Why do I need to be saved? God leaves no doubt about our condition. We set our standards of right and wrong by society's values. God’s standard for us is His own holiness. How do we measure up? "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). It’s only fair that God demands holiness; that’s how He first created mankind. We have rebelled against Him as a race and as individuals. Our choices against God have consequences. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). The Bible compares sin to a cruel slave master. There is no mercy in suffering, no freedom from bondage, no lasting joy, no hope for the future. But most frightening is the final consequence of sin.   The Bible warns that without God’s salvation, death is the doorway to eternal punishment (Hebrews 9:27).

It is from this that we need to be saved. From our own sin. From its bondage. From its consequences. "How shall we escape if we neglect so a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

What does God say? God is holy and God is love.   His holiness, righteousness, and justice demands punishment for our sin.  But, His love provided a way for us to be saved from that punishment.   How is this possible?   Another was willing to suffer what we deserve.   Our substitute had to be a sinless man, able to suffer the righteous judgment of God for our sins.  The only one qualified to take our place was God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.   Born of a virgin 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ lived a sinless life upon the earth.   He showed compassion to sinners all around Him.   He willingly allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross outside of Jerusalem.  The Bible tells us that God laid on His Son the eternal punishment we deserved for our sin for three hours on that cross.   The darkness was broken when Jesus Christ called out with a loud voice "It is finished".   He had accomplished everything in God’s great plan of salvation.

The proof: - after three days, God raised Christ Jesus from the dead.   This is evidence to all who saw Him afterwards that Christ’s suffering completely satisfied God's penalty for the sins of all mankind.   He was even victorious over death itself.   "For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans.5:6). God's plan of salvation is a gift to us, and all that is required of us is to accept that gift.   Nothing else is acceptable to God and nothing else is required by God.   "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John.3:16).

Acts 16:30-31 - ...he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, ..." (NASV)

John 6:47 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (NASV)

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, ..." (NASV)

Eph. 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (NASV)