The good news
How to be saved
The good news is the same for every person, Catholic or not: God saves sinners by His grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Here it is in the words of the Bible.
1. God loves you
God sent His Son because He loves the world, and that includes you.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
John 3:16-17 (WEB) · context
2. Everyone has sinned
All of us have gone our own way, and sin separates us from God.
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 (WEB) · context
23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (WEB) · context
3. Jesus died for sinners and rose again
Jesus offered Himself once for all, and rose on the third day. His sacrifice is complete.
8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (WEB) · context
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (WEB) · context
10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, 12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. 14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:10-14 (WEB) · context
4. Turn to God and trust Jesus
Repent and believe. Confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead.
15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Mark 1:15 (WEB) · context
9that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 (WEB) · context
5. A gift, not a reward
Salvation is by grace, through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast.
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, that no one would boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (WEB) · context
5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5 (WEB) · context
6. One mediator, one way
There is one mediator between God and people, Christ Jesus, and no other name by which we must be saved.
5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5 (WEB) · context
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
Acts 4:12 (WEB) · context
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
John 14:6 (WEB) · context
7. You can know
Everyone who believes has eternal life now and will not come into judgment.
24“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:24 (WEB) · context
13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 (WEB) · context
What now?
There are no special words. If you want to trust Jesus, tell God so in your own words, honestly. If an example helps, here is one, but use your own words.
Show an example (use your own words)
An example only. God hears your own words.
God, I know I have sinned and cannot save myself. I trust Jesus alone, who died for my sins and rose again. I receive Your forgiveness as a gift. Help me follow You.
Five things Scripture makes clear Talk with a person Read John