This sermon emphasizes the essential truths of salvation according to the Bible. It highlights the need for individuals to recognize their sinfulness before a holy God, abandon self-reliance for salvation, and believe in Jesus Christ as the only way to be saved. The message stresses the importance of coming to God as sinners, acknowledging Jesus' sacrifice, and accepting Him as Savior with childlike faith.

I want to thank you for viewing our video, the last few moments. We are delighted that you were able to join us for our mission trip to Guatemala. We're very grateful for all that God did there. We feel like that all of the objectives were accomplished while we were there, and we just want you to know how much we appreciate you taking the time to view the content of this video presentation. I feel like it would be almost a waste, though, if we did not take the opportunity of sharing with you what this mission trip was all about. You know, the Bible makes it very clear as to what salvation is all about, and I wanted just to take a few moments, if you would permit me, to share with you what the Scripture says are essentials to being saved. First of all, the Bible tells us that no man can understand his need for Jesus Christ unless he recognizes that he has sinned against a holy God. The Bible gives us commandments, and specifically ten commandments, and if a person violates those commandments, he is a sinner before God. The Bible says that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The Bible makes it very clear that there is none righteous, no not one, and in violating the ten commandments, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt have no other gods before me, we as a result have sinned against the holiness of God, and therefore we are candidates for God's salvation, but you must come to grips with the fact that you have sinned against a holy God. You see, the Bible makes it very clear that we're sinners not only by choice. We have chosen to sin, to fulfill the evil desires of our own heart, but the reason we do that is because we're also sinners by nature, and when you acknowledge that you are a sinner before God, you're acknowledging that you're a candidate for salvation. The second thing you must understand is that a person must abandon all hope of saving themselves. You know, man, every time he comes under a sense of his sinfulness, the first result or the immediate reaction of that man is, I've got to do more, I've got to do better, but God wants you just as you are, and in coming to God, you must come with no strings attached. You can't save yourself. It is not your good works, it is not your morality, it is not going to church every Sunday, it is not being a part of a certain denomination that will earn you merit with God. God has declared that we're sinners, that we are deserving of spiritual death, and that there is only one way that we can be saved. Jesus Christ said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man can come to the Father but by me. The Bible says in Peter that he once suffered for sin, the Lord Jesus Christ, the just, he was the just one for the unjust, that was you and I, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. You see, he that knew no sin, that was Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, he that knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. And if you will come just as you are, without depending upon anything else or anyone else for salvation, then God will save you. But you see, here's the catch, and this is the other essential truth that you must believe. Jesus Christ suffered, he shed his blood, he bore upon his own body the sins of the lost, and if you will come as a lost person in simple childlike faith and believe that Jesus Christ suffered for your sin and receive him as your own Savior, believing that God not only smote his Son on your behalf, he died as your sacrifice, as your substitute, but you believe that that same God that did that in smiting his Son on your behalf, raised him from the dead, that you might be righteous, that you might be justified before God, thou shalt be saved. The Bible says, if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. You say, well, I still don't feel like I'm good enough to be saved. You don't have to be good enough. You don't have to prove yourself to be good enough. You come just as you are. If you try to clean up your act and try to draw nigh to God in your own power, the Bible says that you're a thief and a robber. There is only one way. Jesus said, I am the door. If any man seeks to enter by any other way, he is a thief and a robber. If you'll come just as you are, believing in simple childlike faith on the Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross for your sin, the Bible declares, thou shalt be saved. You say, well, what must I do to be saved? What must I do? Well, let me make it very simple. If you'll come as a sinner, being willing to forsake your sin, that's repentance, and believe that Jesus Christ died, shed his blood for your sin and receive him as your own Lord, as your new authority and your savior, thou shalt be saved. I want to invite you today in the gentleness of Christ. Let me appeal to you. Would you not make that decision today? The Bible says today is the day of salvation. Now is the accepted time. The Bible says, boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. If you reject Christ today, if you put it off and you die on your sin, you will go to hell. But if you receive Christ, God's only son for your sin, thou shalt be saved. Would you not pray right now? Would you not ask God in your heart? Would you not cry in simple childlike faith to him and ask him to be your savior? If you'll make that commitment, I can assure you that God will save you not only from your sin, but from an eternal hell. Make that decision today for Christ's sake.