Eternal Life is through Jesus Christ
Luke 23:39-43
King James Version
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Jesus did not tell that thief to get down from that cross, live a sinless life, be water baptized, speak in tongues, attend church every Sunday, or tithe. That thief had nothing more to offer other than his belief that Jesus was who He said He was and that he recognized himself as someone who was deserving of his predicament. Jesus saw this, and Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43
The word “Gospel” means “Good News” or “Glad Tidings.” There is no need to guess what the “Gospel” is because the Bible plainly tells us. The “Gospel” is the Good News of Christ’s DEATH on the cross for our sins, His BURIAL, and bodily RESURRECTION three days later:
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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.”
We are saved by BELIEVING “the Gospel,” which is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
It’s that easy to be saved. You are instantly, securely, and eternally saved if you acknowledge that you are a helpless sinner in God’s eyes; accept Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as payment for your sins; and believe they are your only hope for eternal life. At that very moment, you are instantly, securely, and eternally saved. There is no human effort (works) required for salvation, except to have Faith in Jesus Christ, your Faith counts as righteousness. Romans 4:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16.
Some people do not believe in Eternal security. They believe that they must add to Jesus’ finished work on the cross by continuously asking for forgiveness of their sins, and live as Jesus did, sinless, in order to obtain Eternal security. “Must one believe on the Son and live it in order to be saved? Or must one simply believe on the Son, as the Bible says, to have everlasting life?”.
No one that has ever walked this earth past, present, or future is righteous enough to enter into Heaven, except one, Jesus Christ.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are reminded of what it takes to be righteous enough to enter into the gates of heaven. Romans 4:5 – But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Those who DON’T believe in Eternal Security have a completely different mindset towards salvation. They DON’T have the blessed peace and assurance that come from resting upon the promises of God. Jesus is our Sabbath, upon whom we solely rest for our salvation. Titus 1:2 speaks of the promise of eternal life, from God Who cannot lie, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Hallelujah
Jesus did not say to be born again and again and again. No, rather, He just told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” The saying is true, “If you’re born twice, you die once; if you’re born once, you die twice.” That is, if you’ve been born-again into God’s family, then you won’t die the Second Death in the Lake of Fire. Who, then, will die a Second Death in the Lake of Fire? Those who are not Born Again will die a Second Death in the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Please understand that we are not saved because we pray a prayer but because we believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certainly appropriate to ask the Lord in prayer to forgive and save us, but it is our faith that prompts us to pray. You could just as easily believe in your heart in the Lord to be saved and not pray at all.
Salvation is of the heart, as we read in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”
Your Brother in Christ
Brother Randy
