I'm sure you've heard people tell you that you "need to be saved." You've probably thought, "What are these people talking about? Saved from what? Am I in eminent danger?" So, you laugh it off, and think they're crazy. After all, it doesn't look like these Christians have it all together themselves, so what did they "get saved" from? It seems they try to shove their moral views down everyone's throat, but live like they want to, sinning against God, and disobeying the Bible. I know you've seen the news featuring stories of those claiming to be Christians (which means Christ-like) who have murdered people, stolen money, misused donations, had affairs, molested children, and the list of sins goes on and on. So, what did they get saved from? You may be thinking, "It surely wasn't their sins, since they keep sinning."

One reason anyone rejects anything religious, is because there has not been a good example shown by those practicing that religion. Although we are not to look to anyone but Jesus for our example the world still expects Christians to be like Christ. So, again, what did these Christians "get saved" from if they are not like Christ? By now, you may be thinking, "Yeah, that's right, the church is full of hypocrites. Why should I believe what they believe? They didn't 'get saved' from anything." If you have been able to reason that out, then you know that a Christian's life is supposed to be morally "better" than the rest of the world's. How do you know that? One reason is because the Bible says, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² 'Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth';" (1 Peter 2:21-22) Another reason, whether you realize it or not, is because God has written His law on your heart. He has given you enough knowledge of His word (the Bible) to know right from wrong. So, if YOU break the laws of the Bible, and you KNOW you have done so, what does that make you?

No one can say that they've perfectly lived the right way. If you believe that lying is wrong, and you've lied (even telling a "white" lie), then you've broken your own moral code, thus becoming a hypocrite. "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10b) The same applies to anything you think is wrong and you, either unconsciously or willfully, commit that wrong. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) So, we ALL are hypocrites and we all deserve hell. But what about the love and forgiveness of God?

You may argue, "Well, since God is loving and good, He won't send me to hell, or punish me for anything I've done, either. I believe in His goodness." The Bible says, He punishes those who 'profess' Him but never knew Him. "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matt. 7:23) There is GREATER evidence that He is going to punish those who knowingly and willfully disobeyed Him or His Word. "in flaming fire taking vengence on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power," (2 Thess. 1:8-9) His "goodness," or benevolence, requires that He judge righteously. How would you like it if someone hurt you, or one of your family members, and the judge let them off the hook without paying for the crime they committed against you? Would that be just? Would that be right? Of course not. "He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." (Prov. 17:15) Our laws, whether the ACLU wants to admit it or not, are based upon God's laws, because, as I said before, His laws have been written upon our hearts. Therefore, just as we have to punish criminals, so does God. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

However, when you stand before the Heavenly Judge, He is going to look over your "criminal record" (i.e. sins you've committed against Him), to see if you deserve to live eternally with Him, or with His defeated enemy, Satan, in the eternal flames of hell. You may think, "Well, I'm not that bad, I'll get into heaven." On what merit? Just as a criminal who breaks the law must go to prison, you must pay for your sins (crimes against God). "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:19-20) If you break one law of God, you've broken the whole law of God. Because He demands perfection. "For there is no partiality with God. ¹² For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law" (Romans 2:11-12) That means you are disqualified for heaven if you try to get in on your own merit. You, in and of yourself, can NEVER be good enough. So, how do you make it?

This is the 'twist', and what it means to "get saved." God in His great love and mercy toward mankind, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make the way for you to be considered righteous enough to enter into His kingdom. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) All you have to do is:
1. Accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for you on the cross and confess your sins--"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and

So, since God, the Heavenly Judge, knew we could never do it on our own, or in our own strength, He made the way through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. When we receive Jesus into our lives, Jesus' righteousness is "credited" to our account, and our "criminal record" before God is wiped clean. That's called "grace"--God extending His unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor toward us, and doing for us what we could not do. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8) That's what separates Christianity from any other religion. All other faiths will tell you, that you have to do penence, or some form of "works," to get into heaven or have your sins forgiven. But the Bible says that God does it when we just ask Him. That's why Christians proclaim that they are "saved by grace." "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: ⁹ not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Now, God isn't stupid. He knows who is truly seeking Him, and who isn't. He knows those who are in it for a "get out of hell free" card, and those who are using Him for personal gain. So, don't think you can "pull one over" on God. You'll just be deceiving yourself. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matt. 7:21) He knows those who are truly humble, and sorry for hurting Him by sinning against Him. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit of God can see the thoughts and intents of every person's heart. "I, the Lord search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, And according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:10) So, you can't be dishonest with God. You have to come to God with a truly sorrowful heart, that you have broken His laws, and the knowledge that you cannot save yourself.

Satan doesn't want you to have this salvation. He blew his chance of spending eternity with God, by trying to exalt himself up to be like God. "¹² How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! ¹³ For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'" (Isaiah 14:12-14). Mankind has believed the same lie, that they are gods or can be like God. But even Satan couldn't do it, and he was the chief angel of worship in heaven. If he couldn't do it, even though he saw God in person and face to face, what makes us think we can? We're made a little "LOWER" than the angels. (Psalm 8:5) Think about it. God kicked out Satan, and now Satan is using us to exact his revenge upon God. He knows how much God loves us, and how much it grieves God to see one of His creation perish in hell. It makes Satan laugh. But if we choose the Lord, Satan can't use and abuse us anymore, and he can't laugh at God's grief over our lost souls.

Don't let Satan deceive you into believing you are a god, that you can save yourself, or worst of all, don't let him use you as a puppet to exact revenge upon the Lord. Jesus loved you enough to die for you; so you wouldn't have to be judged and punished for your crimes (sins) against Him. Because if you reject God and His way of doing things, you are condemning yourself. "But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for youself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God, ⁶ who 'will render to each one according to his deeds'...⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil..." (Romans 2:5-6, 8-9a). God provided a way to escape that wrath. Just ask Him for it. How could it be any easier? God's grace has a dual purpose. One is to save us, and the other is to continue setting us free from sin. As we grow in God, we should want to let go of sinful habits and lifestyles. We, out of gratitude for the Lord, willingly give these things up, not because it makes us look "holy and righteous" but because we love God. And again, we cannot do it by ourselves, we have to have God's Spirit and His grace to do anything like this.

So what are you getting saved from?

• Grieving and displeasing God
• The bondage of sin
• God's wrath of eternal hell
• Satan's lies
• and your own self-deception.

For more information contact:

Calvary Chapel of Northern Kentucky
Pastor Brian Nevins
calvary@goodnews.net