How do you get saved?
God wants everyone to be saved.“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). And how do you receive salvation? By confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you shall be saved. The Philippian Jailer came to Paul and Silas and said what must I do to be saved? The jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16: 30-31). Paul didn’t say well, confess your sins, ask God to forgive you, and that’s what a lot of people tell you to do. What would happen if you forgot a sin? Does that mean it’s not under the blood? And that it wasn’t forgiven? No, you don’t confess your sins, you must admit that you are a sinner and that you need salvation. You have to come to that realization that if you don’t turn from trying to save yourself then you can’t truly make Jesus your saviour. So, there is an acknowledgment that you are a sinner, but you don’t confess your sins, you don’t have to mention every single sin. Paul told the Philippian Jailer that believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved and your house. Jesus has done everything, but you must put faith in him and him alone. It can’t be faith in him plus faith in yourself. You must trust Jesus alone. So, if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved (Romans 10:9). It would be a shame for you to stand before God and say well, Iwent to church, and I did all these things but that’s not what salvation is. If you can imagine somehow or another you and meand other people standing before God and God says what makes you worthy to enter Heaven. If you start saying, I went to church, I paid my tithe, I lived a good life. If you give any of those answers you would go straight to hell. The only answer that will get you into heaven is, when he says what makes you worthy? You would have to say nothing that I’ve done but what Jesus has done. Jesus Is my saviour I put faith in a saviour and he’s the one I am trusting. If you trust in any of these other things, I’m not saying that you don’t go to church and that you don’t live a good life, but if that’s where your trust is, instead of in a saviour, you’re going to hell. You need to put faith in a saviour and there’re many people reading this today who agree with what I’ve said, and you have done it and you are born again but you don’t clearly understand this and you can’t explain it to other people. You need to meditate on these things so that you can clearly present this to other people. You are a witness for the Lord, you are the only Bible some people are ever going to read and so you need to be able to know these truths and understand them and explain them. You really need to not only experience salvation, but you need to get to where you can give an answer and explain salvation. First Peter chapter 3 verse 15 says sanctify [e]the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; We need to have our lives seasoned with salt and be ready to give an answer of the hope of the calling that lies within us. You need to understand it yourself and you need to be able to explain it. Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More
Are there many ways to Heaven?
There’s so much confusion about this and there’re people who think that there’re many ways to Heaven. Jesus said specifically of himself in John CH 14: 6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. There aren’t multiple paths to God. There aren’t many ways to heaven. Some people say well, all paths lead to God. That’s a total lie, it’s a deception, it’s not the truth. Jesus is the only way to the father. If there was any other way to have salvation, God would not have gone to the expense, or to the effort to hurt, and the pain that he suffered to become a man and live among us and then suffer our sin and our punishment in his own body. “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1Peter 2:24). The only reason he did that is because there was no other way. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation]” (Acts 4:12 AMP). It doesn’t matter how good you think you are; you aren’t good enough to earn salvation and go to Heaven. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord”. There’s a payment that comes for our ungodliness. There’re people who don’t hear these things and there’re so many people who are comparing themselves with other people and thinking that comparative to other people, I’m a relatively good person. You must understand that other people are not your standard. Jesus is your standard and if you aren’t as perfect as Jesus is, then you need a saviour. You need to recognise that it’s not about you being good and doing good. You just need to come to the end of yourself and say, ‘oh God have mercy on me a sinner’. You need to call out and put faith in what Jesus did. You even need to go beyond just asking God to save you and asking for mercy. You need to believe that he’s already paid for your sins and done everything that’s necessary. All you must do is just sign your name to this deal. Jesus has already come and signed his name to it and paid for your sins. All that is needed is your cooperation by putting faith in Jesus and when you do that you become a brand-new creature. Jesus even said that therewill be many people who will come and say ‘Lord, Lord, haven’t we lived a good life, haven’t we done this, haven’t we done that’, and he’s going to say depart from me you workers of iniquity I never knew you. Here’s what Jesus said in Mathew 7: 21-23; 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your nameperform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ The Bible says in Romans chapter 10:9 that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. That’s more than just saying those words, but if it’s from your heart,and with your mouth you say Jesus I make you my Lord, Iturn my life over, I trust you and you look to Jesus and you believe that he paid for your sins, you will be saved.. Jesus has already paid for your sins; He is the only way to heaven. So, if you will confess that with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved and have right standing with the Lord. That’s the promise of Romans chapter 10 verse 9 and it’s really that simple. Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More
Are all religions leading to God?
