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 about your part?

Step 1 - Hearing
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). Please notice what Romans 3:23 says about our condition - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Now consider what Romans 6:23 says - "For the wages of sin is death..." Taken together, these two Bible verses tell us we are in trouble. We've sinned, and the penalty of our sin is spiritual death (separation from God). Without hearing we wouldn't know of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins and our need for Him.
The apostle Paul says in Romans 10:17 - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Take time today to read from God's word, and hear the creator of the World's message to man, and the good news (the gospel) contained therein. Read about the news that Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son died on the cross. Why did Jesus come to earth to die on the cross? Look in the mirror and you'll see one good reason. "He loved me and gave Himself up for me" Galatians 2:20. You and I must wholly trust in Him to do for me what I can not do for myself -- atone for my sin. He died my death and paid my debt (Mark 10:45). Read some more of God's word and realize that there are more steps than just hearing, to be right with God . . .

Step 2 – Believing
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 - "...if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." But belief is not enough! Notice what Jesus said in John 1:12 - "But as many as received (believed) him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God...." In other words, belief allows us "to become" children of God but does NOT by itself accomplish the task. In Matthew 7:21 we learn that just declaring our belief is not enough - we must DO what God requires of us - "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is 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. . . .

Step 3 – Repenting
Sin may be attractive and even enjoyable, but it is what separates us from God according to Isaiah 59:2- "...your iniquities (sins) have separated between you and 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 what you are doing 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- "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Please notice also what is said in Acts 17:30 - "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where 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 the Lord commands. Repenting isn't just being sorry you got caught in doing something bad. It's godly sorrow for your sin (2 Corinthians 7:9f). You should want to turn away from it. But just turning away from sin is not yet enough . . . . . . .

Step 4 – Confessing
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 before 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 declare it. But confession alone is not enough (Acts 7:36-38), as there is one more action that brings you into God's grace . . . .

Step 5 – Baptism
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 1 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 thy sins...."
3. Baptism gives us entry "into" Christ according to Galatians 3:27- "For as many of you as have been baptized 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 1 Peter 3:20-21 the apostle Peter makes this comparison of Noah's salvation in the ark, and our salvation by baptism- "...God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now SAVE us." For people to say 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 worked to build 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. Peter says "baptism doth also now save us."

Baptism alone is not what saves. Salvation is because we have heard the Word (only the Bible, not some other doctrine) and believe in God (Hebrews 11:6), and obey what God has commanded (Matthew 7:21) in confession, repentence, and emersion in water. That brings us into God's grace (Ephesians 2:8).

Once we have entered God's saving Grace, what do we do to stay there (I Corinthians 10:12)?

Step 6 - 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 the Bible this is expressed in various ways, including "walking in the light" 1 John 1:7, "Abiding in the doctrine of Christ " II John 9, "Putting on the New Man" Eph 4:24, "holding to the confession of our hope" Heb 10:23, or "working out your salvation" Php 2:12. This means a life that shuns the deeds of the flesh and darkness (Galations 5:17-21), and produces a fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-24). Many false doctrines exist that teach once you have been saved, you are always saved. The Bible clearly teaches that one can fall away from God after becoming a person who has followed his word and been baptized (Heb 2:1, 4:1, 6:6, 10:26, 12:25, I Cor 15:2, Gal 5:4, Rom 11:20-21, Jam 5:12, 2 Pet 3:17).

If you have a desire to obey God and to be saved, please contact us. We will assist you in any way possible to help you follow God's plan of salvation. If you wish to study these points more in depth, we will be glad to assist you however we can.