©2000 by Rick Jones. Reproduced by permission Section 5

First, you must recognize and admit you are a sinner who needs a Savior. Next you must be willing to repent of your sins:

…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:5

Webster's Dictionary says repent means "to be sorry… to turn from sin… to feel regret… to change one's mind."

Repentance is not doing good works. Rather, it is a heart-felt sorrow for past sins and a desire to have God change your life.

Next, you must understand that salvation comes, not through good works, but through believing in Jesus Christ and putting your complete trust in the work He finished on the cross. In a conversation with a religious man named Nicodemus, the Lord Jesus Christ declared, "whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:15). One verse later, Jesus said:

"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

For emphasis, the Lord quickly repeats this same truth:

"He that believeth on him (Jesus) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18

John the Baptist also declared:

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. John 3:36

Jesus taught some unbelieving Jews:

He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

While Jesus was in Capernaum, some people asked Him what works they should do to earn eternal life. He responded:

This is the work of God, that yebelieve on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29

When a group of unbelieving Jews questioned Jesus on this subject, He proclaimed quite simply:

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47

Jesus comforted a woman named Martha with these words:

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25

While preaching to the Gentiles in Caesarea, the Apostle Peter said of Jesus:

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:43

In Acts 16, a terrified prison guard asked Paul and Silas, "what must I do to be saved?" They responded:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:30-31

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth… Romans 1:16

While teaching in Capernaum, Jesus said:

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Jesus warned the Pharisees:

… if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John 8:24

No, getting into heaven takes more than just saying, "I believe." First, you must understand the definition of the word "believe." According to Strong's Concordance, "believeth," as used in most of the verses just quoted, means "to entrust (espec. one's spiritual well-being to Christ): Commit (to trust), put in trust with."²

You see, Satan and all his demons believe Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind. They believe He rose from the dead. They believe salvation is only available through faith in Him. But they are not saved because they refuse to put their trust in Him. To be saved, you must go beyond simply believing in Christ with your brain and be willing to trust in Him with your heart.

A daredevil was about to walk a tightrope across the Grand Canyon. One mistake would mean certain death on the jagged rocks below. With a huge crowd watching, an announcer asked how many people believed this fearless man could make it. Everyone roared with confidence.

Soon a chair was strapped on the daredevil's back. The man with the microphone asked, "Who believes he can make it with someone on his back?" Again, the entire crowd yelled with approval. After a moment the announcer asked, "Who is willing to get in the chair?" Dead silence.

See the difference? It's one thing to say I believe he can make it, but quite another to put your complete trust in him.

It's the same way with salvation. To be truly saved takes more than just believing some facts. You must be willing to put your trust in Jesus Christ alone. How? By faith:

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1

Salvation comes through faith, not good works:

Therefore we conclude that a man isjustified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

Once you see that salvation comes through faith instead of works, it will be easier to understand that it is a free gift:

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

God freely gives us eternal life. We don't earn it:

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:10

Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Romans 5:18

No. While it may seem logical that good works would be necessary for salvation, God's Word warns us not to be deceived by what seems right to us:

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25

The truth is, good works will never save you:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…"

Titus 3:5

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ… for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight… Romans 3:20

This crucial doctrine is repeated many times in Scripture:

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

If good works could save, then Christ died for nothing:

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21

If you attempt to earn heaven through your good works, you are really saying, "Jesus, I don't believe Your death was sufficient to pay for all my sins, so I will help pay the price with some of my own good deeds." How arrogant!

Faith in Christ is the only way to heaven:

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12

Years ago, a slave auction was held along the banks of the Mississippi River. Everyone knew that a ruthless rich farmer was going to buy the biggest, strongest slave and work him tirelessly for the rest of his life.

However, a wealthy merchant who happened to be sailing down the river spotted the activities from his craft, and came ashore to watch. As the slave in question was brought to the block, a man in the back row explained to the merchant what was about to take place.

When the bidding began, the farmer yelled out a bid he thought could not be matched. But the merchant quickly topped the farmer's bid. The two bid back and forth, but soon the farmer reached his limit and left in defeat. The merchant approached the slave, gave him the keys to his chains and said, "You are free. I don't believe in slavery, I just didn't want him to own you."

Friend, that is what Jesus did for you and me. But instead of purchasing us with cash, He paid with His blood:

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost… and ye are not your own? or ye are bought with a price…" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

In the book of Acts, Paul says Christ purchased us "with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

We were all born as slaves to sin. As a result, we deserve hell. But Jesus Christ died to pay the price for our sins. Because of His death and resurrection, we can be set free.

The slave had only to receive the keys to be set physically free. If we, by faith, receive God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, we can be set spiritually free:

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Yes. A pastor traveled to a distant country, where people worship millions of gods. After preaching to a large group, he asked who would trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Every hand went up. Knowing there was a problem, he clarified his message and repeated the question. Again, all hands shot skyward. Finally, he asked, "How many of you will trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and reject every other god?" Not one hand was raised.

You see, it's easy to simply add Jesus to a list of other people or things you are counting on for salvation. But to be truly born again requires faith in Jesus Christ alone, and a rejection of everything else.

Many people trust in Jesus and their good works… or in Jesus and their religion… or Jesus and their baptism, etc. But if you are trusting in anything in addition to Jesus, then you really aren't trusting Jesus at all.

¹Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hendersonville, Tenn., Greek Dictionary of the New Testament pg. 58.
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