How do we get saved? What are required for us to receive salvation? Since salvation is a gift from Jehovah God Almighty through His Son, Jesus Christ, accepting this gift is easy, not tricky at all.
We are saved the moment we 1) repent of anything bad we've ever done and 2) accept Jesus as Savior. Accepting Jesus as Savior means that we have accepted his teachings and diligently applied them to our lives. Simply believing in Jesus does not give us salvation. If belief is all that's needed, then Satan can be saved, too!
To be saved, we must know 1) the one and only true God, Jehovah, and 2) Jesus Christ. Jesus said: "And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ." (John 17:3)
But note what Jesus said: "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 who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
Therefore, faith in Jesus is doing the will of God, not just accepting God and Jesus. Simply knowing about them is not enough. Remember, all the demons and the devil know them more than we know them.
God's will is summed up in the two most important commandments: 1) love Jehovah God, and 2) love others as you love yourself. All the other principles are based on these two principles.
When we do God's will, we walk in His light: "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
Faith in Jesus also means "believe" in him: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)
"...through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
"...ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)
We must "believe" and "obey" Jesus: "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
Obedience includes repentance. At the start of his ministry on Earth, Jesus first preached: "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
So repentance is required for salvation. Hence, Jesus' sacrifice doesn't automatically ensure us salvation. Each person has to personally respond to it by 1) repenting and 2) accepting Jesus as Savior and Master.
*Each individual's positive response has to remain for their lifetime. Otherwise, they will lose this gift.
Salvation is only through Jesus, not through anyone else, nor through doing good works only, nor through any church or denomination. Denominations are manmade. We should never focus on the manmade, but God-made.
Doing good works alone will not save us:
"...by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39)
"for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
In other words, justification (a right standing with God) is through faith. What this means is that doing good works alone will not earn us salvation. We can never measure up to the standards of God, for His ways are the highest. How could we ever be good enough for the Creator of the universe? Therefore, salvation is a free gift from Jehovah. We do not earn it. We can only humbly accept it and gratefully keep it, just like a present a good friend would give to us. However, good works are very important—doing good works is how we can keep the gift of salvation. We prove whether our faith in Jesus is genuine by our works. Faith without works is dead: "What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?" (James 2:14)
Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
What does all this mean to us?
Jehovah God is the King of His Kingdom, which will be entrusted to Jesus as King for one thousand years. If we cannot connect with God, we surely cannot enter His Kingdom. So when we can have connection with God only through His Son, it means we can enter the Kingdom only through Jesus. No one can enter the Kingdom without accepting Jesus as Savior. He is the "way" to salvation. He is our eternal "life." He is the "truth" that will lead us to God and God's Kingdom. Jesus is "Yahooshua" in Hebrew, which means "Jehovah Is Salvation." "Christ" means "the Appointed One." So Jesus is the one appointed by God to provide us salvation, while salvation ultimately comes from Jehovah.
In conclusion, true repentance and faith in Jesus are the only two requirements for salvation. Baptism is simply an outward sign of your confession in Christ; it's not required for salvation.
The Bible speaks of another type of baptism: baptism in the Holy Spirit. This also is not required for salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives each believer the power to be a powerful witness to the Gospel. Note what Jesus said: "But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Having this anointed power from God helps us fulfill Jesus' Great Commission, which is our responsibility to spread the Gospel—the good news of the Kingdom of God and salvation through Jesus.
What about good people who have never had an opportunity to know about Jehovah and Jesus? Will they be saved? That is up to Jehovah. Personally, I believe they will be saved. You see, everyone—both the good and the evil—will be resurrected. God's Kingdom will reign over Earth for one thousand years. After this 1000 years is up, there will be a final judgment. Therefore, many people will be given their final chance to prove their faithfulness, and those good people who never knew about God will have the great chance to know Him during this 1000 years. Then, they will be judged. God's ways are always the best ways. We don't need to worry about those people who never had the opportunity to know about God, such as babies and children who died too young. However, it is our responsibility to spread the Gospel to as many people as we can in order to save as many folks as possible!
For more basic facts about salvation, including why particularly Jesus had to die in order to save us, read my article: tinyurl.com/ylaafno
(All Bible quotations are from the American Standard Version of 1901 unless otherwise indicated.)
For other basic facts about the Bible, visit "Bible FAQs" at www.shirleycheng.com
About the Author:
Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled award-winning author (with 21 book awards, including nine Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Awards), motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, poet, author of nine books (including "Do You Love Jehovah? God Almighty's Infinite Love & Wisdom to Propel You to Greatness"), contributor to nineteen, and a parental rights advocate, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. Back then, she knew only her ABCs and very simple English; other than that, her book knowledge was non-existent. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level in all areas and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. Visit www.shirleycheng.com for more inspiration.
