WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED

  I.  First, you have to realize that you are ‘LOST’ Matthew 18:11-12

     a. All have sinned (said ‘NO’ to God) and have come short of  God’s glory. Romans 3:23

     b. There is a broad way that leads to destruction and a narrow way that leads to life.       Matthew 7:13-14

 II.  Second, you have to realize that you have to make a CHOICE..

     a. Do I want eternal death and torment or do I want eternal life?  Romans 6:23

     b. Do I want God to be my Father or do I want the devil to influence  and rule my life;        remembering that sin only has pleasure for a season. John 8:42-47, Hebrews 11:25

III.  Third, you have to take a step of FAITH.

     a. Without faith you cannot please God. Hebrews 11:6

     b. You not only have to believe in your heart, but you have to confess with your mouth that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. Romans 10:8-10

     c. You need to realize that when JESUS died on the cross that his sacrifice was for YOUR sins. He suffered for YOU! Romans 5:6-10

     d. You need to realize that JESUS is the ONLY way to reach God.

         John 3:15-18, John 14:6, Acts 4:10-12

IV.  Fourth, you need to make a COMMITMENT to God.

     a. As you realize that JESUS gave his all for YOU, what are you  willing to GIVE TO HIM?  Acts 9:3-7

     b. You need to be willing to LET GOD CHANGE YOU into the person that will glorify and honor HIM; remembering that He has a  PERFECT plan for your life, one that will bring fulfillment and joy to you.

     c. Remember: we can’t clean our lives up. God does the cleaning, but we have to confess the need.   I John 1:8-9

V.  CHECK-LIST OF CHARACTERISTICS OF A ‘SAVED PERSON’

     a. You will have a HUNGER for the Word of God.  Matthew 4:4 and I Peter 2:2

     b. You will want to be OBEDIENT and turn away from sin as you recognize the sin in your life.   I John 2:3-5, I John 5:18

     c. You will be DISCIPLINED by God if you do participate in sinning willfully. You must confess your sin,  (agree  with God that you have sinned) then you must repent (change your mind about repeating the sin)  Hebrews 12:6-8,  Proverbs 3:11-12

     d. You will begin to see FRUIT evidenced in your life.  Galatians 5:22-23

      e. You will have a LOVE for other Christians. I John 3:14-15

      f. You will experience ANSWERED PRAYER. I John 5:13-15

      g. You will desire to know and to do GOD’S WILL. I John 2:15-17, Matthew 7:21

      h. You will have a burden for LOST SOULS. Luke 15:7-10, Proverbs 11:30, Matthew 8:36-37

VI.  EXAMINE YOURSELF     II Corinthians 13:5

 If you don’t begin to see the above characteristics evidenced in  your life and you think you are SAVED, consider the possibility  that you have not believed with your whole heart or the possibility that you have not made a firm COMMITMENT.

 Many people are deceiving themselves into believing that they are ‘saved’ and they are NOT. If there is any doubt in your mind that you are ‘saved’ go back to step I. again.

 Make sure that you are not rejected: if you PUT OFF a decision,  your decision is ‘NO’

                               ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; NOW is the day of salvation.’

                                                                    II Corinthians 6:2

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We  pray that you will take this Bible lesson very seriously.

It could make the difference between heaven or hell for you for eternity.