All Men Are Sinners
According to the Bible, we all have done wrong against God. Romans 3:10 proclaims, "As it is written, There is none righteous no, not one:". Without the saving blood of Jesus Christ, no one is worthy to be called "righteous". You must also understand that we are all born with a sinful nature because of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. Once again, all of us have sinned against God. Sin is what separates us from God because God is holy and cannot look upon sin. This also means that all of us are in need of salvation. Romans 3:23 reads, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
God Loves Sinners
The good news is that God loves you in spite of your sin and therefore God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on an old, rugged Cross 2,000 years ago to pay for your sin and mine. John 3:16-17 reads, "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. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Romans 5:8 reads, "But God commendeth (shows) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
There is a Penalty for Sin
Even though God loves us in spite of our sinful nature, because God is holy, he MUST judge sin. According to the Holy Scriptures, the penalty for sin is eternal death in the forever burning, fiery bottomless pit called Hell. Romans 6:23a reads, "For the wages (earnings) of sin is death..." and John 8:24 reads, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins..."
Jesus Died to Pay for Your Sin
The even better news is that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for your sin and mine which is death. Jesus Christ died a cruel, humiliating, and agonizing death upon an old, rugged Cross on Golgotha's Hill (Calvary) over 2,000 years ago. After his death on the Cross, Jesus was buried and remained in the tomb for three days and three nights. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead out of the tomb, thus conquering sin and death and reigning victorious over Satan, the old serpent from the Garden of Eden.
Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven where he now sits on the right hand of the Father. Romans 5:10 reads, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Jesus Christ, through His Sacrifice on the Cross, reconciled, or repaired the broken relationship between man and God caused by sin. Because of His Sacrifice on the Cross some 2,000 years ago, you and I can be saved if we simply believe on Him and trust Him as our Saviour.
Jesus is the ONLY Way to Heaven
Jesus Christ is the only way to have an eternal home in Heaven. Good works such as church membership, baptism, giving to the poor, or being a good person will not get you into Heaven. The only Way to Heaven is by belief in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ made possible by His Sacrifice on the Cross, for Jesus himself said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Acts 4:12 reads, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved."
You Must Repent and Believe on Jesus Christ to be Saved
Now that you have understood what Jesus has done to pay for your sin, now you must understand how to accept Jesus' gift of salvation that he offers to every man freely.
First, according to the Bible, you must repent of your sins. In other words, you must have a "change of mind" about sin; you must see sin as something that separates and defiles and leads to eternal death in the burning, fiery, bottomless pit called Hell. Jesus said in Luke 13:3, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Thus, according to Jesus Himself, without true repentance or a change of mind about sin, there is no true salvation. However, it should be noted that repentance DOES NOT mean that you have to "clean yourself up" before you can be saved. It simply means that you no longer see your sin as something that brings joy and fulfillment, but separates you from the God who created you and results in eternal death.
After you have repented of your sins, you must then choose to accept Jesus Christ to save you from your sins based on your belief in the fact that he died, buried, and rose from the dead for your justification. Romans 10:9-10 reads, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth: the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Call on Jesus to be Saved!
Finally, in Romans 10:13 the Bible says this, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." That's a promise, friend. If you'll simply repent of your sins, believe what Christ did for you on the Cross, and call upon Him to save you from your sins, then you are saved forever!! If you would like to do that right now, please pray this short prayer right now (the prayer does not save you, but will help you as you call upon Jesus and ask Him to save you): Dear Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and I am sorry for my sins. I believe that you died, were buried, and rose again from the dead that I might be saved. I am asking you right now to forgive me of my sins and to save my soul. Lord, I thank you for saving me this day. I look forward to seeing you in Heaven someday. I ask this in Jesus' name, AMEN!