What Man Needs Is To Be Saved!

When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right; but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else comes crashing in?

This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; It will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. -C.S. Lewis

The Bible offers us two questions that are of eternal significance. These are the two questions that man should be asking himself. The first question is found in Matthew 16:15, “Whom say ye that I am?” God the Father answered it this way: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”, Matthew 3:17. Simon Peter answered it like this: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”, Matthew 16:16. Every person’s eternal destiny rests on how he answers that question! What is your answer to that question?

     

I think you would agree with me that that is an important question. The second important question offered in the Bible is found in verse 37, “What shall we do?” The question they are asking is this: “What must we do to be saved?” This was the same question that was asked by the Philippian Jailer in Acts 16:30. This is a question that arises out of a heart touched by God. It is this question that gets to the heart of man’s greatest need.

The word "saved" literally means to "rescue from all harm and danger; to keep safe and sound: to deliver; to save. It is a word that is special to every child of God who has experienced salvation. When we say that we are saved, we are saying a mouthful. It may be helpful at this point for us to consider just what some of the benefits of salvation are for the saints of God. Here is what being saved does for you:

1. Salvation brings deliverance from the wrath of God - John 3:36; Romans 5:9. (Ill. This also means deliverance from Hell!)
2. Salvation brings forgiveness of sins - Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 4:32. (Ill. It produces a perfectly clean life! Does the Christian still sin? Sure! But, the saved person's sins are no longer imputed to him. When we come to Jesus, we are cleansed and declared righteous by the Heavenly Father. Our sins were imputed to Him on the cross, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and His righteousness is imputed to us at salvation - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
3. Salvation brings absolute security - John 10:28; Hebrews 7:25.
4. Salvation brings the promise of Heaven - John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:9.
5. Salvation brings about a changed life - 2 Corinthians 5:17.

There are dozens of other things that come our way when we are saved. Such as, we become the children of God, 1 John 3:2. We become the heirs of God, Romans 8:17. We become the servants of God, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. We become salt and light in the world, Matthew 5:13-16. And the list could go on forever.

You see, man doesn’t need more money. Man doesn’t need more things. Man doesn’t need better health or longer life. What man needs is to be saved! He needs to be in a right relationship with God!

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 16:31; James 2:24; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Luke 13:3; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9; Acts 22:16;  James 2:18; Revelation 14:12; 2 Peter 3:9

Prayer:  Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

May God bless you,

Kristine