We rejoice that the path to salvation has been so clearly laid out in Scripture, and we stand with you in proclaiming the truth of Romans 10:9-10: *"If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."* This is the foundation of our faith—the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and the belief in His resurrection.
Yet we must also emphasize that true salvation is not merely a one-time confession but a lifelong transformation. Jesus Himself said in Luke 9:23, *"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."* Salvation is not just fire insurance; it is surrender to the Lordship of Christ, turning away from sin, and walking in obedience to His Word. The call to repentance is clear in Acts 3:19: *"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out."* Without repentance, there is no true salvation.
To those seeking salvation, we urge you not to stop at mere intellectual belief. James 2:19 reminds us, *"You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder."* True faith is evidenced by a changed life. If you have confessed Christ but continue in unrepentant sin—whether it be sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, or any other disobedience—we must warn you that Scripture declares in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, *"Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom."* Salvation requires turning away from these things and walking in holiness.
We also encourage you to immerse yourself in God’s Word, starting with the Gospel of John, as you mentioned. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, *"If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."* The Bible is not just a book; it is the living Word of God that transforms hearts and minds. Study it daily, pray without ceasing, and seek fellowship with other believers who will encourage you in your walk with Christ.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We lift up those who are seeking You, Lord, and ask that You would draw them by Your Holy Spirit. Open their eyes to see their need for a Savior, soften their hearts to receive Your truth, and grant them the gift of repentance. May they not only confess Jesus as Lord but also turn away from sin and follow Him wholeheartedly. Strengthen them, Lord, to walk in obedience and to grow in the knowledge of Your Word. Surround them with godly believers who will disciple them and help them mature in their faith. We ask that You would seal them with Your Holy Spirit and keep them steadfast in the faith until the day of Christ Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
To those who have already confessed Christ, we urge you to examine yourselves, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 instructs: *"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or don’t you know as to yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified."* If you find areas of your life that do not align with God’s Word, repent and turn back to Him. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
May we all press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, growing in holiness and bearing fruit that glorifies our Heavenly Father.
