The Gospel, or Good News of Jesus Christ is the message of His life and ministry, by which God acquired for us eternal salvation, or put more plainly, obtained our forgiveness and deliverance from sin and from hell that we might know Him and be reconciled to Him forever. Unfortunately, the heart of that message is often obscured today by partial truths, a faulty emphasis, or the addition of material or practices that God never sanctioned. So, it is possible to hear the name of Christ, be introduced to certain passages of the Bible, instructed in something called "the way of salvation"- and still be misled! How sobering it is to consider that an earnest faith in an inaccurate gospel may be altogether worthless ...actually, worse than worthless, because the misled "believer" has a confidence wrongly placed. The only sure authority of these matters is Scripture; please investigate the texts for yourself, noted in the second part. I composed the following in a small attempt to clarify the simplicity of the Gospel which has but a few components:

"In a Nutshell" Version

1. All people are sinners by birth and by choice, and every individual, completely unable to alter or improve his spiritual state, is under the certain condemnation of sin, which is eternal separation from God and everlasting regret and torment in hell.

It would be nice to start on a cheerful note, or at least put a more positive "spin" on things, but I am hoping people are more interested in truth than stroking the ego. The natural human condition before God could not be worse. Our "starting point" is present condemnation and the future prospect of everlasting suffering upon death. (If this was a movie, sensible people would be putting on coats and walking up the aisle; unfortunately, this is man's true state before God and we cannot escape it except we continue on.)

2. God commands all people everywhere to repent or turn away from their sins. We must acknowledge our disobedience, our willful rebellion to God and His Word and to have a change of mind- to agree with God concerning our sinful and helpless estate. This is most obvious when we embrace His Word, the Bible, that we might understand the truth about ourselves and about Christ our Savior. If we refuse to acknowledge our need, news of a Savior is meaningless.

The first sign of hope- God addresses our condition and requires repentance. (The plot is not one of despair or morbidity, but of a realistic assessment of our situation and need.)

3. The Bible teaches clearly that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to offer His life as a ransom for many, to die in the place of the sinner and obtain forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life on their behalf. The perfect love and mercy of God are revealed for all time in this act of redemption. Sinners of any age, from every country, with every possible degree of blame are invited to come to the cross when God has punished the Innocent One for the guilty. God's righteous anger has been satisfied by the submission and obedience of Jesus Christ Who, for sinners like you and me, "was pierced through for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities." In redeeming love, God declared that the "Righteous One, My servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities."

Remember gloomy point number one? God did not remove our condemnation as if He changed His mind and decided we were not so bad after all. Our proper condemnation was fully borne and satisfied by Another, a substitute Victim. Now we're talking! Freedom from my sins and escape from eternal condemnation is more than a wistful hope; something concrete and measurable has been accomplished on my behalf! (No wonder it is called "The Greatest Story Ever Told!")

4. We must believe what God has said concerning His Son; that Jesus Christ is indeed God (the Son) in the flesh, the only Savior, that He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was resurrected from the dead and exalted to glory at God's right hand as the Reigning Lord of the Universe.

There is nothing for me to add, to contribute; God left nothing undone concerning our release from sin and hell. I must simply believe in the work of Christ and embrace it personally, abandoning all efforts to save myself or to improve my condition. Christ has done all and I can do nothing...except believe and trust in His accomplishments on my behalf. (When we put our faith in Christ, we are no longer a casual observer, but an active participant; the heart and mind engage in a relationship, an interaction with God Himself Who has offered this reconciliation to mankind that we may know Him and enjoy Him and His Kingdom forever.)

5. Belief in Christ is more than a mental agreement with Christian doctrine; true faith demands a submission and surrender of one's total being. This submission to God might be understood as a conscious and willful death to sin and the self-absorbed life and a new focus upon living for Christ and upon obedience to His Word.

