Good News!
The Bible explains five essential components we must believe in order to receive eternal life. Once we understand that these things are absolutely true and that it applies to ourselves personally, at that moment we are declared righteous by God.
We must believe that . . .
1Jesus Christ, 2the Son of God who died and rose again 3to pay one’s personal penalty for sin, 4gives eternal life to those who trust Him and 5Him alone for it.
Do you believe this?
“We must believe” – to believe or have faith simply means to have confidence that someone or something is true.
1 Jesus Christ – The person of Jesus Christ is central to receiving eternal life. This implies that humans naturally do not possess eternal life.
a. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him[Jesus Christ} shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
b. Acts 16:31, “ …Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved….”
c. Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
2 The Son of God who died and rose again – We must believe specifically that this Jesus is the Son of God and that He died and rose again. These facts demonstrate that Jesus is uniquely qualified to give eternal life.
a. John 11:26-27, “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
b. John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
c. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I have delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 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:”
3 To pay one’s personal penalty for sin – Each person owes a sin debt to God because Adam sinned. Therefore sin was passed upon the whole human race. Even after we’re born with this sin problem, we actively sin; in fact, we’re slaves to sin. Because we’re sinful, we must pay a penalty which ultimately results in eternal destruction/damnation in the place God calls hell. The good news is that Christ died and rose again to pay for the sin debt because we could not do it ourselves.
a. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
b. John 1:29, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
c. Acts 10:43, “…that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission (or forgiveness) of sins.”
4 Gives eternal life to them who trust him . . . for it – Christ is the only one from Whom we can receive eternal life.
a. John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
b. Romans 6:22-23, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5 Him alone – the offering of salvation is exclusive to faith in Christ alone; therefore, we cannot do anything to merit eternal life. (i.e. church membership, baptism, giving money, praying, Sacraments, etc.) This also means that we can trust only Christ for our salvation, not Allah, a specific denomination (Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, etc.), or any other person or work. We also cannot add anything to this free gift of salvation (believing Christ and baptism, or Christ and church membership, etc.)
a. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
b. John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life; No man comes to the father but by me.”
*This presentation of the Gospel has been adapted from J.B. Hixson’s Getting the Gospel Wrong. We believe that it is a Biblical representation of the truths contained in the Word of God.