HOW TO BE SAVED

By Robert R. Breaker III

copyright 2005
All rights reserved

This tract in printed form can be ordered from Breaker Publications.

HOW TO BE SAVED

"Wherefore he [Jesus] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by
him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25)

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

The Bible clearly shows man's need for salvation. In it's pages we read of the sinfulness of
man and his ultimate eternal destination in the fires of hell, if he's not saved.

Romans 3:23 dogmatically states, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God." And in Psalms 9:17 we read, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the
nations that forget God."

But the Bible is not all doom and gloom. Along with the history of man's damnation, the
Bible also tells us God's way of salvation. The good news is that a sinner does not have to go
to Hell, but can instead go to heaven! All he needs is to understand and accept what the Bible
says about How to be Saved.

1. RECOGNIZE YOU ARE A SINNER

For a sinner to be saved, he must first REALIZE he is a SINNER. Although many nowadays
don't believe in sin, the Bible clearly defines what sin is. Lying, stealing, cheating, murder,
sex before marriage, adultery, taking God's name in vain, nakedness, and more, are all
examples of sin. In short, sin in utter and complete rebellion against God and His laws!
Before a person can be saved, he must admit he is a sinner. If he defends himself claiming
he's never sinned, biblically, he is a liar! For Romans 3:10 tells us, "As it is written, There is
none righteous, no, not one." And again in Romans 5:12 we read, "Wherefore, as by one
man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned."

How about you? Do you see yourself as a sinner?

2. REALIZE JESUS IS YOUR SUBSTITUTE

After admitting to sinning against a holy God, a sinner must then hear the Gospel (or the
good news) of God's plan of salvation and RECOGNIZE Jesus Christ as his SUBSTITUE.

The Gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel...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"

God, in his infinite mercy and wisdom, looked down on ungodly man in his lost, sinful
predicament and devised a plan to redeem mankind. His plan was to send his Son Jesus
Christ to die for the sins of the whole world.

"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)

Jesus, who never committed sin, died for the sins of the whole world on the cross of Calvary,
paying man's sin debt. We read this in the following verses:

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18)

"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 Cor. 5:21)

Jesus not only died on the cross, but he shed his blood—the only way to appease God's
wrath. In Hebrews 9:22 we are told, "And almost all things are by the law purged with
blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

God demands a blood sacrifice for sin. In the Old Testament, God told his people the Jews
that the shed blood of a Lamb was needed to forgive man's sin. For us today the only
sacrifice that can give a man forgiveness of his sins is the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right
hand of God." (Heb. 10:12)
"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify [or cleanse] the people with his own blood,
suffered without the gate." (Heb. 13:12)

How do you view Jesus Christ? Do you see Him as your sacrifice, dying in your place?

3. REPENT OF YOUR SIN

The Bible has much to say about Repentance. And REPENTANCE is an Integral part of
SALVATION. Jesus said in Luke 13:5, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish."

In Acts 8:22 we read, "...Repent therefore of this thy wickedness." And again in Acts
17:30, the Bible says, "God...commandeth all men every where to repent."

The word repent means feel sorrow for something or turn from one direction to another or
change direction.

To be saved, a sinner should first feel great sorrow for his sins. And he must want to be
saved, desiring Jesus more than his own sin.

True repentance must come from the heart. Many people today claim to know about Jesus
dying on the cross for their sins. But most don't believe this from the heart, rather only from
their head.

Romans 10:13 tells us: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved." But this calling is more than just something that comes from one's mouth. 2 Timothy
2:22 speaks of those who "call on the Lord out of a pure heart." And in Psalm 145:18 we
read, "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in
truth."

How about you dear reader, are you the least bit sorry for your sins that put Jesus Christ on
the cross? Do you realize that you are guilty of Christ's death? You are a murderer!

Are you now willing to turn from your sinful way and come to Jesus as your Saviour? Are
you ready to change your eternal destination from hell to heaven?

4. RECEIVE THE SAVIOUR BY FAITH

As seen above, a person must truly call upon God from the heart to be saved. And biblically,
this calling must be by RECEIVING the SAVIOUR by FAITH.

Ephesians 2:8,9 clearly show salvation by faith:

"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."
Hebrews 11:6 tells how important faith is:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

God demands faith! And for a person to be saved, they must place their complete trust in
Jesus Christ.

Jesus said the following in John 3:36:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son
shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

More specifically, a person must trust the shed blood of Jesus Christ. For in Romans 3:25-28
we read:

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of
him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of
works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified [or
saved] by faith without the deeds of the law."

These verses make it very clear, the only way to be saved is by faith in the blood of Jesus
Christ. For those who trust the blood are those who rely wholly upon the finished work of
Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary—his finished Sacrifice. This is what pleases God and
gives man eternal life. This is How to be Saved!

Some have a hard time believing this, claiming that a person is not saved by FAITH alone but
rather by one's own WORKS. But God's Bible plan of salvation is clear. Man cannot save
himself! Only Jesus Christ can save the sinner.

Galatians 2:16 teaches us salvation is not by working, but by believing:

"...a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and
not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

And Romans 4:5 states it clearly:

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith
is counted for righteousness."

Salvation is not by man's works, rather by RELYING upon the work of Jesus Christ, nearly
2000 years ago, when he SHED his blood for man's sins.

Thus, the only way to be saved is through FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST! For
"...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7b).
Colossians 1:14 further clarifies, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even
the forgiveness of sins."

Redemption, salvation, and forgiveness are only found through the shed blood of Jesus
Christ. How about you? Have you trusted the blood of Jesus Christ to get you heaven?

Romans 5:9 promises, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved from wrath [Hell] through him

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

God's plan of salvation is clear. Man, as a sinner, can't work his way to heaven. Because of
his sin, he is separated from God and bound for Hell. He then must RECOGNIZE himself as
helpless, and REALIZE his need of a Saviour. That Saviour is the Lord Jesus Christ who
gave himself for his sins in his place—his sinless substitute.

In order to RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Saviour, a lost sinner must first hear the Gospel, and
then respond, by feeling REMORSE for his sins, and accept Jesus Christ by faith in his
bloody sacrifice on the cross.

Have you come to Christ Jesus as a REPENTANT SINNER, and trusted him as your
Saviour? Why not come to him today, trusting his shed blood to save your soul?

CONTACT ME AT:

RobertBreaker3@hotmail.com