Are you one of the chosen few who the Bible says will enjoy eternal life? To the surprise of many, salvation is not available to everyone! Read this article to find out how you can be sure you qualify.
The Bible teaches that God created the universe and everything in it—including humanity. Creation includes both the physical realm, which we perceive through our senses, and the spiritual realm, which can be perceived only through spiritual insight. Human beings possess a capacity that transcends mere material existence: we can recognize truth, perceive meaning, and respond to the reality of God. That dual capacity reflects the Bible’s description of the relationship of God and humanity.
According to Scripture, the Creator gives us life and the ability to know and love him. It further teaches that the purpose of our existence in this time-space world is to choose whether we will live in fellowship with God—both now and in eternity—or remain separated from him. That free-will choice can be made only in this life, between birth and death.
In the physical realm, we are bound by natural law. Gravity operates regardless of whether we choose to believe in it or not. WE have no choice about whether we breathe the oxygen required for survival. Physics and chemistry are not optional; we don’t get to choose. The body obeys them without consent. In that sense, we are constrained by design. The created order functions according to laws embedded into it by its Creator.
But the order established by God is not limited to physics and chemistry. It includes the entire structure of reality—physical, spiritual, relational, and moral. The universe operates according to supernatural design. Human beings were created to live and thrive in alignment with that design.
In the spiritual dimension of that design, we have been given mind and will. We are not forced into alignment. In this life, we can choose to live in harmony with the Creator’s order—or we can resist it. It isn’t a secret. The Bible exists to reveal that design and to instruct us how to live within it properly.
Opposition to God’s design is defined as sin. Sin is not merely moral failure; it is misalignment with the structure of reality as God established it. Because God is omnipotent and morally perfect, anything fundamentally opposed to his nature and design cannot coexist with him in eternity. Disorder cannot permanently inhabit the presence of perfect order. Therefore, entrance into eternal fellowship with God requires the removal of sin.
Scripture declares that all humanity is infected with this misalignment. The central issue of life, then, is how that condition is addressed. The consequence of sin is separation from God—both in this life and eternally. Correction cannot be self-engineered. The creature cannot redesign the structure of reality. Restoration must occur according to the means the Designer has established. If reconciliation is to occur, it must occur on God’s terms.
The Bible presents itself as God’s revealed instruction for that reconciliation. Salvation is not merely future escape from judgment; it is restored alignment and fellowship with the Creator in this life, culminating in eternal union with him after physical death.
Scripture also teaches that no one comes to God unless God first draws him, but God’s drawing does not eliminate human responsibility; it makes response possible. The initiative belongs to him. He awakens the conscience, stirs the mind, and creates the awareness of spiritual need. But the individual must still respond. The invitation is real, and the response is real. God does not force reconciliation; he enables it.
When a person senses conviction, curiosity, or a growing desire to seek truth, that is not accidental—it is evidence of God’s drawing. What follows is a personal decision: to respond in faith or to turn away.
In summary, salvation originates with God. It is offered as a gift, not earned as an achievement. Yet that gift must be received through belief—belief that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him. The reward is restored oneness with the Creator, living fully within the order he established.
The means by which this reconciliation is accomplished is explained plainly in the Bible. If you sense that God is drawing you to himself for salvation, and if you want to find out, here are the steps you can take to respond to that calling:
1. Get a Bible and open it. If you can’t get a Bible where you live, you can download a copy of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the King James Version in PDF or MS Word format (red-letter edition with verse numbers removed for use with the read-aloud feature available in Adobe Reader, MS Word, etc) . Free Download: PDF File | MS Word File
2. Read the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with a seeking heart, trying to understand what they say about salvation. And, if you are Jewish, you may want to read The Book to the Hebrews as well. You won’t understand everything, but you can comprehend enough to understand salvation, so concentrate on those parts.
3. When you have come to believe with all of your soul that what the Bible says about salvation by faith in Jesus is true, then go with your whole mind and heart to God in prayer, confirming out loud that you understand that you are a sinner and in need of His salvation and authority over your life.
Reading the Bible for yourself activates an inner spiritual capability to understand God, something that all individuals possess but about which most people are unaware.
Let me explain by using an analogy from the world of computing. A computer is comprised of hardware and an operating system. Before it can do anything useful, though, it must have an installed program that is designed to produce a desired result. In this analogy, your brain is the hardware, your intellect is the operating system, and the Bible is the program. As with any computer, if the program is not properly installed, the result is, at best, garbled output. Reading the Bible is akin to installing a new program on a computer. Once the program is fully installed, then you can get output that makes sense.
As you read your Bible with a seeking heart, God will give you the faith needed to believe if you are responding to his call in truth. Be assured, God promises that every person who comes to him in believing prayer, repenting of their sin and seeking the salvation he offers in the Bible, will be saved. However, it will never happen if you don’t open your Bible and begin to hear what it says and seek salvation.
A Prayer for Salvation: Lord God, I know that I have sinned and need your forgiveness for my sins against you. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, that He died for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Right now, I turn from my old life and invite Jesus to be my Savior and Lord. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, help me understand Your Word, and teach me to walk with You daily. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And, know this. If your belief is based on the promises of God as written in his Holy Bible, you don’t need approval from a pastor, a priest, a rabbi, an iman, me (especially me, since I’m merely a saved sinner sharing how I have been saved), or anyone else to be saved. God will give you resting peace in your heart that you are one of his when you believe with all of your heart and soul in the salvation promised in his Word.
The evidence of your salvation will be your daily desire to know and follow the teachings and commandments of Jesus as revealed in the New Testament. And, you will feel the weight of guilt removed as you come to believe that your sins have been forgiven by God’s grace because of His love for you.
Once you are saved, what do you do next? First of all, it’s only natural to want to share the realization that you have been saved, so don’t be shy about telling your family, friends, and others what you believe about salvation. Also, feel free to share your good news with us (see “Comments” below). We won’t publish your name here, but we will rejoice with you about your salvation.