Lesson 5 for

August 2, 2014

HOW
TO BE
SAVED

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so

must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)

The salvation Jesus fulfilled at the cross is

available to us under certain condition.
Which are the steps to be saved?
1. Recognizing my need.
2. Repenting.
3. Believing in Jesus.
4. Accepting Jesus righteousness.
5. Following Jesus.

And when He [the Helper] has come, He will convict the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8)

Jesus was accused of relating to sinners. Jesus replied, Those who are well have no
need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous,
but sinners, to repentance. (Luke 5:31-32)
We look for a doctor when we are sick. In the same way, we look for salvation only if
we feel sinners.
The Holy Spirit works in our conscience to
make us aware of our sins. He generates a
deep feel of guilt. That guilt makes us long
for a Savior.
If we dont obey Him, we harden our heart
against the Holy Spirit. We then stop
hearing His voice little by little.

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

Recognizing our sins is not enough to be saved.

Repentance must follow.
Jesus said, Unless you repent you will all
likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)
True repentance involves three main steps:
1. Recognizing we have sinned.
2. Feeling shame of having done so.
3. Sincerely wanting to not sin anymore.
We have a natural tendency to try to excuse our
sins; not to regret them. Repentance is a gift from
God, actually (Romans 2:4).
We do not repent in order that God may love
us, but He reveals to us His love in order that
we may repent.

E.G.W. (Christs Object Lessons, pg. 189)

So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and
your household. (Acts 16:31)

Recognizing the sin and repenting are essential

steps, but they cant save anyone.
We must have faith and totally believe in Jesus
and His sacrifice for us.
The saving power of faith comes from the God
we believe, not from the believer.
That is also a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8)

A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him

merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring
healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation
is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He
who waits for entire knowledge before he will
exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. It
is not enough to believe about Christ; we must
believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is
that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour;
which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many
hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a
transaction by which those who receive Christ join
themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine
faith is life. A living faith means an increase of
vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes
a conquering power.
E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 36, pg. 347)

But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not
have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here
without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the
servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer
darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:11-13)

We cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven

without the right garment. What is that
garment?
Isaiah said, He *God+ has clothed me
with the garments of salvation, He has
covered me with the robe of
righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)
We are spiritually naked. Putting
salvation on means to accept Jesus
righteousness instead of our own.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Then Jesus said to those Jews who

believed Him, If you abide in My
word, you are My disciples indeed.
(John 8:31)

Weve followed the right steps and now we are

saved.
Nevertheless, the path does not end here. Jesus
asked those who believed in Him two more things:
1. Remaining in His Word.
Living according to the sound
doctrine that is found in the
Bible (Titus 2:1)
2. Being His disciples.
Following Jesus example,
loving Him above all things and
talking about Him to others (1
John 2:6; Matthew 10:37;
Matthew 28:19-20)

Recognizing my
need.
God convicts us of
sin (John 16:8).

Repenting.
God leads us to
repentance
(Romans 2:4).

Theres absolutely nothing we

can do to gain, pay or deserve
salvation. Everything is in Gods
hands.

Believing in
Jesus.
God gives the
faith to believe
(Ephesians 2:8).

Accepting
Jesus
righteousness.
God clothes us
with His
righteousness
(Isaiah 61:10).

Following
Jesus.
God prepares the
good works we
follow
(Ephesians 2:10).

for it is God who works in you both

to will and to do for His good
pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)