SALVATION IN A NUTSHELL
THE WHOLE TRUTH
ACCEPTING JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR
AND
BEING BORN AGAIN
Written by Pastor Paul Davis
THE WHOLE TRUTH
ACCEPTING JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR
AND
BEING BORN AGAIN
Written by Pastor Paul Davis
“ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR”
The most commonly used response to a sinner who wants to be saved is the following statement: “Just accept Jesus as your personal savior and you will be saved”. Because this statement is (1) not found in scripture and (2) is simply not true, we will look at what the Bible really says about being saved. HALF TRUTHS are taking a portion of scripture and leaving out the rest, and most churches are teaching “half truth” which is the equivalent of a lie. What is being left out?
JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ANSWER: When someone quotes this scripture, they usually fail to tell you that Jesus spoke this to Nicodemus (John 3: 1-8), the ruler of the Jews to whom Jesus also said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee - except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God....except a man be born of the water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus therefore was told that he was to believe AND to be born again of water and spirit.
ANSWER: When someone quotes this scripture, they usually fail to tell you that Jesus spoke this to Nicodemus (John 3: 1-
Nicodemus therefore was told that he was to believe AND to be born again of water and spirit.
JOHN 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
ANSWER: Only those who receive Him can be sons of God. What does it mean, however to “receive Him”. John 1:13 says that it isn’t by the “will of flesh” or the “will of man”, so this then could not mean that your act of “willingness” or “accepting Jesus” is how you “receive Jesus”. This again tells us that we are “born” — another reference to the “new birth” in which one is born of the spirit. A person has “received Him” when they “receive” the Holy Spirit (which is Jesus Christ).
ANSWER: Only those who receive Him can be sons of God. What does it mean, however to “receive Him”. John 1:13 says that it isn’t by the “will of flesh” or the “will of man”, so this then could not mean that your act of “willingness” or “accepting Jesus” is how you “receive Jesus”. This again tells us that we are “born” — another reference to the “new birth” in which one is born of the spirit. A person has “received Him” when they “receive” the Holy Spirit (which is Jesus Christ).
ACTS 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
ACTS 16: 30-31
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
ANSWER: Paul was speaking to the Philippian jailer. However, we need to read the rest of the story. In verse 32 and 33, the Bible says — “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”
Essentially, Paul told the jailer “believe” and then he told the jailer “what to believe”. Evidently this included water baptism for this is what the jailer believed and obeyed.
ANSWER: Paul was speaking to the Philippian jailer. However, we need to read the rest of the story. In verse 32 and 33, the Bible says — “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”
Essentially, Paul told the jailer “believe” and then he told the jailer “what to believe”. Evidently this included water baptism for this is what the jailer believed and obeyed.
IF BELIEVING IS “ACCEPTING JESUS”
If believing in Jesus Christ is the same as “accepting Jesus”, it is important to notice that at no time in the scripture was a person told they were saved only by the act of believing or accepting Jesus. A believer must also “be born again” of water and the spirit, (John 3:5-
ACTS 2: 37 - 41
ACTS 8: 12 - 16
ACTS 8: 36 - 39
ACTS 10: 44 - 48
ACTS 19: 1 - 6
ACTS 8: 12 -
ACTS 8: 36 -
ACTS 10: 44 -
ACTS 19: 1 -
In order to be saved according to the Bible, a person must
Believe in Jesus Christ: John 1: 12, John 3:16, John 7:39, Acts 8:37, Acts 16:31, Acts 19:4, Romans 10:9, I John 5:13
Repent of Your Sins: Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Acts 16:20
Be baptized in water in the Name of Jesus Christ: Mark 16: 16, John 3: 5 - 8, Acts 2:38, Acts 8: 12 - 16, Acts 8: 36, Acts 10: 44 - 48, Acts 19: 1 - 6, Romans 6: 1 - 4, I Peter 3: 18 - 21
Be baptized in the Holy Spirit: John 3: 5 - 8, John 7: 37-39, Mark 1:8, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 8: 12 - 16, Acts 10: 44-48, Acts 19: 1-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:27
Believe in Jesus Christ: John 1: 12, John 3:16, John 7:39, Acts 8:37, Acts 16:31, Acts 19:4, Romans 10:9, I John 5:13
Repent of Your Sins: Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Acts 16:20
Be baptized in water in the Name of Jesus Christ: Mark 16: 16, John 3: 5 -
Be baptized in the Holy Spirit: John 3: 5 -
THE WHOLE TRUTH
When a church, preacher, or other Christian tells you that you are saved the moment you believe in Jesus Christ, or by “accepting Jesus”, they are telling you a half-truth, which is the same as a lie. Although you must “believe in Jesus”, until you have repented of your sins, have been baptized in water in the Name of Jesus Christ, and until you have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost - you are NOT SAVED. Why - because “You must be born again of the water and the spirit” (John 3: 5-8)
