I have written over 300 articles and responded to nearly 4,000 comments over the last two years on BCWorldview and Medium.com. There is much I could say about the experience, however, my reason for investing the time has been, and continues to be, to use it as a frail way of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
Yes, there is much more than the gospel offered in my writing. However, the intent has always been to attract an audience in order to share the greatest gift one can offer another person, an eternal, personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.
It is with that thought that I’ve been boiling down all my core theology over the last few weeks, using the question “What Makes a Christian, a Christian?” as a catalyst. Ironically, that ridiculously long 2500+ word essay, (probably the most important post I have written), can be boiled down to less than 150 words.
A Christian is someone who has been saved and will, consequently, spend eternal life with Christ in Heaven.
So, if salvation (fellowship with Him) is the ultimate intent of God, the singular question of life becomes, how does one “get saved”? To that, I would like to humbly offer a short answer.
Salvation, in Two Bible Verses and Less than 150 Words
“FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST.”
– EPHESIANS 2:8-9 ESV
First, Salvation, comes through God’s grace alone, exclusively through our faith in Jesus Christ, alone. And second…
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES AND IS JUSTIFIED, AND WITH THE MOUTH ONE CONFESSES AND IS SAVED.”
– ROMANS 10:9-10 ESV
We must profess our faith by openly acknowledging Jesus Christ as both our Savior and our Lord. Further, we need to believe in our heart (not just our head) that He died and rose again as a payment for our past, present, and future sins.
146 words to be exact. We can all spend our days talking about the latest election results or the theology of speaking in tongues, and everything in between. In the end, we will either go to Heaven or Hell for eternity, regardless of all that we think or say about God, He is sovereign and has told His children what the narrow path to eternal life is based on (Matthew 7:13-14). Solomon, the wisest man (beyond Jesus) that ever lived said life is “vanity of vanities”. Shakespeare made the same point by saying, “we strut and fret our hour upon the stage and then are no more”.
Salvation brings infinitely more to man than anything we can possibly acquire through our own efforts. And, if it can be explained in less than 150 words, how amazing is that!
The Sinners’ Prayer
There is no formula for asking the Lord to save your soul for eternity. The prayer below is a guide for what you need to believe, both intellectually and with your heart, sincerely. Approach God with faith that He will give you the strength to repent or turn from your sins and receive eternal forgiveness (Acts 3:19).
“Lord God, I know I am a sinner and I know your Son died on the cross for my sins, and rose from the grave. I know that no one comes to you except through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. I ask you to come into my life, forgive me of my sins, and save my soul. I turn over my life to you as both my Lord and my Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Author: Jeff Hilles | BCWorldveiw.org, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit
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