Why we need to be saved, and how anyone can receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus — in Scripture’s own words.
See the simple prayer Ephesians 2:8–9Why we need to be saved — what the Bible says.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”
Ecclesiastes 7:20
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:8
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
Romans 5:12
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9
“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy…”
Titus 3:5
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:5–6
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24
Scripture describes this response in four simple movements of the heart.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:31
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.”
Acts 3:19
“Unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Luke 13:3
“If you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:9–10
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Ephesians 1:7
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
1 John 5:11–12
“Whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you… Ask, and you will receive…”
John 16:23–24
“Whatever you ask in My name, I will do…”
John 14:13–14
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
“Christ Jesus… is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
Romans 8:34
“For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:18
Now that access is open, God is simply asking to be known — honestly, personally, and without pretense.
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:23–24
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…”
Ephesians 6:18
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
Matthew 6:7–8
Life’s greatest question — is your name written in the Book of Life?
“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:20
“I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Revelation 3:5
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:15
Talk to God from your heart. Use your own words if you’d like — what matters is that it’s genuine and personal. If this is what you believe, you can pray this right now.
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness.
I believe You died and rose again to save me.
I turn from my sin and I receive You as my Lord and Savior.
Thank You for giving me eternal life.
Amen.
There is no special formula that makes this prayer work. It is the honesty of your heart before God that matters.