In the bible there is a parable about a man who was lost and a man who was saved. It is found in Luke chapter 18, and it goes like this:
Luke 18:9: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even as this publican.
12: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14: I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every man that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The first man, the Pharisee, thought he was a pretty good guy and that he did a lot of great and wonderful things, and he trusted in himself that he was righteous, but he was wrong because the publican who smote upon his breast and said "God be merciful to me a sinner" was the one who God justified and saved. The Pharisee was not saved because God tells us in his word that all our own self righteousnesses are as filthy rags to him. Isaiah 64:6: But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
The way to be saved is to just come to Jesus as you are and ask him to be merciful to you a sinner. I hope you will understand that Jesus loves you and that he died for you so that you could be forgiven and have eternal life, have peace in your heart, and joy deep down in your soul. Jesus died for sinners, not for good people. Mark 2:15: And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
Mark 2:16: And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, how is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? Mark 2:17: When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6: For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
