A WALK WITH GOD

Being saved is repenting of our sins and trusting (also referred to as “believing”

or “believing on”) Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for our salvation. In so

doing, we are placing our lives in His hands (John 10:28-30; Romans 8:31;

Hebrews 13:6). Upon taking this step of trusting Jesus, He drops the charges

against us; we are saved from our transgressions (sins) (Psalm 103:10-14;

Romans 4:8). Being saved is replacing disgrace with honor because we become

children of the one true God (John 1:12). Being saved replaces fear with authority

over sin in our lives (Job 1:8-12; Luke 22:31-32). Fear is replaced with faith (2

Timothy 1:7). How do we know we are saved? We take God at His word and act

upon it (Luke 6:46-49; John 14:15; and 1 John 2:15-17).

Satan’s authority over a person’s life is destroyed when we surrender to Jesus

Christ because it is Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). Being saved is being

born again to a new life, a new life in Jesus Christ (John 3:3). The old you washed

away; the new you alive in and through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

A snappy prayer, raising a hand at a crusade or church, a song, or wishful

thinking will not bring you into the right relationship with Jesus Christ. Being

“saved” or born “again,” in its simplest terms, is trusting in Jesus Christ, trusting

Jesus enough to repent (confess your uncleanness to Jesus and turn from your

ways to His) (Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30-31; 1 John 1:9). Being saved is trusting

Jesus’s death and resurrection for your eternal protection (Romans 10:9),

trusting that Jesus died for you! Trusting Jesus enough to walk with Him today

instead of the world (1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:17; Psalm 23).

Being saved is about a relationship, not a religion (1 John 15:18; Revelation 3:20).

Being saved is not about being perfect (Romans 7:15-20; Philippians 3:12); it is

about growing in your relationship with Jesus (Hebrews 6:1-4). You cannot buy

or work your way into heaven; instead, being saved is about admitting that you

cannot save yourself (Ephesians 2:8). Being saved is about surrendering your will

to God’s will (Luke 9:23). A relationship with Jesus is about walking with Him in

times of joy, times of sorrow, and during struggles and triumphs (Psalm 18:2;

John 14:15-18).

And Jesus was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after

Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow

Me.”

(Luke 9:23, New American Standard Bible).