Will God save a sinner like me?

Is there a sinner hearing my voice, a poor, needy, lost, doomed, damned sinner, who asks, “Will God save a sinner like me? I hope there are many. Will you hear the testimony of a saved sinner?

I was once far away from the Savior, And as vile as a sinner could be!

I wondered if Christ the Redeemer Would save a poor sinner like me.

I wandered along in the darkness. Not a ray of the light could I see;

And the thought filled my heart with sadness, -- “There’s no hope for a sinner like me!”

And then, in that dark, lonely hour, A voice whispered sweetly to me,

Saying, “Christ the Redeemer has power To save a poor sinner like thee!”

I listened, and, Lo! ‘Twas the Savior That was speaking so kindly to me.

I cried, “I’m the chief of sinners! Thou canst save a poor sinner like me!”

I then fully trusted in Jesus; And, oh, what a joy came to me!

My heart is filled with His praises For saving a sinner like me!

No longer in darkness I’m walking, For the light is now shining on me;

And now unto others I’m telling How He saved a poor sinner like me!

And when life’s journey is over, And I the dear Savior shall see,

I’ll praise Him for ever and ever For saving a sinner like me!

This I know: -- Any sinner, anywhere who meets God’s terms of salvation will be saved. God’s terms of salvation are repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless God, if you meet those terms you are saved. But those terms will not be lowered. Repentance is neither more nor less than the dethronement of yourself and the enthronement of the Son of God in your heart. Faith is neither more nor less than utter confidence in the obedience and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for acceptance with God.

I have some bad news for you. You simply cannot and will not meet God’s terms. You cannot and will not repent. You cannot and will not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. But I have good news, too. God Almighty gives repentance and faith to chosen, redeemed sinners by the almighty, irresistible operations of his saving grace. Salvation is a miracle of grace. “Salvation is of the Lord!” Unless God saves you, and saves you without any contribution of any kind from you, you will not be saved.

Is there a sinner under the sound of my voice who is asking, “Pastor, how will I know if God saves me?” He will, by his Holy Spirit, convict you of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He will cause you to know your need of righteousness, redemption, and mercy. He will cause you to see that righteousness, redemption, and mercy are in his Son. He will graciously force you and make you surrender to his dear Son as your Lord, crying out to him from the depths of your soul for mercy - “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” He will cause you to look to Christ alone for everything your soul needs.

If God has done for you what you could not and would not do for yourself, if he has given you life and faith in Christ, confess him as your Lord and Savior by believers’ baptism. It is written, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!” Indeed, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ God has saved you and you shall be saved forever! God help you now, for Christ’s sake, to believe.

AMEN.