Answers to the Very Important Question
Please read carefully and prayerfully consider what the Word of God says about salvation.
"If you were to DIE this moment and appear before Jesus, to whom all judgment has been committed (John 5:22), what REASONS would you give on your behalf to Jesus to convince Him that you are worthy of heaven?"
That is a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION — in fact it is THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION you will ever ponder!
Would You Say to Jesus…
After telling Jesus about all of those things that you believed would win salvation for you and find favor in God's eyes, could you imagine Jesus saying to you, "I never knew you, depart from Me……."? Yet that is what Jesus would say — because in all your attempts to save your soul, you neglected and rejected God's way of salvation. God's way of salvation is standing before your eyes. He is none other than Jesus Christ.
What the Bible Says About Each Answer
I Believe in God
Possessing a mere intellectual knowledge of certain facts about God and religion means very little. James 2:19 reads, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble"! Dependence on the mere possession of orthodox doctrine is of absolutely no value to the salvation of your soul.
I Was Baptized
The Bible does not teach that baptism makes a person right with God. In fact the apostle Paul wrote that baptism was only of secondary importance compared to the preaching of the gospel in 1 Cor. 1:17, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel……". The thief on the cross was not baptized; nevertheless Jesus promised that he would be with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
I Go to Church Often
In Matthew 16:18 when Jesus first gave the promise of the church, he never gave any indication that He would use it as a vehicle to save lost sinners. Instead He promised to build the church, and in 1 Peter 2:5 we read that Christ uses those already saved to accomplish that. Rather than being a vehicle to save lost sinners, the church is composed of saved sinners who have been baptized into it by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).
I Receive the Sacraments
The Bible does not teach the establishment of a series of rituals which can be partaken of to aid in a person's salvation. The Lord's Supper for example is to be observed in remembrance of what the Lord did on Calvary, not in order to obtain salvation (Luke 22:19). John taught plainly in John 7:39 that the Holy Spirit is received by those believing in Him, not via the sacraments.
I Pray Often and Much
The Bible teaches much about the importance of prayer in our lives. However, it does not teach that prayer plays a part in the salvation of a person's soul. In fact the Bible speaks against the practice of the continued repetition of prayers by rote. In Matthew 6:7 Jesus said, "But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words".
I Am Very Devoted to Mary
The Bible does not teach us to pray to Mary. In Acts chapter 1 those in the upper room prayed with Mary, not to her. First Timothy 2:5 teaches, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus". Hebrews 7:25 teaches that it is Jesus who ever lives to make intercession for us. It is Jesus Christ alone who is redeemer, mediator, intercessor, and Advocate.
I Keep the 10 Commandments
Only one man has ever lived a sinless life, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:22). James teaches us in James 2:10 that if we break just one commandment we will lose heaven, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all". Deuteronomy 27:26 teaches that, "Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law……".
I Keep the Golden Rule
Jesus gave us a very high standard. He said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). Furthermore in Matthew 5:44 He said that we are to love our enemies as well. First John 3:16 tells us that Jesus gave us the supreme example of that kind of love; He laid down His life for us. The reality is that you or no one else has ever been able to keep the "golden rule".
I Do a Lot of Good Works
Ephesians 2:9 teaches that our salvation is not of works, lest anyone should boast. Titus 3:5 tells us that salvation is not by works of righteousness that we have done. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah tells us that in God's eyes, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Romans 11:6 says works and grace are mutually exclusive; they cannot be mixed.
What Others Have Said
Jesus Christ Himself Said…
In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me". In John 3:18, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already". In John 6:47, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." And in John 10:27–28, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
Apostle Paul Spoke & Wrote These Words
In Acts 13:38–39 Paul said, "That through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things". In Acts 16:31 Paul answered the Philippian jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved". In Romans 10:9, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved". In Galatians 2:16, "A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ".
Apostle Peter Spoke & Wrote These Words
In Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." In Acts 10:43, "Through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins". In 1 Peter 1:18–21 Peter wrote that we were redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot". In 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also suffered once for sin, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God".
Apostle John Wrote These Words
In John 1:12–13, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name". In John 20:30–31, "These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name". In 1 John 5:13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life".
What the Bible Says About You
Your Righteousness Is Unrighteous
Romans 3:10 teaches, "There is NONE righteous, no, not one". Romans 3:23, "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Isaiah tells us, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isaiah 59:2). In your unsaved condition Paul says you are "Dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
Consequence of Your Unrighteous Condition
Paul teaches, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?" (1 Cor. 6:9). Romans 1:18, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness". Hebrews 10:31 teaches, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God".
Righteous Faith
Salvation is not accomplished by our good works (Titus 3:5). Romans 4:5 teaches that our salvation is by faith, "Now to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for RIGHTEOUSNESS". When the lost sinner places his trust in Jesus Christ, his sins are charged to Christ's account and Christ's righteousness is charged to the account of the one who has come to Christ in faith (2 Cor. 5:21). Isaiah wrote, "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
Christ's Sacrifice for You
Hebrews teaches that the purging of our sins was accomplished by Jesus at Calvary (Heb. 1:3). Heb. 7:27 teaches that He not only saves but intercedes for us. The word "once" stands out in this epistle — Jesus offered the sacrifice of Himself to His Father once for all. Heb. 9:12, "With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ONCE FOR ALL, having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION". Hebrews 10:11–12 sum up the completed work of Christ: "But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God".
It is our prayer that as you have read this page you have come to realize that, indeed, Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6) to salvation. Please realize that apart from faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, you are a lost sinner with a sin debt you cannot pay. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and His righteousness will become yours (2 Cor. 5:21).
Repent toward God from your sin and worldliness and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).