Salt and Light: Scriptural Magazine for the Youth

Salt and Light is a scriptural publication for Youth and Students all over the world.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

This was the all-important question the Jailor asked Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30 and this is the question every sincere seeker of salvation need to ask.

There are many people who are confused about what they need to do to get saved. Unfortunately, many preachers further confuse the minds of people on the issue of salvation. They tend to turn people away from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ to some complex things that they require seekers of salvation to do before they can be saved. Some recommend that to be saved, one must first be baptized in water; while others feel that one must first of all; turn over a new leaf before one can receive God’s salvation.

There are some that teach that sinners must show that they are truly sorry for their sins by punishing their flesh i.e. penance. Some others allege that salvation is not complete until one goes through a particular rite of deliverance where evil spirits are cast out of the person. All these are misleading.

To the question asked by the Philippian Jailor, Paul answered “…. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31). This is all it takes, no more, no less. As you realize yourself as a sinner, you truly repent, confess and forsake them. Then you receive Jesus into your life and believe in Him as your Saviour. When you do this with a very sincere mind and in faith, then you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10; I John 1:9-10).

This will be followed by very clear evidences one of which will be that you will become a new creature, (II Corinthians 5:17). All you need to do after is to continue to live the Christian life by grace through faith. Read the Bible daily for divine strength and nourishment. Pray always to receive more grace and help from the Lord. Fellowship regularly with a church that stands on the word of God for encouragement, help and other assistance. And then, try to tell other people of what God has done in your life. The Lord blesses you.

THE BIG QUESTION

Are you really saved?

This is a very important question that every boy and girl must answer. The issue of salvation is one that everyone must seriously consider because it is the only thing that can make one to be qualified for eternity in Heaven.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

This question becomes very necessary because many of the religious activities and programmes that are springing up today seem to be underplaying the issue of the importance of genuine personal salvation. More religious involvements and activities are being emphasized over the importance of personal salvation.

Most religious leaders are satisfied as long as their members and youths turn up regularly in church and observe other religious ordinances. There are other people who however confuse other things with salvation. They take the fact that they are born into a serious Christian family to mean that they too are saved. Some take their moral uprightness for salvation. They feel that since they do not fight, steal, tell lies, commit fornication etc, it means they are saved. There are some who have been mistakenly baptized in water, who partake in the Holy Communion, sing in the choir, etc, who think that for these, they are saved.

Salvation is a very definite personal experience that takes place in one’s life at a particular point in time. It is an experience that one receives as a result of a very conscious and deliberate decision one take to turn away from all sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and personal Saviour.

The truth is “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all were conceived and born in sin. (Psalm 51:5). None of us has the ability to do any good. (Romans 10:10-18).

Infact, because we have sinned by nature (we all inherited sin from Adam -Romans 5:12) and by our actions, we all stand condemned before God and are to face the consequence of our sins, which is death – eternal separation from God in the Lake of fire. (Romans 6:23, Ezekiel 18:4, 20, Revelation 21:8).

No amount of our personal efforts or good works can save us. No religious activity or ordinance can pay the price for our sin and free us from the consequences of our sin. (Isaiah 65:6). Only Jesus can.

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. (John 3:16) “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. Acts 4:12)

Salvation is only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9). You can become genuinely saved as you acknowledge your sins, (Psalm 51:3-4), confess them before God (Proverbs 28:13), truly turn away from them in repentance (Job 34:32), receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Personal Saviour (Revelation 3:20) and believe in Him with the whole of your heart. (John 1:12, Romans 10:9-10).

If you will sincerely take these steps, you can be saved today. When you become saved, you will be totally set free from sin and condemnation, (Job 8:36, Romans 8:1); the peace and joy of the Lord will become yours. Sin will no longer be your master; the spirit of God will always be there to lead you, and you will become an entirely new person (Romans 5:1; 6:14; 8:14-16; II Corinthians 5:17).

So, are you really saved? If not, Why not now?

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