#1 "23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 -- We all are sinners.
#2 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Jesus Christ died for our sins so we could have eternal life through Him.
So, what is the next step?
"If you declare 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
As you see this step has two parts: confess with your mouth publicly and truly believe.
Believing is not a hidden thing. Jesus calls us to say it out loud for all to hear.
“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." Luke 12:8
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33
Jesus is very clear. If we claim him he will claim us. But if we deny him, he will deny us.
Say it like you mean it!
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God." 1 John 4:15
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
Jesus is the only way to heaven. The only way.
You gotta truly believe -- not lip service.
"But these are written that you may believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:31
"Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life." John 6:47
"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
Jesus says to do what He does. Act like He acts. Live like He lives.
Be careful. Gotta follow through. Just saying you believe but not following that up with a change in behavior is not the thing to do. God doesn't want fakes or fans. He wants family.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:21-23
"The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.[a]" Isaiah 29:13
Relationship -- not Religion
19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:19-21
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
God wants all of you.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38