There can be a debate about how we are saved —
whether it is believing on Jesus or accepting Jesus.
Whether it’s inviting Jesus into your heart or calling on the Lord to save you.
Whether it’s accepting the gift or opening the door of your heart.
It can be confusing and God is not the author of Confusion. Where it is very confusing today is often preachers will try to out-preach the last preacher and convince folks that called on the Lord they are not saved unless they believed on the Lord. They will re-word things and re-work the invitation, and the person is coming to the altar for a re-worded version of what they just came to the altar last week about.
And they get up no different than they did before either altar call.
Part of the problem is we are pushing a cure, JESUS, on a world today unconvinced of the disease. And 2nd we are turning the cure into this easy, no-cost “flu shot” that you can add to your American idols and go back to your life on your terms. And when the next preacher explains yet another way you should have taken the cure, the person thinks maybe this time they will get the right Jesus. The 3-strain regular strain flu shot of Jesus wasn’t as potent as the new 4-strain high-dose Jesus the flu shot. Keep coming and getting one more booster shot until you have full immunity to hell!
I have written more on the “Jesus is not a Flu Shot” theme else where in this blog.
The bible says the LAW of God is to reveal our need for a SAVIOR — it is our school master to lead us to CHRIST. The LAW is what reveals our sin, and makes us guilty before God. Romans 7:7 says What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
To neglect the LAW means you have to entice with the cure, and recruit with the fatted calf. Fruits of salvation should not be DRAW-CARDS FOR SALVATION. WHY? It will produce wrong motives — false converts who think they did God a favor by letting God save them.
I think when someone truly knows they are lost, the cure will be accepted once they see their need, and Jesus can word the cure in whatever way it clicks in that person. Jesus will customize the cure personally when one sees their need for salvation- and then sees the Savior.
John 1:12 – receive + believe = become. Enter in by the door. Eat the living bread, drink the living water, accept the gift, confess with thy mouth, call on the Lord, come to Him, trust in the Lord, believe on the Lord, turn to the Lord, Cry our to the Lord, Look and live, call unto Him, etc.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture – John 10:9
That 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. Romans 10:9
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)
John 6:35 says And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)
When the cry of the sinner’s heart, is what must I do to be saved? –
– then-
Any cure that IS JESUS will work —
believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
He that HATH THE SON HATH LIFE.
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Salvation- is a Person- the Lord Jesus.
Salvation is not in a Prayer- or Performance.
Friend, are you saved?