple tree is not an apple tree because it bears apples, it bears apples because it is an apple tree.
You would not want to be rescued unless you knew you were drowning. You would not want a doctor unless you knew you were sick. You will never want a Saviour until you know you are a sinner. Therefore you must know that you are a sinner first of all.
2. You must know that your sins have been laid on Jesus.
The Bible says: «The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all» (Isaiah 53:6). God had to deal with your sin before He could offer you salvation. An atonement had to be made. Jesus Christ made that atonement by bearing your sins in His own body on the tree and dying in your stead. Your sins were laid on Him. Jesus paid it all. He met the penalty, which was death, on your behalf. Sin was a great barrier between you and God. God had to tear down the barrier before He could deal with you in grace.
3. You must know that you cannot save yourself.
«For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves» (Ephesians 2:8) is what the Bible says. «Not from yourselves.» You can no more save yourself than you can lift yourself by your own boot straps. No man can be his own saviour. You cannot save yourself by getting yourself enrolled as a member of a church, or by getting yourself baptised. You cannot save yourself by turning over a new leaf and living a better life. You cannot save yourself by deeds of merit, or good works. There is nothing you can do to save yourself.
If you could save yourself, then the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was the greatest atrocity in the history of the world. You would not need Jesus Christ if you could be your own saviour. The very fact that Jesus died on Calvary for you proves conclusively that you cannot save yourself.
4. You must know that Jesus Christ alone can save you.
«You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins» (Matthew 1:21). «Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved» (Acts 4:12). «I am the way?… no one comes to the Father except through me» (John 14:6). The Bible makes it perfectly clear that Jesus Christ alone can save you.
5. You must know that you must receive Jesus as your own personal Saviour.
No matter how much food you have, it will not save you from starvation unless you eat it. If you are dying of thirst, you must drink the water that is offered to you.
«To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God» (John 1:12). How do you become God’s child? By receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour.
You must make a decision
Now, my friend, you know these five things, but what are you going to do? Are you going to act on your knowledge? Are you going to confess that you have sinned before God and man? Are you going to receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Are you prepared right now to invite Him into your heart? Will you take Jesus Christ today?
You must make a decision.
This decision, my friend, should be made now. God says: «Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation» (2 Corinthians 6:2). God’s time for you is now, not tomorrow. God does not make any promises for a decision to be taken in the future. In order to be saved you must accept Jesus Christ, and accept Him – now. Will you do it?
From the book, «Five Things You Must Know» by Oswald J. Smith used by permission