Salvation Story

Sue was getting ready for school. "Did you eat your breakfast?" asked her mother.

"Yessss," answered Sue.

"Did you brush your teeth?" inquired Mother.

"They're pearly white, Mother,” said Sue.

Just then Sue's father came down the stairs. "Good morning, everyone," he said.

"Oh, hi, Dad -gotta go," Sue said, grabbing her books. "Ralph will be waiting for me."

"He's here now," said her mother with a smile. "Have a good day, dear, and ask Ralph how his mother is doing."

"What a shame she had to fall and break her leg," added Father.

"Hi, Ralph. What's new?" asked Sue.

"Oh, not much," answered Ralph. "My mother is doing better, but the doctor says she will be laid up for quite awhile."

"Gee, I don't see how you do it, Ralph. I know how much you have to help around the house now. Can you cook?"

"Not too well, but Dad and I seem to manage together."

"Oh, I think it's neat how much you do Ralph. Besides your homework, you still take time to help your neighbor with her yard, and you have such a good attitude about everything."

"A good attitude comes from being a Christian and studying God's word," said Ralph.

"I believe in God, but what is a Christian?" asked Sue with a perplexed look on her face.

Ralph smiled. "A Christian is someone who believes in God's son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, God said a penalty had to be paid for all men. Jesus said that He would come to earth and pay the penalty. He would be judged on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Then we who believe in Him will be born into God's family and have everlasting life with him in heaven. You cannot earn salvation by doing good deeds. It is a free gift from God."

"Wow!" said Sue. "God must have loved people very much to allow His son to die on the cross for all of our sins. I've never heard that before. What must I do to join His family?"

"It is really simple,” answered Ralph. But people make it hard. So many think that they have to be a good person before God will let them be in His family, but all you have to do is tell God the Father, that you are believing in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. It is faith alone in Christ alone. You cannot add anything to that."

“That sounds so easy,” said Sue. “You mean that I really don’t have to do anything else to become a Christian except believe in Jesus Christ.”

"That's right, Sue, it is easy. Remember - you can never lose your salvation once you have believed because it doesn't depend on us. It is the grace of God. He wants the whole world to be saved and spend eternity with Him, but everyone has a choice - to believe or not to believe."

"Hey, where did you learn all this stuff?" asked Sue.

"When we learn and follow God's Word in Bible class at church, we grow spiritually. As we grow, we are able to make good choices. We learn to love others and help them when needed."

"Well," said Sue smiling, "That makes sense to me, and I am going to do it."

"You will be very glad that you did, Sue. You can have a happy and fulfilling life as a Christian, and you can bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Then you really will be a "cool cat."