Are You Saved?

We all need salvation.  All of us have a God-given ability to make choices.  When our choices conflict with what God would have us do or be, we commit what the Bible calls sin.  Sin separates us from God and requires judgment.  (See Ephesians 2:1-3).  The Bible unmistakably states that a time of judgment is coming that will affect everyone who has lived on the earth.  Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  (John 5:28-29).  Similarly, the apostle Paul said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Only Christ can provide salvation.  God has not left us to the consequences of our sins.  He sent Jesus to express His love and die as a sacrifice for our sins.  (See Ephesians 2:4-7).  Jesus is the only avenue for reconciliation with God.  Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  (John 14:6).  The apostle Peter said of Jesus, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12). 

Our salvation depends on how we respond to Christ.  God has done everything He can, consistent with our freedom to choose, to reconcile us with Him.  (See Ephesians 2:8-10).  But we must choose that reconciliation.  Sadly, not all people do.  Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  (Matthew 7:13-14).  In another place, he said, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”  (John 12:48).

We hope that you will choose to be reconciled with God.  If so, Jesus and His inspired apostles and prophets left us instructions concerning how we can obtain this reconciliation and enjoy His salvation.

First, we must believe in God.  The writer of the book of Hebrews said, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:6).  This faith or trust in God includes faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the One God sent to bring salvation to the world.  Jesus said, “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).

Second, we must determine to change our lives by repenting of our past sins.  We must accept the fact stated by the apostle Paul that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23).  The apostle John stated even more emphatically, “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”  (1 John 1:10).  Sin is a disregard of God’s law.  John said, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”  (1 John 3:4).  Repentance is turning from an attitude of lawlessness to an attitude of submission to God, by acknowledging our sin and pledging to learn and follow His word in the future to the very best of our ability.  Paul said that his preaching included telling people that they “should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”  (Acts 26:20). 

Jesus and the apostles made clear that repentance is not optional for those who desire salvation.  Jesus said, “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  (Luke 13:3).  Similarly, when Peter instructed those who had crucified Jesus what they needed to do to receive forgiveness of their sins, he commanded them, among other things, to “repent.”  (Acts 2:38).

Third, we must confess our faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God.”  (Luke 12:8).  Paul indicated that this confession is a condition of salvation.  He said, “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”  (Romans 10:10).  We also have an example of confession in connection with the conversion of an Ethiopian man by Philip the evangelist.  (Acts 8:37). 

Fourth, we must be baptized.  After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His apostles, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”  (Mark 16:16).  Obviously, then, part of “preaching the gospel” is preaching baptism.  Similarly, Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  (Matthew 28:19).  Again, part of “making disciples” is baptizing people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The apostles and prophets followed Jesus’ instructions.  Peter commanded those who had crucified Jesus to “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 2:38).  Those who “received his word were baptized.”  (Acts 2:41).  The Samaritans, in response to Philip’s “preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,” were “baptized, men and women alike.”  (Acts 8:12).  Philip also obviously mentioned the subject of baptism as he “preached Jesus” to the Ethiopian man.  (Acts 8:35).  As they rode along in the man’s chariot, the man asked Philip, “Look!  Water!  What prevents me from being baptized?”  (Acts 8:36).  After the man confessed his faith in Jesus Christ, the man stopped the chariot, and Philip baptized him.  (Acts 8:37-38).  Peter commanded the first Gentile converts to be baptized after God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them demonstrated that they, like the Jews, were proper subjects of salvation.  (Acts 10:47-48, 11:1-18).

Many other examples could be given.  The apostle Paul was baptized after a man named Ananias sent by Jesus told Paul, “Now why do you delay?  Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”  (Acts 9:18, 22:16).  Paul himself preached and commanded baptism.  (See Acts 16:15, 16:33, 18:8, 19:5; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, 12:13; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:11-12). 

A review of the various passages regarding baptism reflects that baptism is an immersion of adult believers in water.  Water is specifically mentioned in several passages.  (See Acts 8:36-38, 10:47-48; 1 Peter 3:18-22).  Other passages also present baptism as a “burial.”  (See Romans 6:3-7, Colossians 2:11-12; see also Acts 8:35-38).  The word “baptism” itself is a transliteration of a Greek word that means to dip, immerse, or plunge.  The commands and examples of baptism in the New Testament always involve people capable of believing and obeying.  There is no command or precedent for the baptism of infants. 

The command to be baptized sometimes becomes a stumbling block to those who would obey the gospel.  It has become popular in modern times to downplay or negate what the Bible teaches on the subject.  The Bible, however, does not present faith and obedience as incompatible or mutually exclusive.  (See Acts 5:32, 6:7; Romans 2:3-11, 6:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; James 2:1-14; 1 Peter 1:22).  Moreover, the Bible plainly states that our salvation ultimately is by grace, not by works of merit.  (See Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-9).  Baptism does not “earn” salvation.  It is no more a work of merit than faith, repentance, or confession.  Baptism is simply obedience to a command that God’s word presents as a condition of salvation.  We urge everyone seeking salvation to obey this command, and invite your questions about this or any other Bible subject.      

Fifth, we must continue in the faith.  Obedience to the gospel does not end with baptism.  Rather, baptism corresponds with an inner spiritual birth or resurrection that begins a new life in Christ.  (See John 3:3-8; Romans 6:3-7; Colossians 2:11-13).  Ideally, this new life continues into eternity.  The Bible plainly teaches, however, that it is possible to abandon one’s salvation so as to again be lost.  (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 10:26-31; James 5:19-20; 2 Peter 2:20-22).  Hence, we must continue to serve God to the best of our ability in this life, relying on His grace as the ultimate source of our salvation.  (See 1 John 1:5-10).

God’s grace motivates us to seek Him, submit to Him, and serve Him with all our hearts to His glory, despite our imperfections and struggles.  (See Matthew 5:3-12; Romans 7:21 to 8:17).  And because of His grace, as we live and grow in Him, we can truly say as Paul said, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  (2 Corinthians 9:15).