It is only through Jesus that we can be saved.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to man by which we can be saved, Acts 4:12 (NIV).
Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed (myself) and saved (all who will come) and proclaimed (this great salvation, all around the world), Isaiah 43:10-12a (NIV).
Around the planet and through history we can see people adhering to rules and trying in their own strength to become good enough to earn eternal life. Many of the world’s religions are based upon that—trying to be good enough.
It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast, Ephesians 2:8,9.
We cannot by our own moral, religious, or rule following lifestyles earn our way to God or to eternal salvation. It’s not about being good enough.
If salvation was something we could do on our own, something that we could work toward by being good, following the strictest rules, then Jesus paying the ultimate price of His death on the cross was unnecessary, He died for nothing, Galatians 2:21 (NLT).
If there were other means or other people we could put our hope and trust in, then again the cross was unnecessary.
No! The cross was necessary. Very necessary.
God is just and loving. He knew the human sin condition–all have sinned, Romans 3:12 (NIV). And that all of us were separated from God because of this sin, Colossians 1:21 (NLT). And the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23 (NIV). God doesn’t want any of us to die, 2Peter 3:9, and He wants us to walk closely with Him. So He put Jesus on the cross in our place, 1Corinthians 15:3.
Our just and loving God made a way back to Himself for us all. It’s free and it’s through faith in Jesus, Romans 4:16 (NLT). He forgives us of everything if only we would come and ask.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved, Romans 10:9 (NIV).
Salvation is not hard, we just have to trust in Jesus.
