Jesus said, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Do you want to know how to be saved? Or want to know how you can tell others how to be saved? Then, let's look at Romans 10:1-10:
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down from above: 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
When a person tries to be righteous by keeping the Ten Commandments or by doing good deeds, God rejects that. Why would God do that? Because God is holy and man is sinful at his best. The best that we can do is not enough.
We don't have what it takes to keep the Ten Commandments in our own strength. If you're hanging over a fire by a chain of ten links and nine of them are forged steel and one of them is made of paper, how safe are you?
That's the reason the Bible says if we should keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, we are guilty of all. God demands perfection and we just can't supply it. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty. Salvation is not a goal to be achieved; it is a gift to be received.
The Righteousness That God Reveals
You believe in who He says He is — the God made flesh who died and rose again for you to be reconciled to God. Then, you repent of your sins and confess Christ as Lord of your life.
If Jesus is not the Lord of your life, then He is not your Savior. Salvation is not a cafeteria line where we say, "Well, I believe I'll have a little Savior today, but no Lordship. Thank you." No! Jesus is Lord.
Romans 3:21 says, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Do you know what it means to believe and confess that Jesus is Lord? It literally means that you agree with God. In this context, it also means that you will tell others about this confession. And that means you will not be ashamed. There are only two ways to be saved: If you live a sinless life (which no one has done, except Jesus) or you ask the Jesus to take the payment of your sin for you (which He did on the cross), and accept His righteousness on your behalf. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