To understand and embrace the Gospel is to begin radical changes with a Presence and Power that was never known previously. Habitual sins and hurtful characteristics begin to die away and become replaced with deeds of righteousness, compassion, efforts of goodness and a daily dependence upon prayer and a study of the Scriptures. (The "movie" has ended and we could find ourselves leaving the theatre and crossing the threshold of a new life and extraordinary changes. Our emotions and thinking may have been powerfully affected, but the Gospel actually touches us more deeply than that, invading the core of our being and transforming us from the inside out. God, by His Spirit, truly takes up residence within the soul and establishes an eternal friendship and partnership, one that He has desired "in the beginning" but which was lost in the Garden of Eden and recovered only by the work of the Savior, Jesus Christ.)

Evidence of True Faith:

a.) Love for God; joy, gratitude and thankfulness for salvation;
b.) Love for God's Word; a desire to read, study and understand the Scriptures;
c.) Love for God's people; a commitment to Christian fellowship;
d.) Love of holiness; righteous living and the manifestation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit;
e.) Love for service; demonstrating Christian humility and a servant's heart.

This is the Gospel, stated succinctly and simply, and the evidence of it received in someone's life. Trusting in Christ may happen in a flash of God-given insight or over a period of days, weeks or longer. God works in very different and unique ways. If you currently have doubts about where you are in the faith, it may be that you are on the right road but have not quite arrived at the door of the Kingdom of God. My advice is to spend time alone with the Bible (perhaps Luke, John or Romans) and ask God for faith, for understanding, for repentance concerning the things that are a hindrance.

Take God at His word: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13) And remember these words of Jesus:

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

If you think you have received Christ but have no assurance that you are saved and belong to Him, please read the full version below.

Complete Version

1. All people are sinners by birth and by choice, and every individual, completely unable to alter or improve his spiritual state, is under the certain condemnation of sin which is eternal separation from God and everlasting regret and torment in hell.

Our sinfulness: Romans 3:9b ...We have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are all under sin; 10 as it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. " 13 "Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving," "The poison of asps is under their lips"; 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 Destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 And the path of peace have they not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law [comes] the knowledge of sin.

Our condemnation: Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 And the gift is not like [that which came] through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment [arose] from one [transgression] resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift [arose] from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2. God commands people everywhere to repent or turn away from their sins. We must acknowledge our disobedience, our willful rebellion to God and His Word and to have a change of mind- to agree with God concerning our sinful and helpless estate and to embrace His Word, the Bible, that we might understand the truth about Christ our Savior. In a world of ever-changing morals and values, it is impossible to truly understand right and wrong apart from the Scriptures. Repentance must begin as an admission of thorough and comprehensive guilt, and a proper attitude concerning sin, repentance and the Holiness of God must be derived from a serious study of God's Word. Failure here may result in incomplete conversion.

Acts 17:30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. "

Romans 2:3 And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same [yourself,] that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

Psalm 51:1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice. 9 Hide Thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Thy presence...

CONVERSION The mode of conversion varies greatly according to the former course of life. It may be a sudden crisis in the moral and intellectual life. This is very frequently the case in the experience of heathen who turn from the worship of idols to faith in Jesus Christ. A sudden crisis is frequently witnessed in the case of persons who, having lived a life of flagrant sin, renounce their former life. Conversion to them means a complete revolution in their thoughts, feelings and outward manner of life. In other instances conversion appears to be the climax of prolonged conflict for supremacy of divergent motives; and, again, it may be the goal of a gradual growth, the consummation of a process of discerning ever more clearly and yielding ever more definitely and thus experiencing ever more vitally truths which have been implanted and nurtured by Christian training. This process results in the conscious acceptance of Jesus Christ as the personal Savior and in the consecration of life to His service. Thus conversion may be an instantaneous act, or a process which is more or less prolonged. The latter is more frequently seen in the case of children and young people who have grown up in Christian families and have received the benefit of Christian training. No conversions of this kind are recorded in the New Testament. This may be explained by the fact that most of our New Testament writings are addressed to the first generation of Christians, to men and women who were raised in Jewish legalism or heathen idolatry, and who turned to Christ after they had passed the age of adolescence. The religious life of their children as distinguished in its mode and manifestations from that of the adults does not appear to have been a matter of discussion or a source of perplexity so as to call forth specific instruction. Conversion comprises the characteristics both of repentance and of faith. Repentance is conversion viewed from its starting-point, the turning from the former life; faith indicates the objective point of conversion, the turning to God. (from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996 by Biblesoft)

