1. No matter how good we think we are, we have all inherited a sinful nature from Adam and Eve. Sin is not simply a matter of doing bad things, sin is a part of our very nature. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, Galatians 3:22, 1 John 1:8).
2. Every one of us has earned eternal punishment in hell because every one of us has sinned (Romans 5:12, 6:23).
3. However, Jesus, the Son of God, voluntarily emptied Himself of His glory and was born on earth as a human (Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 2:9, John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is 100% man and 100% God.
4. Jesus did not sin during His lifetime on earth (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5) and therefore He was in the unique position to take all of our sins onto Himself and to bear our punishment for us.
5. Jesus did not deserve any punishment, yet He voluntarily shed His blood and died on the cross in our place to take our punishment onto Himself (Romans 5:8, 1 John 1:7, 2:2). Since He is infinitely righteous, His death atoned for an infinite number of sins, past, present, and future. This makes it possible for us to be forgiven and to stand before God spotless and cleansed of all our sins.
6. After three days in the grave Jesus was brought back to life, and He is alive now and forevermore (John 20:27-28, Romans 14:9, Revelation 1:18).
7. When we believe in and trust in Jesus alone and His death in our place on the cross then our slates are instantly wiped clean as if we had never sinned at all! (John 3:16, 3:36, Acts 16:31). All of our sins are instantly transferred to Jesus' bank account (so to speak) and His full righteousness is transferred to our account. The instant we believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead, and we confess that He is our Lord and Savior, we automatically receive salvation and we will go to heaven when we die (Romans 10:9-10).
8. The only way to get to heaven is through Jesus because of His finished work on the cross. There is no-one else who can provide a way for us to get to heaven (John 5:39-40, 10:9, 14:6, Acts 4:12). Jesus loves us so much that He willingly took our punishment for us, and then God raised Him from the dead. That's why our faith in Jesus' blood and His death on the cross (as our substitute) is the only way that God will allow us into heaven. No other religious leader ever died for your sins; no other religion or spiritual belief can save you.
9. Salvation does not come through any good works or good deeds or good intentions or volunteering at church or any kind of penance. Salvation does not come through any righteousness of our own (we have no righteousness of our own). Salvation does not come through church membership or through growing up in a Christian family and attending church all your life. Salvation does not come through any other religions or spiritual beliefs. Salvation does not come through any religious ceremony such as baptism, confirmation, communion (also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist) or any other rite or ritual or ceremony. If you need further proof that we are saved through faith in Jesus alone and not through baptism or any other works, please see my article called Is Baptism Required for Salvation?.
10. Salvation comes to us only through the grace of God (the word "grace" means "unmerited or undeserved favor"). There is nothing we can do, nothing we can offer God, that can make us deserving of salvation, it is the undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation (i.e. going to heaven) is a free gift! We simply have to choose to receive it!

"God, I know that I have sinned against You! In Jesus' Name I ask You to forgive all of my sins. I now turn away from my sinful past, and in faith I turn to the living Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I accept Jesus' death on the cross in my place, and I confess that His blood has paid for all of my sins. Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and make me the person that You want me to be. Thank You! In Jesus' Name, amen."

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" (James 2:14)

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:15-17)

"But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (James 2:18)

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." (James 2:20-22)

"And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." (James 2:23-24)

"In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:25-26)

1. "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved." (Luke 8:11-12)
   
   The people in this group are deceived by the devil and they never believe in Jesus for salvation. This group represents all unbelievers, meaning atheists, agnostics, and those who are in non-Christian religions. These people have no faith in Jesus, and they know it.
2. "Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." (Luke 8:13)
   
   The second group represents certain people who receive the Word of God with joy and believe it. These people probably call themselves Christians and attend church. But look what happens to them: In "the time of testing" they fall away. This tells us that there will be "times of testing" in Christians' lives, and that we must persevere in our faith. Unfortunately, this second group does not persevere in their faith, they give up when things get uncomfortable or become too much trouble.
   
   Are these people saved? Some scholars say that this group represents people who only believe in Jesus with their minds, not with their hearts, and therefore they do not truly have saving faith. How many people in our churches fall into this category of having head knowledge but not heart faith? Far too many (even one is too many), and the sad fact is that they probably believe they are saved when in fact they may be on their way to hell. Are you in this group? Are you in for a horrifying shock when you step into eternity? Now is the time to ask yourself these questions, while there is still time to do something about it!
3. "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." (Luke 8:14)
   
   The third group represents people who also hear the Word and believe it, but they never mature in their faith. Jesus said that they go on their way rather than obeying His way. They are too busy with the things of this world, chasing after their own goals and ambitions and being overwhelmed with the worries and cares of this world.
   
