Salvation 101. "What must I do be saved?"
Seeker 1: "Hey man! I need your help.
Seeker 2: "What up? What seems to be the problem?
Seeker 1: "I have a guilty conscience. I can't sleep at night. I don't have any peace in my life. I'm a big mess. I really need God in my life. Evolution, Atheism, and Secularism has not given me any hope or peace. I need to try God or something. Can you help me?
Seeker 2: "I can't help you. But I know someone who can.
Seeker 1: "Who?
Seeker 2: "Jesus Christ."
Seeker 1: "Where do I find him? How do I make an appointment with Him?
Seeker 2; "You can find Him any moment of the day. He is always available to receive you and to forgive you and give you eternal life. Go to Him.
Seeker 1: "Don't I need to do something first? What must I do to be forgiven and to receive eternal life?"
Seeker 2: "Believe in Jesus Christ, that He died as your Substitute and then accept Him as your Savior and Lord.
Seeker 1: "No really, what must I do? How much do I need to give? Give me something hands on and practical.
Seeker 2: "I already gave you the answer. You can't do anything to be forgiven and receive eternal life. All you can do is believe and receive it by faith like a free gift.
Seeker 1: "Don't I need to be good in order to be saved first?"
Seeker 2: "You don't need to be good in order to be saved; but you do need to be saved in order to be good. That comes after. First come to Jesus as you are.
Seeker 1: "I have a lot of problems man. I smoke, i drink, i live in adultery. I think I need to clean up my life then I will come. God helps those who help themselves, right?
Seeker 2: "Wrong. God does not help those who help themselves when it come to salvation and eternal life. GOD HELPS THOSE WHO CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES! Just go to Jesus. It's that simple. Really!
Seeker 1: "I'm still not convinced. It can't be that easy. If it was, everyone would accept Jesus and go to Heaven. There has to be a catch somewhere. It sounds to be good to be true!
Seeker 2: "Hey man, if you want to believe the Devil's lie and try to work your way to Heaven, be my guest. But like every other poor soul before you who has walked down the path of righteousness by works, you will end up defeated and discouraged. You can't do it on your own. Try God's way instead. The Way of the Cross. The path of faith.
Seeker 1: "So you are saying I don't need to any good work in order to be saved from my sins? How about after I come to Jesus? I'm sure after I come to Jesus, God is going to be expecting me to live like a saint. I'm sure God is going to be judging me based on my performance and obedience after I come to Jesus, right?
Seeker 2: "Wrong again. The Bible says, nothing you ever do now or in the future will merit God's forgiveness or Eternal life. Your works are never the root of salvation. They are always the fruit of Salvation. Just go to Jesus and receive Him as your Savior, Lord, and friend!
Seeker 1: "You almost convince me. But I still think it is too good to be true. Most religions have a path you must take in order to be saved. Buddhism has the 8 fold path, Judaism has the Law, Islam has Submission. How about Christianity? Don't I have to do something first in order to be saved?
Seeker 2: "No you don't. When Jesus died, it was God dying on the Cross for your sins and in your place. If you believe in Him as Your Substitute and Surety, then God sees you as He sees Jesus.
Seeker 1: "You mean even with all my sins and messed up life, if I come to Jesus I will be forgiven? God won't see my sinful life, but instead the perfect life of Jesus?
Seeker 2: "Exactly! If you come in repentance to Jesus, God no longer sees your sinful life (past and present). Instead, He sees the perfect and spotless life of Jesus.
Seeker 1: "Well I guess I'm all in. I can't pass up an offer that Good. I guess it's worth giving up my sins in order to receive God's forgiveness and peace. I really need that.
Seeker 2: "Never forget: All that God requires of you for time and Eternity, has already been accomplished by Jesus Christ. When you are in Christ, God sees you as Perfect, Righteous, and sinless as Jesus! Just Go to Jesus and Stay with Him every moment of the day. If you fall away. Get back up and go to Him again. He loves you and will never let you Go!
Seeker 1: "Can you pray with me so that I can accept Jesus right now?
Seeker 2: "Yes. I will lead you in the sinner's prayer. Just repeat it after me."
"Dear Jesus,
I am a sinner. I can not save myself. Thank you for dying in my place and for my sins. I accept you as my Savior and Lord. Please come into my heart and into my life today. Amen."
~ Written and Adapted by Pr. Salvador Garcia
