This is the blog version of my PDF ‘The Rapture Survival Guide (TRSG)’.
Download the PDF Version Here
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the deliverance from sin. To save means to deliver or protect. Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25).
What are we saved from? We are saved from God’s wrath, that is, His judgment of our sin when we meet Him face to face (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of this violation of God’s law is death (Romans 6:23). Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequences of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin which is already paid for by Jesus on the cross.
Who does the saving? Only God can remove sin and deliver us from sin’s penalty (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5). How does God save? God has rescued us through Jesus’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection which achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5, 8) which is ours for the taking through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13).
Then, we must believe—fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13). A definition of salvation would be “The deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God’s conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.
Your acceptance or denial of Jesus will affect where you spend eternity, and every soul lives forever it’s just a matter of location. A prerequisite for becoming saved is knowing that God exists and that He created you, the universe and heavens. God wrote the bible to further prove His existence to us alongside the wondrous and spectacular world around us. There are countless incredible facts about the Bible that prove it had to be designed outside of space and time. For a few of these amazing insights read the ‘Evidence for God’ section in ‘Christianity’.
To Become Saved
A
Admit that you are a sinner. Any gap between God’s perfect law and our imperfect obedience is called sin, which everyone has committed.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
“There is none righteous, no, not one;” (Romans 3:10)
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
B
Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day, taking the punishment you deserved. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) Your own good works cannot save you, no matter how good a person you are, and wouldn’t the creator of heaven set the bar for entry?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
C
Call upon the name of the Lord and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Saviour. There is an example prayer below.
“If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Pray
“Dear God, I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sins. I am willing and ready to change and turn from my sin. I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life, as my personal Saviour.”
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Joel 2:32 / Acts 2:21 / Romans 10:13
You’re Saved!
Once you’ve prayed this prayer, believing it with all your heart, your debt has been paid and you’re now saved by the power of the blood of Jesus! He paid that ultimate price of our sin, sacrificing Himself so that we may live. However it’s easy to say something with your mouth, what takes real effort is living out a life in pursuit of Jesus, walking according to His will for you and leaving your old sinful ways behind.
Below are some more verses related to salvation and justification, as well as some next steps you should take as a new Christian to help cement your faith. If there’s one thing that Satan despises, it’s new Christians. So be prepared to battle against the spiritual forces of wickedness by praying and reading your bible daily as well as putting on your spiritual armour.
● “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
● “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
● “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)
● “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
● “How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
What to do now
● Talk to God in prayer every day
“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Philippians 4:6)
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:16-17)
● Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority on everything.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19)
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
● Tell others about Christ
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
● Walking with Jesus
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should Read your Bible daily to get to know Christ better. Read the Holy Bible (KJV, NKJV, ESV), the guide and tool to kindness and the right path to eternal life. If you encounter questions, resolve them by asking someone at your church or another steadfast Christian to help you with them. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105)
● Seek Earnestly
As always if you wish to find answers out for yourself you should search God’s word. If you’re told something, search the scriptures to ensure that is what they say and the wording isn’t twisted. Take caution not to be fooled by what others claim the bible says but do your own research. There will be great apostasy and a falling away from Christianity in the end times. The word of God is living and he can speak to you through his words. So find a bible.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
● Godly Armour
You need to equip your spiritual armour. For more information read the Christianity section in ‘The Rapture Survival Guide (TRSG)’.
Download the PDF Version Here
Next Steps
You should research what the bible has to say on prophecy and the end times. Take a look at the ‘The Rapture’ section in TRSG for more information, but if you have already I recommend watching some of the videos in the ‘Christian Content’ section also within the same document.
If you don’t have a bible, you can download one here: King James English Bible