What does the bible say about salvation?
The Bible reveals that God has a plan for salvation. It is clear that God has done his part in this plan, through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of the world (John 3:16). But what does God expect of us?
Hear the good news about Christ
The word of God allows us to see what our true state is with our Creator. The word of God teaches that God is our Creator, and that He is all powerful and all knowing. Without first hearing the word of God we would never know we were sinners and that the result of our sin is spiritual death. Sin is transgression of God's law (James 2:8-10).
Believe that Jesus is the son of God and died so that we can have eternal life
Just hearing the word of God doesn't save you. We must believe what we hear. Paul preached about the "faith in Christ" (Acts 20:21). This faith comes through reading and believing what you read from the Word of God. If we don't believe what we read in the word of God, we are not likely to obey the Bible's commands, which is God's law. In John 8:24 Jesus says, "... I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
But belief is not enough! Notice what Jesus said in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..." In other words, belief allows us "to become" children of God but does NOT by itself accomplish the task. God will not force us to accept his gift.
In Matthew 7:21 we learn that just declaring our belief is not enough - we must DO what God requires of us - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
A sincere faith will accept Christ's Word in humble obedience every step of the way (Romans 10:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 5:9, Ephesians 1:22-23). At the point of faith, you now have the right to proceed in turning to Christ for salvation. According to God's word, you are not converted and saved yet (James 2:19), there is more yet...
Repenting of sinful ways
Sin may be attractive and even enjoyable, but it is what separates us from God according to Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God"
Therefore, if we want God's forgiveness, we must be willing to repent of our sins. Repentance means "turning away from sin.", or literally "a total change of mind." It is not just saying you are sorry, but changing behavior that is wrong. We must do this and make the constant effort to sin no more. In Luke 13:3 Jesus said this about the need for repentance, "...unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Please notice also what is said in Acts 17:30, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent..."
Are you willing to turn away from sin? To renounce sinful behaviors and thoughts and turn to the Lord? If so, then you are on the road to salvation, but you have not done all that the Lord commands. Repenting isn't just being sorry you got caught in doing something bad. It's godly sorrow for you sin. (II Corinthians 7:9). "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation..." You should want to turn away from it. But just turning away from sin is not yet enough...
Confessing that Christ is Lord
Those who wish to be saved must confess their faith in Jesus. It was Jesus himself who said in Matthew 10:32, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me vefore men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Later, the apostle Paul said in Romans 10:10, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Finally, notice the Ethiopian eunuch's confession when Philip asked if he believed (Acts 8:37). "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." You must confess with your mouth the divine Lordship of Christ before or with a view unto salvation from your sins (Romans 10:9-10).
"Confess" means "to say the same thing." You declare the same thing about Jesus that God declared of Him: "This is my beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17). It is a statement of the conviction of your heart, a public test of your intended loyalty. Others do not know what you really believe in your heart until you freely delcare it. But confession alone is not enough (Acts 7:36-38), as there is one more action that brings you into God's grace...
being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
There is much religious confusion about baptism. Some think baptism isn't necessary, others believe we are saved before we are baptized. Note three things the Bible says baptism does-
1. Baptism shows our good conscience to God according to I Peter 3:21, "...baptism doth also now save us - not the putting away of the filth of the flesh - but the answer of a good conscience toward God."
2. Baptism washes away our sins according to Acts 22:16, "...arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins..."
3. Baptism gives us entry "into" Christ according to Galatians 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptied into Christ have put on Christ."
Since Paul says baptism puts us "into" Christ then before we are baptized we are "outside" of Christ and lost. In I Peter 3:20-21 the apostle Peter makes this comparison of Noah's salvation in the ark, and our salvation by baptism. "...God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also...
For people to say that they are saved before baptism is to say that Noah and his family were saved before the flood. Noah's obedience and work did not earn him salvation, but if he had not obeyed and built the ark, he would have been lost! In the same way, baptism does not earn us salvation but we must be baptized to be saved. This is a work of obedience, not a work of merit. Peter says "baptism does also now save us."
living a life that is pleasing to god
Once your sins have been washed away, you must live your life in such a way as to be pleasing to God. In fact, this should NOT be something you "have to do" but yet, rather, something you want to do with all your heart because of your love for God.
In the Bible this is expressed in various ways, including "walking in the light" - I John 1:7, "Abiding in the doctrine of Christ" - II John 9, "Putting on the New Man" - Ephesians 4:24, "holding to the confession of our hope" - Hebrews 10:23, or "working out your salvation" - Philipians 2:12. This means a life that shuns the deeds of the flesh and darkness (Galatians 5:17-21), and produces a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24).
Many false doctrines exist that teach that once you have been saved, you are always saved even if you refuse to submit to God in obedience. The Bible clearly teaches that one can fall away from God after becoming a person who has followed His word and been baptized. (Hebrews 2:1, 4:1, 6:6, 10:26, 12:25, I Corinthians 15:2, Galatians 5:4, Romans 11:20-21, James 5:12, 2 Peter 3:17).
If you have a desire to obey God and to be saved, please contact us. We would love to study the Word of God with you.