Incomplete conversion: Matthew 13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil [one] comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no [firm] root in himself, but is [only] temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

Acts 8:9 Now there was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God." 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. 14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they [began] laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." 24 But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

3. The Bible clearly demonstrates God's intervention into human history; most often on behalf of His people the Jews, and most significantly, the Incarnation (life in the flesh) of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He came to offer His life as a ransom for many, to die in the place of the sinner and obtain forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life on their behalf.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [fell] upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living, For the transgression of my people to whom the stroke [was due?].

Colossians 1:13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... 2:13 And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us [and] which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace...

4. We must believe what God has said concerning His Son; that Jesus Christ is indeed God (the Son) in the flesh, our only Savior, that He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was resurrected from the dead and exalted to glory at God's right hand as the Reigning Lord of the Universe.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light. 9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 19:17 They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross. And it was written, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS." 17 They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross. And it was written, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS."... 38 And after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret [one,] for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore, and took away His body. 39 And Nicodemus came also, who had first come to Him by night; bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds [weight]. 40 And so they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore on account of the Jewish day of preparation, because the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there... 20:1 Now on the first [day] of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone [already] taken away from the tomb. 2 And so she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." 3 Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb. 4 And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying [there;] but he did not go in. 6 Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying [there,] 7 and the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."

1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I (Paul) make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then [it was] I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Romans 10:8b "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; 13 for "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 16:29 And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and (anyone who believes of) your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that [very] hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his [household.] 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

5. Belief in Christ is more than a mental agreement with Christian doctrine; true faith demands a submission and surrender of one's total being; a death to sin and the self-absorbed life and a new focus upon living for Christ and upon obedience to His Word. The evidence of real faith and genuine conversion is righteous living and conspicuous fruit of the Holy Spirit (from Galatians 5:23; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with [Him] in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also [in the likeness] of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him,] that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone [as] slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members [as] slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in [further] lawlessness, so now present your members [as] slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, [and] abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its [evil] practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 --[a renewal] in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 And beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

2 Timothy 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned [them]; 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

These five points comprise the essential elements of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Technically, I think the first four are an accurate description of the "steps to salvation." But the fifth point seems necessary in a day and age where so many claim to be Christian, but would be hard-pressed if put on trial to offer any supporting evidence.
I would further add only that "salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9) and not simply and solely a human decision. John's Gospel states:

John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This verse articulates in part the mystery of God's Sovereign Will. The decision and choice men make to trust in Christ and receive Him is indeed the basis of salvation, their eternal destiny. But John carefully states that the ability to believe and be born spiritually of God is not merely a human response; God must enable the sinner to repent and believe the Gospel. Paul writes that before our conversion to Christ, all men are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1,4; Romans 8:7) and Jesus plainly teaches that sinners are hopelessly in bondage to their sin and state of spiritual death unless He intervenes to set them free (John 8:31-48).

The Good News in what appears to be man's complete and hopeless condition is the magnitude of God's grace and benevolence.

* He mercifully awakens the sinner from spiritual and eternal death (Ephesians 2:4; Romans 8:7);

* He evokes in them the ability and the willingness to renounce sin and even assists them in the very act of repentance (Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10);

* He gives to men faith itself, enabling them to believe in Christ or to receive Him and be saved (Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12).

