Are you saved? Or are you without Christ, without hope, without everlasting life with God?

The Good News!

I want you to know that Jesus Christ had you personally in mind when He went to the Cross, and every sin you have ever committed—past, present, and future—was imputed to Him and judged. You have never had a sin too great for the plan of God. When Jesus said, “It is Finished!”, He was saying that He had been judged for your sin, my sin, and the sins of the entire human race. Therefore, the door of salvation is wide open. It is so wide open that you can walk through in an instant. You can walk through in your soul without being audible. You can tell God the Father that you are believing in Jesus Christ . . . and that is the moment of your eternal salvation!

The Scripture says:

“For all have sinned, and fall short [miss the mark] of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ASV, emphasis added)

“For the wages of sin is [spiritual] death, but the free gift of God is [everlasting] life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NASB, emphasis added)

“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died [in our place, as a substitute] for us.” (Romans 5:8, CSB, emphasis added)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life [with God].” (John 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added) 

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5, KJV)

Jesus says:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [has his human spirit regenerated with the result that he is a new creation in Christ] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, NASB, emphasis added)

Jesus also says:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to [the presence of] the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, NKJV, emphasis added)

How do you become saved from eternal condemnation in the lake of fire and eternal separation from God after this life?

“Believe in the Lord Jesus [in a moment of time] and you will [once and for all] be saved” (Acts 16:31a, NASB, corrected Greek translation)

The Need For Salvation

In the beginning, God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26-27)—with body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Man began in a personal relationship with God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8a), made functional through his human spirit (Genesis 2:7). . . . One day, the first man, Adam, decided to disobey the expressed will of God by eating from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:6). As a result of his disobedience, Adam sinned, consequently inheriting a sin nature, forfeiting his human spirit [becoming spiritually dead], losing his relationship with God [becoming alienated from God], and dooming himself to eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Romans 5:12-21; Genesis 3:7-10).

Your Position In Adam

As a progeny of fallen Adam, you are born with Adam’s original sin, born with a sin nature, born spiritually dead, born separated from God, born under judgment—condemned to the lake of fire.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19a, KJV)

“For just as in Adam all die [spiritually]” (1 Corinthians 15:22a, LEB, emphasis added)

“So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and [spiritual] death through sin, and so [spiritual] death spread to all people because all sinned” (Romans 5:12, NET, emphasis added)

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, [spiritual] death reigned through that one man” (Romans 5:17a, NIV, emphasis added)

“So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone” (Romans 5:18a, CSB)

You are totally unacceptable to God, totally incapable by your own effort to remove your sin nature, to recover your human spirit, to establish a relationship with God, to save yourself from eternal condemnation.

The Integrity of God

God is absolute righteousness—perfect goodness and sinless in character and person. The righteousness of God is the perfect standard of His essence. All of His attitudes and actions conform to His flawless righteousness.

“You [LORD] are good, and You do what is good.” (Psalms 119:68a, HCSB, emphasis added)

God’s absolute righteousness stands in marked contrast to man’s relative righteousness.

“For all of us have become like one who is unclean,

And all our [relatively] righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.” (Isaiah 64:6a, NASB, emphasis added)

God’s righteousness cannot accept anything less than His own perfect righteousness. Neither is He free to disregard or forgive sin apart from the propitiation or satisfaction of His righteous claims. The righteousness of God can only condemn sin.

God’s righteousness combines with His justice to form the holiness or integrity of God. Righteousness is the principle of God’s integrity; justice is the function of God’s integrity. What the righteousness of God demands, the justice of God executes. Righteousness and justice work together to prevent any compromise of His essence.

“The Rock! His work is perfect,

For all His ways are just;

A God of faithfulness and without injustice,

Righteous and upright is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4, NASB)

God’s justice is absolute and incorruptible fairness. God treats all His creatures alike, without bias or partiality.

“For there is no favoritism with God.” (Romans 2:11, CSB).

He judges with perfect fairness; He never makes exceptions for anyone. As the function of God’s integrity, justice executes what righteousness demands.

“The heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God is the Judge.” (Psalms 50:6, HCSB).

What God’s righteousness rejects or condemns—our sin nature and personal sin, His justice judges.

“For the wages of sin is [spiritual] death” (Romans 6:23a, CSB, emphasis added)

Sin must be judged.

What God Has Done For You

God, in His grace, had promised a Savior to deliver you from an utterly hopeless fate.

