There is no question more important than this one: Are you saved?
I am not asking whether you belong to a church. I am not asking whether you were baptized as a child, whether your parents were Christians, or whether you consider yourself a good person.
I am asking whether you have personally surrendered your life to Jesus Christ and received Him as your Lord and Savior.
Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Why Do We Need Salvation?
The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
That includes every one of us. We may compare ourselves with other people and think we are doing fairly well, but other people are not the standard. God is the standard—and none of us has lived a perfectly righteous life.
Sin separates us from God. Romans 6:23 warns, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Notice that salvation is called a gift. It cannot be purchased, inherited, or earned through good deeds. Jesus paid the price for it on the cross.
God Made a Way
God did not leave us without hope.
John 3:16 declares, “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.”
Jesus Christ came into this world, lived without sin, carried our sins to the cross, died in our place, and rose from the grave. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Salvation is not found in a denomination, ceremony, preacher, or church building. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Religion Is Not the Same as Salvation
A person can sit in church for years and still never surrender to Christ. You can know the songs, repeat the prayers, quote Scripture, and look religious on the outside—yet remain unchanged within.
Salvation is more than turning over a new leaf. It is more than trying harder to behave. It is a spiritual rebirth.
Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
When Jesus saves you, He does not merely improve the old life. He gives you a new life.
You Must Respond
Christ has already made salvation possible, but you must respond to Him personally.
The Bible says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).
To repent means more than feeling sorry. It means changing your mind about sin, turning toward God, and surrendering your way to His way.
Romans 10:9 says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Salvation begins with genuine faith in the heart—not empty words from the lips. You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, that He rose again, and that He alone can save you.
Saved by Grace
You cannot clean yourself up enough to come to Christ. Come to Him as you are, and let Him begin changing you.
Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “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.”
We are not saved because we deserve it. We are saved because God is merciful.
You may think you have gone too far, failed too many times, or lived too badly for God to forgive you. That is a lie from the enemy. The blood of Jesus is greater than your past.
No sin is stronger than God’s grace when a person truly repents and comes to Christ.
Do Not Put It Off
Many people say, “I will get right with God someday.” But none of us is promised tomorrow.
Second Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
You do not have to wait until Sunday. You do not have to be standing inside a church. You can call upon Jesus wherever you are.
Do not let pride, fear, embarrassment, disappointment with churches, or the failures of other Christians keep you away from Christ. People may fail you. Churches may disappoint you. But Jesus will never fail you.
Come to Him today.
A Prayer of Surrender
If you are ready to repent and place your faith in Jesus Christ, speak to Him sincerely from your heart. You may pray:
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the grave. I repent of my sins and turn to You. Forgive me, cleanse me, and make me new. I surrender my life to You and receive You as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me live for You from this day forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
A prayer is not a magic formula. Salvation comes through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. If those words expressed the honest surrender of your heart, begin walking with Him today.
What Comes Next?
Tell another believer that you have received Christ. Begin reading the Bible—start with the Gospel of John. Pray every day, not with fancy words, but by speaking honestly with God. Find a Bible-believing, Spirit-filled church where Jesus Christ is honored and the Word of God is preached faithfully. Be baptized as a public declaration of your faith.
You will not become perfect overnight, but you will no longer walk alone. The Holy Spirit will guide you, convict you, strengthen you, and help you grow.
So I ask you once more:
Not someday. Not almost. Not because someone else believes for you.
Have you personally placed your faith in Jesus Christ?
If not, today can be the day everything changes.
Evangelist Mike Cunningham
Mike Cunningham Ministries
- Faith & Ministry
