The Bible teaches that because of the fall of Adam all men have sinned:
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12)
And we learn that the only way to overcome the power of sin is through the death of Christ.
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
The most important thing, therefore, that we need to find out is how we qualify for the salvation which Christ makes available to us.
As we begin to search the scriptures we find references to salvation being free.
"…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23,24)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Wages are something you work for, but a gift is free.
The only requirement to receive salvation is to believe.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9)
Romans also gives us an example of Abraham, who discovered this truth. Chapter 4:1-5 explains that if Abraham had been justified by works then he would have had cause to boast, but "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
It is a hard concept to take in, because in this life you have to earn everything. It seems amazing that the greatest blessing of all should be free, yet the Bible emphasizes over and over that because of the great love of God He gives us salvation as a gift, if only we have faith in His Son.
"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." (Romans 9:16)
"And if by grace, then it is no longer by works, if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:16)
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no-one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8)
God "who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace." (2 Timothy 1:9)
"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." (Titus 3:4,5)
Another question that raises its head is how anyone can know for certain that they are saved. Surely we can only do our best in this life and wait for the judgment of God in the next before we will know. The first and most simple answer as to how we can know for certain is because Christ Himself said so.
"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)
The second thing is that there are scriptures which actually tell us that salvation is guaranteed.
"Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 5:5)
"…Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession." (Ephesians 1:13,14)
The wonderful 'good news' of the gospel is that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13), and that that is all we have to do. If we really believe, we are saved by the grace of God, and that salvation is guaranteed.
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