THE PROBLEM
If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?
Most men desire Heaven—and rightly so. Yet as sinners, all men deserve Hell.
An uncomfortable truth? Certainly. But truth nonetheless.
The Bible defines sin as the “transgression” or breaking of God’s law.
Any man who measures himself against the mirror of this law soon realizes the truth Scripture declares:
“There is none righteous.” (Romans 3:10)
“There is none that doeth good.” (Romans 3:12)
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Notice the standard by which every person is judged, not the glory of other men, but the glory of God Himself. The one true God who is holy, perfect, and just.
Because God is just, our sin cannot simply be ignored. Justice demands that sin be punished; to simply overlook or dismiss sin would contradict who God is.
Accordingly, Scripture teaches that even a single violation of God’s law renders a man guilty before Him. James 2:10 declares:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The law of God demands perfection. In fact, a curse is pronounced upon all men who do not continue in all things written in the book of the law—not some things sometimes, but all things always. Meaning, a partial obedience is insufficient; a perfect obedience is necessary.
In other words, if the law must be kept at all, then all the law must be kept. No amount of self-reformation, human effort, or good works can ever satisfy its demands. Therefore, we can’t be right with God without God’s righteousness.
Consider this personally: have you ever told a lie? If the answer is yes, then by definition, you are a liar. Scripture warns that:
“All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
Truly, mankind is helpless, hopeless, and hellbound. In need of salvation from sin’s penalty, yet utterly incapable of saving themselves.
THE PROVISION
Naturally, the question arises—as it did among the disciples:
“Who then can be saved?”
The answer is both profound and plain: the righteousness God requires, He Himself provides. What man could never accomplish, God accomplished on his behalf.
This divine provision is revealed in the gospel itself.
“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 Corinthians 15:3–4).
Jesus Christ—the sinless Son of God, God manifest in the flesh—died as a substitute for sinners, was buried, and rose again.
In doing so, He not only paid sin’s penalty in full—declaring from the cross, “It is finished”—but also provided the perfect righteousness required for Heaven:
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”
(2 Corinthians 5:21).
In other words, God sent His sinless Son to die in our place, satisfying divine justice and making it possible for God to declare saved sinners truly righteous in Christ.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Though Christ died for all men, not all are saved. Why?
Because there’s something we must do in response to what He has done.
THE PROMISE
The question was put forth in Acts 16:30:
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The answer was given:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Notice what their answer did not include: nothing about water baptism (though baptism followed belief), turning from sins, church attendance, praying a prayer, or doing good works.
There is only one acceptable and appropriate response to this good news: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Scripture is consistent:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Consider this scenario:
If I told you I’m going to Heaven because:
- “I’m a good person,”
- “I go to church,”
- “I pray every day,”
- “I speak in tongues,”
- “I repent of my sins,”
- “I’ve been baptized,”
- “I try my best to obey God’s law”
Where is my faith? Completely in Christ? Or in myself? The obvious answer is: Myself. Meaning, I’m trusting in the sinner, rather than the Savior.
Friend, if you trust in yourself, you’re trusting in a sinner who deserves Hell. And if you rely on a sinner who deserves Hell to go to Heaven, mark my words—you will not enter in. Salvation is “not of yourselves”; it is God’s gift to give, not our reward to earn.
God makes His promise plain:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The promise of “everlasting life” to “whosoever believeth” is just that—life that lasts forever. It is not probationary life, conditioned on performance or perseverance, but eternal life without end. Those who believe in Christ are eternally secure; their salvation cannot be lost.
The moment a person places faith in Christ, trusting Him alone, an instantaneous, irreversible event takes place with eternal implications: a new birth.
Galatians 3:26 says:
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Just as there is no sin your child can commit by which he would forfeit his sonship, there is no sin a son of God can commit by which he would forfeit his sonship and lose his salvation. Once a son, always a son.
This does not mean sin is without consequence. God promises to chasten His children in love:
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:6)
There are indeed consequences for sin in the believer’s life. But the security of salvation is never dependent on our behavior—it rests entirely on our Savior. Jesus Himself said:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
Notice three truths in one verse:
- The possession of eternal life
- The promise to never perish
- The power of God’s protection
Once you’re saved, you’re always saved.
Friend, where is your confidence—in Christ or in your conduct? Are you relying on His death for your sins? Or are you trusting your own deeds? Are you resting in His righteousness—or going about to establish your own?
Right now, wherever you are, I encourage you to trust in Christ alone. If you have done that, then you can confidently declare:
- I’m saved.
- I’m forgiven.
- I’m on my way to Heaven.
Take a moment to thank God for His free gift of eternal life.