You were born in Adam's likeness, spiritually dead and inherently a sinner. Romans 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Man is undeniably a natural born sinner and according to Romans 6:23, "the wages of sin is death." Death is the payment of sin and includes eternal condemnation according to Luke 16:19-31. However, Christ died as the payment for sin to purchase your eternal salvation. Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The Bible teaches us that salvation cannot be merited by good works or moral conduct. Man will not be justified by his own goodness but by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Your eternal salvation was purchased on the cross by Jesus Christ therefore we must receive it as a gift by believing on Him. John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

1John 5:11-13, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." Salvation is not based on my good works, but on the work Christ did on the cross and it begins the moment you receive Him. Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."