There is no other salvation, there aren’t many paths leading to God. Some people think that Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Harikrishna and Muslims are all seeking the same God. That’s not true. All these people who are saying you are okay so far as you believe in something, and you are being kind and nice to other people are not telling the truth. Those telling people these things are sending people to hell because what it’s doing is, making people trust in their own goodness instead of trusting in a saviour. And don’t ever think as long as I’m good, I’ll be able to go to heaven. No, none of those things are true. You and I were all sinners, and we were all on our way to hell. True Christians are followers of Jesus. Jesus paid our sin debt because there was no other way. There is no other way to God or to Heaven and until you turn from yourself, and turn from trusting in your own goodness, and turn from any other religious system, and you only put faith in Jesus, there can be no true salvation. There can be no true way to heaven or to God. There’re people reading this right now that are being upset with what I’m saying. This is upsetting you because you think well, ‘I’m a good person and I thought that God was going to accept me’. It’s not based on your goodness; it’s all based on Jesus alone. Jesus is the only way to have relationship with God the father. He is the only way to heaven. He paid the price for our sins because there was no other payment that could be made. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). If you are trusting in yourself or any other system to be right with God, then you are on your way to hell. You are not going to be accepted. I don’t care if you’re better than me, you need the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. I’m speaking to people who are a part of some religious system, and you are trusting your religious observances for salvation. You’re trusting your own good works and other things and what I’m saying is really bothering you because some of you think, well, ‘what about all these people who haven’t ever heard about Jesus’? You need to know that there’s an intuitive knowledge of the Lord on the inside of every person. It says in Romans chapter 1 that God has revealed himself and shown every single person their need for a saviour. We are all without excuse. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened ” ( Romans 1: 20-21). You may be one of those people who believe that there’s a God. You may even have a love for God but that doesn’t mean that you’re accepted. You must put faith in the saviour. Jesus suffered the rejection of God. He suffered the wrath of hell, he suffered all of these things, but he didn’t let it overcome him. He overcame them and he rose from the dead and now he is offering salvation to anyone who will receive it. And how do you receive it? The Bible says in Romans chapter 10:9 that If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has 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. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:10-13). That’s more than just saying those words but if it’s from your heart and with your mouth will say ‘Jesus I make you my Lord, I turn my life over, I trust you’ and you look to Jesus and you believe that he paid for your sins, you shall have right standing with the Lord.. So, if you will confess that with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved. That’s the promise of Romans chapter 10:9 and it’s really that simple. Jesus has already paid for your sins; he suffered the rejection of his father. He said ‘Lord, why have you forsaken me’. And it’s all because of our sins. Just put your trust in Jesus and receive the gift of salvation. This is powerful, what I’m saying, and there’re people reading this today that have been trusting in your rituals. You’ve been trusting in your religious observances; you’ve been trusting in your holiness, but you haven’t been trusting in Jesus. Do so now. Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More
Think About Your Eternal Home
Think about your destination after you die. Everybody has an eternal home. Where is yours? Remember that death is just a translation from this earth. In our daily lives, consumed by the immediate and the tangible, it’s easy to lose sight of the eternal perspective. Yet, the Bible consistently calls us to lift our eyes beyond the horizon of this temporal world. Scriptures offer profound insights into the nature of life after death, providing a framework for understanding our eternal destiny. A vivid picture of two primary destinations; heaven and hell, is painted in the scriptures. These destinations are not merely abstract concepts, but are depicted as real and significant, carrying eternal implications for every individual. Central to this biblical narrative is the promise of eternal life with God in heaven for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, contrasted with eternal separation from God in hell for those who reject Him. It is important that we consider how this heavenly perspective should transform our earthly lives as we contemplate our eternal home. So, how should the promise of eternity with God shape our priorities, decisions, and relationships today? This article explores scriptures to gain a deeper understanding of eternal realities and choices that lead to our final home, offering both a sobering and hopeful perspective on our ultimate destiny. In John 14, Jesus said to his disciples: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. My father’s “house” refers to his residence or dwelling. Jesus is simply saying that in heaven there are many dwelling places, and he is preparing one for us. Our experience in heaven will be beyond our expectations (remember Ephesians 3:20). The fact that we will be with Jesus makes it even more exciting if you think about it. This is because nothing will compare with being with the one who loved us and died for us. Let me remind you of the story of the rich man and Lazarus that Jesus told in Luke 16.19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores. 22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’ 25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’ 27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’ 31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’” To be clothed in purple and fine linen is to wear the clothing of kings and live in the luxuries of this world. The rich man lived comfortably and lacked nothing every day of his life. He never thought of losing his riches or suffering in some unforeseen way. His expectations did not include eternity. The day of death comes to all people. Lazarus’ life of suffering had come to an end. The days of pain, hunger, begging, and struggling for existence were over. Jesus tells us that Lazarus, the beggar, “was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s lap.” Lazarus is seen in Abraham’s lap being comforted after a long life of pain and hardship. Lazarus has now gained the ultimate prize or reward for a life of faith. Jesus said that the rich man, on the other hand, “was buried.” There were no angels to carry him away. The text of scripture simply said that he died. The tables had now turned in the realm of eternity. While Lazarus was the suffering beggar in the world and the rich man basked in the comforts of luxury. It is now the rich man who is poor and Lazarus is the one rich in comfort. The rich man is now begging, and Lazarus is in the comfort of Abraham’s bosom. This story also shows that the people God honours are not necessarily the same people the world honours (Luke 16:15). This rich man had a beautiful home, fancy clothes, and the best of everything. He had it all, but he never showed the beggar any mercy. When he died, I guarantee you he had a fancy funeral. Thousands of people may have gathered, all talking about how great his accomplishments were. Yet the Bible says only that he was buried, left to rot in the grave. On the other hand, the beggar who was most despised on earth was carried away by angels. Which of the two would