“From this man’s [David’s] seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus [so that all may be saved]” (Acts 13:23, NKJV, emphasis added)

“She [Mary] will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NASB, emphasis added)

At the perfect time in history, God sent His only Son Jesus Christ into the world to save you from eternal condemnation, to establish your way back to God, to provide the means for recovery of your human spirit, to be judged for your sin.

“But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:26b, ESV)

“But He was pierced for our sins,

crushed for our iniquity.

He bore the punishment that makes us whole,

by His wounds we were healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NABRE)

Christ’s work of redemption resolved once and for all the issue of sin.

The Mechanics Of Christ’s Work Of Redemption

At 9 A.M. [third hour] on Nisan 14, approximately 3957-3958 AM [Anno Mundi] [Dead Sea Scroll Calendar] [approximately late March to early April A.D. 32-33 [Gregorian Calendar]] (John 19:14, 31, 42), Jesus Christ was raised on the Cross at Golgotha [Calvary], a site outside Jerusalem, a city in the nation of Israel. By 12 P.M. [sixth hour], the sun was obscured and darkness fell over the whole land (Matthew 27:45; cf. Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44). In that moment of time, the sins of all creation—past, present, and future—were imputed to Jesus Christ and judged. The instant sin touched His being, Jesus lost His human spirit [became spiritually dead], lost His relationship with God the Father, and was condemned in your place.

For 3 hours on the Cross, between 12 P.M. [sixth hour] and 3 P.M. [ninth hour], Jesus Christ was forsaken by God the Father as a direct result of His condition of spiritual death. By 3 P.M. [ninth hour], He cried out with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; cf. Mark 15:34). Afterwards, He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), indicating that His work on the Cross had been accomplished. Finally, after having cried out, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit” (Luke 23:46, HCSB), He breathed His last breath, freely giving up His physical life (Luke 23:46; cf. Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; John 19:30).

Without inheriting a sin nature, Jesus Christ paid for the penalty of sin, which is instant spiritual death or total separation from God [total inability to have a personal relationship with Him]. He was judged as your substitute and died spiritually in your place. Having received the imputation of sin and with His human spirit dispossessed, Jesus freely gave up His physical life by an act of His own volition. His body was placed in a tomb (Luke 23:53; cf. John 19:41; Acts 13:29), but on the third day He physically rose from the dead (Luke 24:7; cf. Luke 24:46; Matthew 16:21) in resurrection body (Luke 24:36-43; cf. John 20:20, 27). He ascended to Heaven and, having brought His own blood into the Holy of Holies, was received by God the Father, whereupon completing the work of redemption (John 20:17; Hebrews 9:11-12).

The Scope Of Christ’s Work Of Redemption

Three elements surround Jesus Christ’s work of redemption:

Each element is one component of Christ’s overall work of redemption. Each portrays Jesus as the vicarious, sacrificial Lamb of God and each relates Jesus as the Last Adam to the original Adam. Jesus’ spiritual death portrays Him as the scapegoat in the Day of Atonement Levitical offering and relates Him to the original Adam’s condition at the Fall [a condition that was directly caused by his original sin]. Jesus’ physical death portrays Him as the sacrificed goat in the Day of Atonement Levitical offering and relates Him to the original Adam’s condition at the age of nine hundred and thirty years [a condition that was indirectly caused by his spiritual death but directly caused by his loss of access to the Tree of Life]. Jesus’ blood was the legal tender that God the Father had demanded as the propitiatory [satisfactory] payment for sin.

Why Jesus Christ went to the Cross:

Why Jesus Christ went to Heaven on the morning after His resurrection:

On the Cross, Jesus Christ freely [by His own volition] and vicariously [substitutionarily] received the imputation of the sins of all creation—past, present and future—and freely and vicariously died spiritually and physically. Jesus’ blood was shed on the day of His death but the payment transaction had not yet been made since the blood had not yet been applied. On the day of His resurrection, after speaking with Mary Magdalene, Jesus ascended to Heaven to bring His own blood into the real Holy of Holies in the heavenly Tabernacle to make the payment transaction for sin once and for all by applying His blood on the Mercy Seat of the real Ark in Heaven. Once the blood was applied to the Mercy Seat, the payment transaction was made. Upon receiving the payment transaction, God the Father was satisfied and had the penalty of sin removed. Christ’s work of redemption was at that point completed and sealed. (Hebrews 9:11-14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)

Jesus Christ’s blood was the only payment for sin that God the Father would accept. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. The propitiatory payment of Christ’s blood removed once and for all the penalty of sin.