My purpose at this point is demonstrate from Scripture that the act of becoming a Christian is not merely something one does, or chooses to do entirely on his own. I (and possibly every other evangelical Pastor) have seen people raise their hand to receive Christ, walk the aisle, and even say "the sinner's prayer" but, without apparent result. Their lives did not change, they never began to really love the Lord or His Word, and they finally drifted away from church and spiritual things. Did God fail them? Absolutely not! In fact, some of them are truly converted at a later time and share a glorious testimony. What I would have us to recognize is that salvation is not simply a rational decision someone determines between breakfast and lunch on an ordinary day, but a progression of gracious activity that began in the heart of God before the foundation of this world (Ephesians 1:4,5). "Salvation is of the Lord" and is not merely the reasonable choice of a logical thinker that "heaven is better than hell". When sinful men are awakened to see the filth of their lives and their rebellion, and, in regret and repentance, seek out mercy and pardon from the only One who can help them... then I think we are seeing conversion and salvation. But if we make salvation simply a cool-headed, calculated decision anyone can make at any time with no expectations of repentance and attentiveness to God's Word, then perhaps we end up with a church full of tares (Matthew 13:24-30) and spiritually confused people only partially converted. We must not exaggerate the scope of our own abilities.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 "But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out... 44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day... 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."

These several verses from only one discourse of Jesus should forever dispel the myth that men "save themselves" by faith in Christ. In fact, the Father must "drag" us (vs. 44, literal and more accurate rendering) as one might drag an unconscious or lifeless body from a wrecked car or burning building. And this is precisely what God the Father does for a sinner "dead in sins and transgressions." Because we cannot help our condition in even the smallest degree, the Father grants that we should be awakened from eternal (spiritual) death, and breathes life into us by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. This sovereign act begins a wonderful and blessed progression of supernatural activity whereby the sinner is given spiritual insight to see his wretched condition, is aroused to repentance, and furnished with the very faith that enables him to trust in Christ as Savior and Lord. All the praise for our salvation belongs to God alone; He shares His glory with no one, for no man may claim any part or portion of salvation upon his own merit.

"Is the will of a man involved at all in this process?" you might ask. Well, not at first. Dead people are not really capable of exercising a will...or exercising anything else for that matter (the same principle applies for the spiritually dead). Once we are awakened, once the "life-giving Spirit" has begun His work and we are made spiritually alive in Christ...then we truly have a will, a will which all the New Testament plainly teaches must be submitted to the obedience of faith, to righteous living and service to Christ. This awakened will of ours now becomes the battlefield of the old sinful nature struggling against the new presence of God's Holy Spirit and we learn what temptation, weakness and reliance upon the Word are all about. But, the spiritually dead man has no war inside of him. He has no will concerning spiritual things. He is perpetually dead in sin and doomed to eternal punishment in hell ...unless and until God determines otherwise. Is not this why we pray for the lost, why we cry out to God that He might have mercy and save them?

To those who have no understanding of the "behind-the-scenes" activity of God, it may appear that someone who previously had not trusted in Christ finally saw the wisdom and necessity of doing so. And the onlooker may not properly credit God with the awakening from the dead, the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit and the motivation to repentance that enabled the lost man to do so. But the Scriptures offer abundant evidence of sinful man's comprehensive inability to help his spiritual condition, or even to hear the message that might save him (John 8:42-47).

So should people wait until they feel God calling, until they think God is awakening them and helping them to repent, to have faith? Not at all! The commandments to repentance and faith are clear. Obey them. Turn from sin; read the Scriptures; trust in Christ. Those who are lost care nothing for these things and will not obey; those "appointed unto eternal life" (Acts 13:48) and "drawn by the Father" will ultimately succeed, though there may be difficulties, false attempts and even some apparent failures. But when a sinner is definitively converted and has truly trusted Christ and been "saved," know for certain that God was at work enabling the believer in every step of the process. Salvation is of the Lord.

Evidence of True Faith:

a.) Love for God; joy, gratitude and thankfulness for salvation;

Matthew 22:35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him [a question,] testing Him, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name...

