Steps to Salvation
The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make
God Loves You—and He Has a Plan to Save You
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Believing in Jesus means trusting that He is who He says He is—the Son of God who died and rose again so that you could be forgiven and set free.
At Saint Philip AME Church, we believe salvation is the starting point of a transformed life. It is God’s gift to anyone who is ready to receive it—and it begins with understanding a few key truths.
1. Sin: We’ve All Missed the Mark
Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
We were created to live in perfect relationship with God, but sin broke that connection. Sin is anything we do—knowingly or unknowingly—that goes against God’s will. Whether it’s lying, holding grudges, hurting others, or just living life our own way, we’ve all done it. No one is perfect.
Imagine aiming at a target and always missing the bullseye, no matter how hard you try. That’s what sin is—falling short of God’s perfect standard.
2. Death: Sin Separates Us from God
Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin doesn’t just cause pain—it leads to spiritual death. That means separation from God, now and forever. But God doesn’t want that for anyone. Instead, He offers us a way back—a gift we could never earn, but can freely receive.
It’s like being stuck in a deep pit you can’t climb out of. No matter how hard you try, you need someone from above to pull you up. That’s what Jesus did for us.
3. Death: Christ Took Our Place
Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Even when we were at our worst, God didn’t turn His back on us. Instead, He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment we deserved. Jesus died in our place and rose again, defeating sin and death so we could be restored to God.
Imagine you’re in a courtroom, guilty, and the judge is about to pass sentence—then someone steps in and says, “I’ll take their place.” That’s what Jesus did for you.
4. Salvation: Receive the Gift
Romans 10:9 — “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Salvation isn’t about being “good enough.” It’s about trusting in what Jesus already did for you. You simply need to believe and receive. You can invite Jesus into your life right now—He’s ready to meet you where you are.
A Prayer You Can Pray
If you’re ready to accept the gift of salvation, pray this from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. I believe You died for me and rose again. I turn from my old ways and invite You into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior. Help me to live for You. Thank You for saving me. Amen.”