Your Option

Jesus Christ substitutionarily received the imputation and judgment for all of your sins and paid for sin with His blood. The only exception is the sin of unbelief which is rejection of Jesus Christ. Your attitude toward Christ determines your eternal future. There is only one way to eternal salvation.

“And there is salvation [everlasting life with God] in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NASB, emphasis added) 

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12-13, ESV)

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life [with God]; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36, NKJV, emphasis added) 

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18, NASB)

As long as you are still breathing, God continues to extend His offer of eternal life to you. But once you physically die, God’s offer is no longer valid.

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment [sentence of condemnation]” (Hebrews 9:27, NASB, corrected translation)

To believe in Jesus Christ means eternal life with God. To reject Christ means eternal life apart from God. The choice is yours.

Your Eternal Possession In Christ

Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin on the Cross, the justice of God is free to restore your human spirit and to impute the perfect righteousness of God and His eternal life to you at the moment of faith in Christ.

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified [declared righteous] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV, emphasis added)

“[You] are justified [declared righteous] freely by His [God the Father’s] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24, HCSB, emphasis added)

“God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood, received through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.” (Romans 3:25, CSB)

“God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26, HCSB)

“For He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son—Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the [perfect] righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV, emphasis added)

Christ’s finished work of redemption established the basis of your justification, paved the way of your salvation, providing the option for you to share in Christ’s eternal life, and pioneered a resurrection body that is incorruptible, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

“Much more then, having now been justified [declared righteous] by His blood, we shall be saved [delivered] from the wrath of God [punitive action by God at the Last Judgment sending unbelievers to the lake of fire] through [faith in] Him.” (Romans 5:9, NASB, emphasis added)

“For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!” (Romans 5:10, HCSB)

“Jesus [says], “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he [physically] dies, will live [forever in resurrection body at the time of the First Resurrection event].” ” (John 11:25, CSB, emphasis added)

Your possession of these things is contingent upon your fulfillment of God’s plan or way of salvation.

The Way Of Salvation

God has done His part in providing the way of your salvation: the Father sent the Son, the Son went to the Cross. The Father imputed your sins to Jesus Christ on the Cross and judged every one of them. The work of redemption has been accomplished. The rest is up to you. You may now appropriate eternal salvation through one simple act of faith in Christ.

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [Jesus Christ in a moment of time] will [once and for all] be saved [delivered from eternal condemnation in the lake of fire].” (Romans 10:13, CSB, emphasis added)

Salvation Is God’s Free Gift To You

Since Jesus Christ alone accomplished the work of redemption, He did all that was necessary for your eternal salvation. You cannot earn salvation, you do not deserve salvation, neither can you add to what He has already accomplished on the Cross. Eternal salvation is God’s free gift to you, received through faith alone in Christ alone, apart from an addition of any work or merit on your part.

You should understand that the way of salvation does not involve an addition of any of these things:

None of these things are related to the way of salvation. None of these things are mandated for salvation. None of these things merit salvation. Therefore, none of these things will give you salvation.

God’s plan of salvation calls for only one simple act of faith in Christ. Nothing more is required.

The Result

You can be saved, you can have everlasting life with God, right where you are, right now. In the privacy and freedom of your soul you tell God the Father that you are believing in Jesus Christ, and that is the moment of your eternal salvation! 

Thus, the Scriptures clearly state the only way to have everlasting life with God: 

“BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ [in a moment of time], and thou shalt [once and for all] be saved” (Acts 16:31a, KJV, corrected Greek translation)

“For by grace you [are having] been saved through faith; and that [eternal salvation] not [from] yourselves, it is the gift of God, not [as a result] of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB, corrected Greek translation)

At the very moment you exercise faith alone in Christ alone, God provides everything you need to fulfill His perfect plan for your life. These things are not seen or felt; they are a free gift from God’s matchless grace. You did nothing to earn or deserve any of them, and you can do nothing to lose any of them. No sin or failure can change God’s perfect eternal salvation package.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus] has everlasting life.” (John 6:47, NKJV, emphasis added)

“I [Jesus] give unto [you] eternal life; and [you] shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck [you] out of my hand.” (John 10:28, KJV, emphasis added)