   Are these people saved? Perhaps, perhaps not. Christians who are worldly and are not yet spiritually mature (even if they have been Christians for many years) are often indistinguishable from non-Christians. If a person calls himself a Christian but he is more focused on the things of this world than on the things of God then it raises the question of whether he ever really got saved in the first place. Is Jesus really dwelling in his heart? It is not our place to judge whether or not people are saved, but let's be brutally honest and judge our own lives, let's "examine [ourselves] to see whether [we] are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
   
   Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:19 tell us that the people in this group are "unfruitful" in their Christian walk:

   "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22)
   
   "but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19)

   It is unfortunate that the people in this group are unfruitful, because Matthew 7:18-20 and John 15:8 tell us that Christians are recognized by their "fruit" (obedience to Jesus) and that "branches" which are unfruitful are thrown into the fire:

   "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:18-20)
   
   "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)

   This may indicate (as many Christian scholars believe) that the people represented by this group are destined to burn in hell for all eternity unless someone leads them to Christ. Luke 8:14 says that these people are "choked," which comes from a Greek word that can also be translated as "strangled" or "suffocated." These words convey the idea of death, not the abundant life that we have in Christ.
   
   It is possible that thousands or millions of church-goers will step into eternity at death, but instead of a glorious welcome into heaven they will be horrified to find themselves banished from God's presence and cast into eternal torment. Does this describe you? Don't just assume that you're "probably okay." Make sure that you are saved and then submit fully to the Lord in every area of your life, showing yourself to be His disciple! Not out of fear, but out of a deep love for the Lord and a deep desire to please Him.
4. "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." (Luke 8:15)
   
   The fourth group represents those who truly are Christians and who are fruitful because of their obedience to Christ. Matthew 13:23 and Mark 4:20 say that they "produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." Luke 8:15 says that they produce this crop by persevering. They do not fall away when the going gets rough nor when they are tempted by worldly desires and passions. Their highest passion is Jesus, and it shows. They remain obedient to the Word of God, surrendering every area of their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This does not mean that they never make any mistakes or that they never sin, but it does mean that they do not continually sin and that when they commit a sin they quickly confess it and ask for forgiveness.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

"Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."" (Luke 13:23-24)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46)

"The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'" (Matthew 25:20)

"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'" (Luke 19:16)

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." (Matthew 25:21)

"Well done, my good servant! ... Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities." (Luke 19:17)

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5-8)

"'I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! ... throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matthew 25:25-26,30)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

"You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:10-12)

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor." (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

"Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

"And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."" (Revelation 5:9)

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

"After all, if you [Gentile Christians] were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree [Jesus], how much more readily will these, the natural branches [Jews], be grafted into their own olive tree!" (Romans 11:24)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27)

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"" (1 Corinthians 12:17-21)

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:4-6)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

"any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."" (Luke 9:23)

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

"Lord, I take every gift that You have given me, every position of service, every calling, every talent, and I lay them on Your altar. They are Yours and not mine. Forgive me in Jesus' Name for serving my own goals, plans, and desires. I repent of my self-centeredness and my selfish ways, and I ask You to help me be ruled by the self-sacrificial love of the Holy Spirit within me. I believe that You are bringing about the death of pride and selfish ambition within me, and I give You thanks in the precious Name of Jesus. Amen."

""The most important [commandment]," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."" (Mark 12:29-31)

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." (John 14:21)

"Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching."" (John 14:23-24)

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." (John 15:10)

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him." (1 John 2:3-5)

"This is love for God: to obey his commands." (1 John 5:3)

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands." (2 John 1:6)

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5).

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11)

"We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." (2 Corinthians 5:8-9)

"Live as children of light ... and find out what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8-10)

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10)

"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more." (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

"No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:4)

"And without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6)

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him." (1 John 3:21-22)

"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" (Matthew 15:8-9)

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'" (Matthew 15:19-20)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands." (1 John 2:3)

"This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 2:5-6)

"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth" (1 John 3:18-19)

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16)

"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:19-21)

"This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2-3)

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)