Path of Salvation
Where are you headed?
Each person journeys through life, and at death, they reach their eternal destination. Many people hope to go to heaven but aren’t sure how to get there.
How good do you have to be to make it to heaven when you die?
Is Being Good Enough?
You may compare yourself to others and think, “I’m a pretty good person. I do kind things for others. I’m not nearly as bad as some people in the news.” It’s easy to believe that surely God will accept you just the way you are.
Many people assume that if their good deeds outweigh the bad, they’ll be accepted by God. However, God’s standard of behavior is much higher than ours. God is perfectly holy, good, and just. He has never sinned and cannot tolerate sin. It’s simply against His nature.
Because of this, He can’t let sin go unpunished.
God’s Perfect Standard
So, how can anyone live up to such a perfect standard? The truth is, we can’t. But that’s not the end of the story.
The Bible teaches us that God is a Spirit who exists everywhere. He knows everything—past, present, and future. He is one God but reveals Himself in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God created the world and every living thing in it. He provides everything we need to sustain life. Most importantly, God loves every person and wants everyone to live with Him in heaven.
But there’s a problem: every person sins, and sin separates us from God.
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (NKJV)
God’s Problem and Solution
God’s love for us created a dilemma. He loved humanity deeply, but He couldn’t overlook sin and remain perfectly holy. The solution? Jesus.
Jesus is God the Son, who has always existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit. About 2,000 years ago, Jesus took on a human body and came to earth. He was fully God and fully man. Unlike any other human, Jesus never sinned—not once.
Jesus came to provide salvation.
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NKJV)
Jesus: The Perfect Sacrifice
As an adult, Jesus taught people about God, performed miracles, healed the sick, and even raised the dead. Despite His goodness, some people hated Him. He allowed Himself to be arrested, tried, and crucified—nailed to a cross where He died.
Crucifixion was a punishment reserved for criminals, but Jesus didn’t deserve it.
He willingly died in our place, taking the punishment we deserved.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NKJV)
The Gift of Salvation
Because of our sin, we deserve to be separated from God forever.
Yet Jesus’ sacrifice makes it possible for us to be reconciled with Him.
Through His death, God offers us the free gift of salvation.
Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (NKJV)
What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus?
Believing in Jesus means recognizing that you’ve sinned and offended God. It means feeling genuine sorrow for your sin, asking for His forgiveness, and trusting that Jesus’ death paid the price for your wrongdoing.
If you’d like to receive God’s forgiveness and become friends with Him, you can pray a simple prayer like this:
A Prayer for Forgiveness
“God, I know I’ve done wrong. I’m sorry for the sins I’ve committed. Thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place and take my punishment. Please forgive me for my sins. I believe You’ve forgiven me.”
If you prayed this prayer and truly meant it, God has forgiven your sins and given you a fresh start.
What’s Next?
Now that you’ve received God’s forgiveness, it’s important to learn more about Him and begin living a new life for Him.
We’d love to help you on your journey.