A Simple Tool to Share the Greatest Message Ever Told
Have you ever wondered what the most important message in the world is?
Or maybe you've wanted to tell someone about Jesus Christ but weren't quite sure where to begin.

That's exactly why we created the Coin of Salvation.

About the size of a silver dollar, this coin fits easily in your pocket, but it points to something of eternal value. It isn't magical. It has no monetary worth. But it tells the greatest story ever told—the story of God's love for sinners through His Son, Jesus Christ.

At Ukiah Bible Church, we believe every Christian can learn to share the gospel. You don't have to be a pastor, a missionary, or a Bible teacher. God delights in using ordinary people with willing hearts.

Our prayer is that this little coin will help open doors for conversations that lead people to the Savior.

A Coin with Two Sides
Take the coin in your hand. First, look at the side with the cross. That side answers one of life's greatest questions: "How can a guilty sinner be made right with God?"

Now turn the coin over. The other side answers another important question: "Now that I belong to Christ, how should I live?"

One side points us to salvation through Jesus Christ. The other reminds us that after God saves us, He begins changing us from the inside out.

Together they tell one beautiful story. From beginning to end...it's all about Jesus Christ.

Why Do We Need Salvation?
The Bible tells us something about ourselves that isn't always easy to hear—but it is absolutely true. Every one of us has sinned. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
—Romans 3:23

Sin is more than making mistakes. It is living life independently from the God who created us.

Because God is perfectly holy, our sin separates us from Him and places us under His righteous judgment. The bad news is that we cannot fix that problem ourselves. No amount of good works...religious activity...church attendance...or personal effort can erase our guilt.

But the good news is that God didn't leave us there. He came looking for us. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Think about that for a moment. God didn't wait for us to find our way to Him. He came looking for us.
That is the heart of the gospel.

How Can a Guilty Sinner Be Made Right with God?
Imagine standing before the Judge of all the earth. You know you're guilty. There are no excuses left to make. Every sinful thought...every selfish motive...every careless word...
every act of rebellion...is completely known to Him.

How could anyone ever stand accepted before a perfectly holy God? The answer isn't found in trying harder. It isn't found in becoming a better person. It isn't found in joining a church, being baptized, or doing enough good works. The answer is found in one Person—Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He willingly took upon Himself the punishment our sins deserved. Then, three days later, He rose from the dead, proving that sin had been paid for and death had been conquered. The Bible says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”—2 Corinthians 5:21

The Bible calls this justification. That's a big word, but the idea is wonderfully simple. Justification is God's declaration that the sinner who trusts in Jesus Christ is completely forgiven and forever accepted—not because he has earned it, but because Jesus Christ has done everything necessary to save him.

Think of it this way. Our sin was placed on Christ. Christ's righteousness was credited to us.
That is the glorious exchange of the gospel.

That's why the gospel isn't good advice. It's good news.

Because Jesus completely satisfied God's justice, God can forgive guilty sinners without ever compromising His holiness. As the Bible says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."—Romans 5:1

That is what the cross on this coin represents. Every time you look at it, remember this: Your acceptance before God does not rest upon what you have done. It rests entirely upon what Jesus Christ has done.

What Happens After Someone Trusts Christ?
Many people think becoming a Christian simply means praying a prayer so they can go to heaven someday. The Bible teaches something far more wonderful than that. The very moment you place your faith in Jesus Christ, God forgives every one of your sins.

He declares you righteous.
He adopts you into His family.
And then He begins changing you from the inside out.

The Bible calls this sanctification. The word simply means "to be set apart."

The moment you trust Christ, you belong to Him. You are no longer your own. You have been set apart for God's purposes. From that day forward, the Holy Spirit patiently begins shaping your thoughts...your desires...your attitudes...your words...and your actions...so that, little by little, you begin looking more and more like Jesus Christ.

This doesn't happen overnight. Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. Some days you'll see remarkable growth. Other days you'll wonder if you've made any progress at all. Don't lose heart. God isn't finished with you. The same God who saved you is the God who is changing you. The Bible says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."—Ephesians 2:10 And again,
"He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."—Philippians 1:6

Good works are not the root of our salvation. They are the fruit of our salvation.

We don't obey Christ in order to become God's children. We obey Him because we already are His children. Grace doesn't merely forgive us. Grace changes us. That's what the reverse side of this coin reminds us every time we hold it.

Salvation is more than escaping judgment. It is entering into a living relationship with Jesus Christ—a relationship that transforms us day by day until one day we stand before Him complete.

The Heart of the Coin
If you remember only one thing from this coin, remember Jesus. He is the heart of everything God has done for us. He is our Savior. He is our righteousness. He is the One who is changing us day by day. And one day He will bring us safely home.

Christianity is not merely about getting someone into heaven. It is about bringing someone into a relationship with Jesus Christ. That is why His name stands at the center of this coin. He is not simply part of God's plan of salvation. He is our salvation.

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, today can be the day everything changes. Come to Him just as you are. You don't need to clean up your life before coming to Christ. He is the One who cleanses sinners. He promises that the one who comes to Him He will never cast out.

And if you already know Him, let this coin become a reminder of the wonderful story God is still writing in your life. Every time you hold it in your hand, remember: Christ is your salvation.