We May Not Realize...Намуна

... how easy it is to receive salvation.

Let's revisit John 3:16. It is arguably the most well known verse in the entire Bible, encapsulating the essence of the Gospel in a single line:

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

It is the latter part of this verse that should most command our attention: the answer to the question, how can anyone be saved and have eternal life?

As it turns out, the answer is not a how so much as a who: Jesus! Salvation is so much simpler than many realize, but it hinges on a faith relationship with Jesus Christ Himself.

What does that mean exactly?

First, it requires believing (accepting on faith) that Jesus both died and was resurrected in order to pay the price for human sin. In this, we must understand: 1) only God Himself has the power to do that, and 2) it was absolutely an act of grace on His part to do so for us. There was absolutely nothing we did - or ever could have done - to earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is only by believing this that we are made right with God (Romans 1:16-17).

Second, this saving grace referenced throughout the Bible is found exclusively in Jesus Christ. Scripture is remarkably clear on this point, the Gospel of John in particular (John 3:18, 36; 5:24; 8:24; 20:31). If salvation were possible by any other means, there would have been no need for Jesus to suffer and die as He did. "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Third, our exclusive belief in Jesus Christ must be accompanied by confession. Not confession in the sense of acknowledging our sins (although that, too, is part of our Christian lifestyle), but rather confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior to any and all who might listen. As the apostle Paul wrote:

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. (Romans 10:9‭-‬10)

Odd though confession may seem, many do not realize just how crucial - and wonderful - the profession of our faith is in the salvation experience! Jesus took our death sentence and gave us eternal life! Who would not want to tell everyone about that?!