Here Is The Good News!

                   What must we believe, or do, to be saved? There is so many different doctrines by so many people and by so many churches that it could be very confusing as what to believe. We have people telling us to be saved we must be a part of a certain denomination, we are told, by some, that we must be baptized in water, or we must be baptized in the Holy Ghost, and a number of other things. This reminds me of the Jews demanding and saying the law must be kept, in addition to believing in Jesus, to be saved, when in fact it was not so and these other church doctrines and ordinances are not so today. What must I Do to be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. How simple is that? Now, to make things even more clear, a mental or a psychological acceptance will not do it, because it must be a genuine heartfelt transaction of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We must be sincere, truthful, and honest when we come to Jesus, Just like the man who said: “Lord I believe, Help my unbelief.”
He who believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16) He who believes, in other words he who accepts The Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. A single scripture that is found in John 3:16 summarizes the Gospel, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In the gospel of Mark Jesus said this: He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. The word believe used here in this verse, in the Greek, has a very strong meaning. It is more than just being in agreement or accepting something. It implies total commitment to Christ. We are to seek him with our whole heart and to strive only to please Him. There is a reference to baptism made here. I want to bring it to your attention that it does not say that if you are not baptized you shall be damned. Condemnation rest on disbelief and our salvation rest on belief, not baptism. When a person believes and trust in Jesus he is saved. Baptism becomes a physical conformation of our new life but it is not the means of securing it.
Water baptism is extremely important. We should get baptized soon as possible after we are saved just to have a good conscience before God, but the fact still remains water baptism is just a representation of a new life. It does not save us. Much is argued about water baptism as a part of our salvation, in other words it is also what saves us. When we take our salvation away from the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Cross and put it in the hands of a preacher that baptizes us in water we are in fact creating another Gospel. It is just like the Jews in the Book of Acts that wanted to add the law to salvation. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. The most simplest expression of Salvation found in the Bible says it all: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." While following the Lord's model of water baptism is an example of a christians submission, the water itself does not save a person. A person is saved by his belief and damned by his disbelief. When we believe, it is a life changing commitment that we are trusting in Jesus as our all in all. When a person is saved he should be baptized so as possible. He should partake of the Lord's Supper whenever it is offered, both of which should be done in obedience to His Word, but there is only one thing that will save you: The Blood that Jesus spilled on the Cross, believing on Him.
I remember the night that I was saved and when I got up from that alter I knew that there was a difference. I knew in my heart that I was saved. There was a difference in me. "Oh What a difference!" Just like the thief on the cross, My sins were forgiven and I was on my way to heaven. I can clearly remember the day I was baptized in water. It was a month later, with a lot of other people that were saved, in a old mill pond. I wanted to be baptized in water to show the world that a inward work was already done in me. That water did not save me but it was done to be in obedience to God's Word.
Jesus Christ said, "He who believes in Me has everlasting life" (John 6:47)  He also said, "He who lives and believes in Me will never die."  Eternal life is eternal. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29).  He has removed the sin barrier which separated us from God.  We must simply believe in Jesus and what He did at the Cross for it.  There are no strings attached.  Our eternal salvation has been paid for by the Blood of Jesus. Simply believe in what Jesus did at the cross and He guarantees you will never die spiritually.  You will go to heaven when you die, and spend eternity in God's kingdom.  It really is that simple.  That's why it's called “The Good News.”