Salvation it’s more than just believing facts about Jesus.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (I Corinthians 1:18). The cross strikes at the heart of human pride. It announces in blood-red letters that you cannot save yourself – only God can save you. No doctrine is harder to accept then the doctrine of human inability. That doctrine teaches you that there is nothing you can contribute to your salvation. You were so lost in your sins that you have no idea how sinful you really were. When you look into your own soul and see yourself, you see only the sin that lies on the surface, but God sees to the bottom – and what he sees is a foul pit of iniquity. You were so lost that unless God took the initiative to save you, you would never have been saved at all.

The cross proclaims that you have to come God’s way – or you don’t get to come at all. Many cling to the filthy rags of their own righteousness and then wonder why God won’t take them in. The cross stands in judgment over the sinful pride of the human race. Just as Christ was stripped of his robe before he died, even so must you be stripped of yours.

When Christ died, he didn’t die alone. Two thieves died with him. We often focus on the thief who cried out, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” We know that man was saved because Jesus told him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). But don’t forget there was another man hanging beside Jesus. He cursed and swore and blasphemed the Son of God. He died as he had lived, a wretched sinner, unforgiven.

Salvation depends on trusting Jesus Christ. It’s more than just believing facts about Jesus. Even the demons believe in Jesus (James 2:19), but they are not saved. God says that when you trust Jesus Christ you are saved from your sins. It means to trust Jesus so completely that if he can’t take you to heaven you aren’t going to go there. All you have to do is trust Christ completely and you can be saved. “Wow! That’s amazing.” In this life there are many roads you may travel, but only one that leads to heaven. “You must go home by the way of the cross, there is no other way but this.” Just keep walking in the blood-stained path of the crucified Savior and that road will take you safely home at last.