The plan of salvation is simple. It was never meant to be hard. It is simply to believe on the name of Jesus Christ, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) It is believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 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)

We need to acknowledge that we are sinners, that there is none righteous no not one. (Romans 3:10) For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) The bible defines sin as the transgression of the law. In Revelation 21:8 we see that ‘the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ALL liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’ This verse is showing that we have all sinned even in something as little as a lie which people think nothing of these days.

We need to understand that there is a penalty for sin. The bible says, ‘The wages of sin is death…’ (Romans 6:23) We will all die one day physically, but there is also a spiritual death. The bible says, ‘And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.’ (Revelation 20:14) Hell is the punishment for all who reject Jesus Christ and die in their sins. The bible describes hell as fire and brimstone, a place of torment where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth and where their worm dieth not. (Luke 13:28, Mark 9:44)

The good news is in the second part of that verse (Romans 6:23) which says, ‘but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Amen! ‘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.’ (John 3:16) God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Salvation is a free gift from God. Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross. The bible says, ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. ‘ (2 Corinthians 5:21) Once we are saved, our sins are washed by the blood of Jesus and his righteousness is imputed onto us.

‘For by grace are ye saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.’ (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We cannot earn our way to heaven by being a good person, doing good works, going to church, being baptized, repenting of our sin, and the many other false ways we are told would get us to heaven. No, the only way is to put our faith and trust on Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross. ‘And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.’ (Romans 11:6)

‘But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.’ (Romans 4:5)

A gift is something given without cost. The giver expects nothing in return. If they do, then it isn’t a true gift. You shouldn’t have to work for a gift because then it isn’t a gift but something you have earned. The gift of God is eternal life. ‘And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.’ (1 John 5:11-12)

Eternal life is just that, eternal, it never ends. Once you are saved and become a child of God, there is no way that you can ever lose your salvation. We know this as once saved, always saved. Jesus said, ‘My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.’ Jesus also said, ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’ (John 6:37)

The bible says that we can know that we have eternal life. ‘These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.’ (1 John 5:13)

So now the question arises, How do I receive this free gift of God? The bible 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’ (Romans 10:9-10)

You need to call upon the name of the Lord through prayer asking him to save your soul from hell. Your prayer might be:

Dear God. I know I am a sinner on my way to hell. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he came to earth to die on the cross for my sins and that he was buried and rose again the third day. I believe that through Jesus only can I gain eternal life, not by anything I have done, but by what Jesus did on the cross. I accept your free gift of eternal life through your Son. Please save me and give me eternal life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.