Introduction – Salvation Happened in Berea
A recent survey (Barna Research article of December 13, 2023, entitled “3 Things to Consider During Spiritual Conversations with Non-Christians”) shows that 29% of spiritually open non-Christians believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word and contains truth about the world. If that is you, a non-Christian who believes the Bible speaks truth, I implore you to read this publication that explains God’s Plan of Salvation with extensive citations of Scripture. Please look up the Scriptures and you will see that what I have written is true.
You must do what the Berean Jews did when they first heard Paul preach the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts 17:10–12 (NASB95) tells us what happened:
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
This passage informs us about three events that took place.
First, when Paul went to the synagogue, he preached the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. While not orally, as in Berea, the writing below is a pronouncement (i.e., preaching) of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.
Second, those who willingly listened to the gospel examined in detail the teachings of Scripture and compared them against the message Paul preached. You can do the same by studying the Bible and comparing what it teaches to the following written message of salvation. That is the reason I provide extensive citations to Scripture.
Third, as a result, after the people hearing God’s Plan of Salvation, God saved many people both Jews and Gentiles. If you exercise biblical saving faith, God can save you today just as He saved many Jews and Gentiles almost two thousand years ago. After all, God, as well as God’s Plan of Salvation, has not changed, and will not change, over time (Heb. 1:1-2).
God’s Plan of Salvation
God Created the Universe including Male and Female and For A While, Everything was Right Between God and Humankind
In the beginning, God, who is holy (Ex. 15:11; Ps. 99:9; Is. 6:3; Hab 1:13), created the entire universe (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:15-16). As a part of His creative actions, God made humans of two different biological genders ( male and female) in His image to know Him (Gen. 1:26-27, 31; Mat. 19:4-6). For a while, everything in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:8) was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:7-25).
Adam and Eve Sinned through Disobedience Resulting in a Separation between God and Humankind that Still Exists Today
But Satan deceived Eve (Gen. 3:1-5; 1 Tim. 2:13-14) causing Adam and Eve to sin by disobeying God (Gen. 3:6-7) resulting in the creation of a separation between God and humanity (Is. 59:2; 64:7; Hos. 5:6). Adam’s sin has been passed down to all of humanity (Rom. 5:17-19) so we are sinners at birth (Ps. 51:5). There is nothing we can do (e.g., go to church, read the Bible, give money, do good works, etc.) to bridge that gulf of separation (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-7) caused by sin. Without God’s intervention, hell is our eternal destination (Rom. 6:23a; Heb. 2:1-4).
Through God’s Love He Provided the One and Only Way of Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah
Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy (Rom. 5:6-8), God provided us with the one and only means of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) by sending the Jewish Messiah in Abraham’s lineage (Mat. 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-28). The Jewish Messiah is Jesus Christ (Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15), God’s only unique Son (John 3:16-18). While retaining His deity (John 1:1-4, 14; Colossians 1:15; 2:9), God the Son became a man in Jesus (Heb. 2:17), lived a perfect life (Heb. 2:10; 5:9-10; 7:28), thereby fulfilling the Law (Mat. 5:17-18).
Jesus died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people (Mat. 8:17; Is. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18). Jesus rose from the dead (1 Thess. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:3; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), showing that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God’s wrath against humanity (Heb. 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).
God’s Universal Call to Sinners to Repent and Trust in Christ Alone and Thereby Be Saved to Eternal Life
God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone (Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:8-9) that Jesus died for their sins (Romans 4:25) and rose to life from the dead (Rom. 10:9). Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ alone will be forgiven of all their past, present, and future sins (Ps. 103:12) and born again (John 3:5-8) as a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), possessing guaranteed eternal life with God (John 6:37-40).
Your Exercise of Biblical Saving Faith – The “Sinner’s Prayer”
The time has come for you to exercise biblical saving faith or not. You are at the point where you need to call out like the Philippians jailer What must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30. Please pray from the bottom of your heart the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave, showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
Now that You Are Saved
Upon your salvation, you must begin two basic practices. First, you must read the Bible daily. The Gospel of John is an excellent place to start reading. Also, you should learn how to study the Bible. Second, you must find a spiritually solid Bible-believing church that: (1) teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, (2) believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, and (3) teaches that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and not by works of any kind. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me (Steve Belsheim) at steve@stevebelsheim.com.
Scripture marked “NASB95” are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.” (Devotional No. 17 in Portrait View for Discussion Course Rev 1.0 )