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to [obtain] an inheritance [which is] imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

b.) Love for God's Word; a desire to read, study and understand the Scriptures;

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping [it] according to Thy word. 10 With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. 11 Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee. 12 Blessed art Thou, O Lord; Teach me Thy statutes. 13 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Thy precepts, And regard Thy ways. 16 I shall delight in Thy statutes; I shall not forget Thy word...97 O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Thy word. 102 I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances, For Thou Thyself hast taught me. 103 How sweet are Thy words to my taste! [Yes, sweeter] than honey to my mouth! 104 From Thy precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

2 Timothy 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned [them]; 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

c.) Love for God's people; a commitment to Christian fellowship;

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging [one another]; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [to be] the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

d.) Love of holiness; righteous living and the manifestation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:22 ...in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one [of you,] with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and [yet] do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have [something] to share with him who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and [there must be no] filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light [consists] in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

2 Pet. 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in [your] knowledge, self-control, and in [your] self-control, perseverance, and in [your] perseverance, godliness; 7 and in [your] godliness, brotherly kindness, and in [your] brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these [qualities] are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these [qualities] is blind [or] short-sighted, having forgotten [his] purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

e.) Love for service; demonstrating Christian humility and a servant's heart.

Luke 22:24 And there arose also a dispute among them [as to] which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' 26 "But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant . 27 "For who is greater, the one who reclines [at the table,] or the one who serves ? Is it not the one who reclines [at the table]? But I am among you as the one who serves .

John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. 26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only [do] not [turn] your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the [statement], "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Philippians 2:1 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, [let him speak,] as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves , [let him do so] as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is the Gospel, put simply, and the evidence of it received in someone's life. Trusting in Christ may happen in a flash of God-given insight or over a period of days, weeks or longer. God works in very different and unique ways. If you currently have doubts about where you are in the faith, it may be that you are on the right road but have not quite arrived at the door of the Kingdom of God. My advice is to spend time alone with the Bible (perhaps Luke, John or Romans) and ask God for faith, for understanding, and for repentance concerning the things that are a hindrance. Take God at His word: Jer 29:13 "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." And remember these words of Jesus:

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Finally, I have always been skeptical of preachers and evangelists who teach the "assurance of salvation" to people who have no assurance. In my mind there may be a very logical reason why some people are not convinced of their faith and position in Christ...they really do not belong to Him! How could God's miraculous work of awakening a sinner from the dead, provoking him to repentance, transforming his heart by the presence of the Holy Spirit and beginning a new life in Christ be so imperceptible that someone is unsure? Does He not provide the witness of His Spirit in the human heart in such a way that someone knows with real certainty that they belong to God?

Romans 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] in order that we may also be glorified with [Him.] 1 John 5:7 And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. 11 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Do not let any man attempt to convince you that you are saved if you are in doubt. This is the most important matter of your life, indeed of your eternity, and you must trust no one's judgment on this issue but God's. Seek Him; read and study His Word; ask a mature Christian to meet regularly with you for prayer and study. In God's time and in His perfect plan, He will meet you; it may an overwhelming moment or a gradual enlightening and transformation, but He Who has stirred your heart to pursue Him, will indeed allow you to find all that you desire and a thousand times more.

Are you trying too hard? Rest; relax; let go. "Salvation is of the Lord," and not of your doing. Give up your own efforts; they are futile. Learn of Christ and His atoning work on behalf of sinners. You can contribute nothing to His perfect salvation. It is a gift to those who turn from sin to trust in the Savior. Reject all your own efforts, your desire to control even your eternal fate, your fears, your plans... and abandon them all before the cross. Redirect your life to the obedience of faith.

You will know when you belong to Him. Indeed, God Himself wants you to know; that is why He sends His Spirit into our hearts to convince us and assure us. Allow no man to convince you; God wants that privilege reserved for Him, and Him alone.

Matthew 16:15 He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.