On May 3, 1987, I received a free gift that I would like to pass on to you. I didn’t work for it or try hard to get it. It didn’t cost any money or require any commitment. It was free. It is the gift of salvation from hell. You see I knew I was a sinner. Although I was fairly young, I knew that my little sins I had done were not just going against my parents, but against God Himself because He had said in His Bible not to do those things I had done. Because I had sinned, I was a sinner. And God is so holy that even a small sin cannot enter heaven. In the entire universe there are only 3 places you can be. You can be in heaven, in hell or on earth awaiting to go to one of those places. I had seen a picture of hell drawn from the information the Bible gave of it and I was scared of going to that place of torment and fire and darkness and screaming. But most importantly, I was scared of the fire. I knew if I were to die, I’d go there and never get out.
But I also found out that Jesus Christ offered me a free ticket out of that condition. He offered to pay my sin-debt to God that I owed and give me a free gift of salvation from that awful hell. I knew a good deal when I saw one and didn’t waste any time. I told God, “I’m not sure how you’re going to do it, but I believe you died for my sins, in my place, so I don’t have to go to hell and I’m asking you to save me from that. Please take away my sins. Come inside me and take me to heaven when I die. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” That did it! I was saved. A sudden peace and joy filled me and I had the feeling to go with the assurance of God’s words. The feeling wasn’t necessary but it was nice to have.
If you’re wondering how in the world a sinner, who is contrary to God, can enjoy heaven and escape hell, the Bible shows us in two different passages how God worked it out. The first one is in II Corinthians 5:17 the Bible says, “For he (God) hath made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus Christ).” Simply put, Jesus Christ became sin for me and took my sin. All the things that I had or ever will do that are wrong (bad thoughts, wicked words, lustful eyes, wicked imaginations, depraved choices)—all those sins, Jesus took on Himself. Then He gave me His perfect righteousness.
You see Jesus Christ had never done anything wrong. He had never thought anything wrong. He had never envied someone else, never puffed Himself up in pride, never refused God’s will in any part of His life. He never had lied in word or action. He was perfect. And that perfect righteousness, He gave as a free gift to me. That means that in God’s sight, I am sinless and just as righteous as God Himself! Now that’s a gift and it’s FREE!
The other passage that I want to talk about is in Luke 23. Here Jesus Christ is dying for the sins of the world and a thief who was crucified with Him put His trust in Jesus Christ. That’s what I did in 1987. Well the thief did that and asked the Lord to remember him when the Lord Jesus Christ came into His kingdom. Jesus told that dying thief that he would go to Heaven with Jesus Christ. This is very important for our discussion.
The dying thief was being crucified and he would die that day. He could not come down off the cross. How was he to receive that gift of salvation? He could not get baptized in the church to receive salvation. He couldn’t turn over a new leaf and “get religion.” He could not join a church or take the sacraments. He could not keep the 10 commandments; there was no time left and he was being sentenced to death for breaking at least one of them. He couldn’t do any good works; he was stuck to the cross. He couldn’t prove he was sincere by living right over the next few weeks; he was dying that day! There was literally nothing he could do—nothing but put his trust on Jesus Christ. He certainly couldn’t trust himself—he was dying as a condemned criminal. The dying thief could only get saved if salvation was 100% free. And Jesus said the dying thief was saved. If anyone tells you different, they’re lying—whether they are a pastor, a priest, or family.
Salvation is a free gift. But like any gift, it can be received or rejected. Just because Jesus died for you doesn’t mean you’ll go to heaven. You could reject His free gift and try your own way. There were two thieves who were crucified with Christ that day. One of them we’ve already talked about. The other one rejected Jesus Christ and died in his sins. Jesus died for that thief too, but that thief didn’t receive the free gift. In order to get saved the Bible says you have to understand a few things:
You must believe you’re a sinner. The Bible says, “For there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 6:22-23)
You must believe that because of your sins, you will go to hell. The Bible says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell” (Psalms 9:17) and “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8)
You must believe you cannot earn salvation by anything you can do. The Bible 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.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
You must realize Jesus Christ died for you, in your place, so you don’t have to go to hell. The Bible says, “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit.” (I Peter 3:18)
But head knowledge alone cannot save you. The devil knows all those points and he’s going to hell. You have to make a personal, individual choice. You have to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to save you. You have to put your trust in Him alone. The Bible says “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
This is a free gift that I received many years ago and I have never regretted it. On the contrary, I have found fellowship with God and peace with God through this special, free, and important gift. This gift is now offered to you. If you would like to have peace with God and know for sure that you’re going to heaven when you die, just pray something like I did and ask Jesus Christ to save you from hell. If you are sincere in your prayer (not just going through motions or ritualistic) and mean what you say from your heart, then you are saved for ever and nothing will ever change that! Take a look at Romans 8:38,39 in a King James Bible.