Legitimate Salvation

Why do we need to be saved?

We have sinned.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Romans 3:23

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.Romans 3:10-12

Sin must be paid for.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 6:23

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.Hebrews 9:22

Jesus paid the price of our sin.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.Romans 5:8-9

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:6

What must I do to be saved?

Believe on Jesus as Savior with full faith.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.John 3:15-17

Repent of your sin.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.Acts 2:38

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;Acts 3:19

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.2 Corinthians 7:10

What happens to those who die without being saved?

They endure the wrath and punishment of God in Hell.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.Revelation 20:11-15

Are you sure you are saved?

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?2 Corinthians 13:5

Are there people who profess to be Christians that will go to Hell?

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.Titus 1:16

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.Jude 1:4

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Matthew 24:24

You are not saved because you believe in God.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.James 2:19

You are not saved because of your family heritage.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.Ezekiel 18:20

You are not saved because of your baptism, church attendance or church membership.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Matthew 7:21-23

You are not saved because someone told you that you were.

You are not saved because you live a moral life.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.Isaiah 64:6

You are not saved because you went forward, raised your hand, prayed a prayer, had a religious experience, signed a card or shed tears.

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.Romans 10:9

Being saved is not complicated.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:John 1:12

Recognize your sinful condition and need of a Savior before God. Confess your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Repent of your sin.

We are only saved once.

Once we are saved, we are always saved.

We should not fear the assurance of salvation, we should be fearful of a false profession of faith.