Do you have questions about the Bible? Something you don't understand? Do you need a bit of guidance in developing a relationship with Jehovah? Then Shirley would like to help you! Please contact her via her site at www.shirleycheng.com and she would be more than glad to do her best to answer your questions! Never hesitate to ask questions, for no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 5:47 AM
Gift Baskets wrote:
The Bible is my go-to book. Every word in it is filled with wisdom and love. Thank you for this amazing post. I know that my soul is safe because I believe in Jesus Christ our Saviour. I repent of my sins and strive every day to live rightfully by the laws of Our Lord. God bless you, Shirley! Reply to this
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 10:45 PM
Missy wrote:
John 3:15 states that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If you believe in Christ today and have eternal life, but lose it tomorrow, then it was never "eternal" at all. Hence if you lose your salvation, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error. (f) For the most conclusive argument, I think Scripture says it best itself, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Remember the same God who saved you is the same God who will keep you. Once we are saved we are always saved. Our salvation is most definitely eternally secure! Reply to this
Friday, November 19, 2010 1:28 PM
Shirley Cheng wrote:
Hi, Missy, thank you for your comment! Will those who simply believe in God receive eternal salvation? Well, the demons believe in God and they shudder (James 2:19), but are they going to be saved? No, unless they repent. The first message that Jesus preached at the start of his earthly ministry was, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2, WE Salvation requires both faith and repentance. Our faith in God must be a working faith, for faith without works is dead (James 2:26), and "that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith." (James 2:24) And without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Those who maintain a working faith will be eternally saved. On the other hand, those who, like the demons, simply believe in God without repenting of their evil deeds and without maintaining a working faith, or those who turn from their initial working faith, will not receive eternal salvation (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Romans 11:22; Revelation 2:4-5; Revelation 20:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Of course, our works will never be perfect; this is why we can never earn salvation through our works. Salvation is a free gift to those who believe (having a working faith) and repent. Reply to this
Friday, January 14, 2011 12:08 PM
Shirley Cheng wrote:
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16, WEB.) Does this mean that anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life?
Yes and no. Yes, anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved (have eternal life). But we must understand what "belief" in Jesus means. The important doctrine of "believe and you will be saved," is often not fully grasped. The problem lies in the concept of "belief."
To begin to understand "belief" for salvation, we must ask ourselves: What does believing in Jesus really mean? Will those who simply acknowledge Jesus receive eternal life?
Well, let's consider the demons. During Jesus' earthly ministry, the demons fell down at his feet trembling, and acknowledged him as the Son of God (Mark 5:7). Indeed, the demons most certainly believe Jesus. But are they going to be saved? No, unless they repent.
The first message that Jesus preached at the start of his earthly ministry was, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2) Repentance is a change of attitude that results in a change of action; if you only feel sorry about what wrong thing you've done without changing your action to do the right thing next time, you've not truly repented. Those who do not repent will perish (Luke 13:3), so eternal salvation requires a faith (belief) that entails repentance. Whenever we sin, we must confess it to God and He will faithfully forgive us (1 John 1:9).
Our faith in Jesus must be a working faith, for faith without works is dead (James 2:26), and "that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith." (James 2:24). A faith is proven genuine by works. If you claim to have faith in God and not trust Him for your daily necessity, do you have genuine faith? By its very definition, "Christian" describes a follower of Jesus who is Christ-like in all they think, say, and do, by living according to the will of God. Being a Christian is not simply believing that Jesus exists; otherwise, we can call demons "Christians." Thus, if you don't live by faith, you aren't a Christian. And if you aren't a true Christian, you won't find the narrow road that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14).
Our belief in Jesus should involve not only acknowledging him as the Messiah and the only Son of Jehovah God, but also trusting him for our every need, knowing our need to be saved by him, that he is our only Savior (Acts 4:12), and that without his sacrifice, no one would receive eternal life--the entire human race would go on singing the sad tune of "Let's eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." And the belief of ours must be shown through our actions, and that's done by repenting and living according to Jehovah's teachings (Matthew 19:16-17). Our obedience to the Word of God should stem from our love for Him and gratitude for His gift.
Of course, our works and obedience will never be perfect enough to meet the righteous standards of Jehovah; this is why we can never earn salvation through our works (if we can earn eternal life by working for it, then Jesus died for us in vain). Salvation is a free gift to those who believe and repent through God's grace (undeserved kindness). but it's one thing to receive eternal life without working for it; it's another thing to abuse this gift by repeatedly and willfully committing evil acts without repentance. Rest assured, unrepentant sinners will not be saved even if they confess and profess belief in Jesus.
Jesus himself said it best: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’" (Matthew 7:21-23)
So, those who faithfully follow Jesus will never perish (John 5:28-29; John 10:28-29). On the other hand, those who, like the demons, simply believe in Jesus without repenting of their evil deeds and without a genuine faith will not receive eternal salvation. Don't be deceived--God will not be mocked. Whatever you sow, that's what you'll reap. (Galatians 6:7)
Please carefully note what the Bible says:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'Vengeance belongs to me,' says the Lord, 'I will repay.' Again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31)
"'But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:38-39)
"For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)
"For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, 'The dog turns to his own vomit again,' and 'the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.'” (2 Peter 2:20-22)
"See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:22)
"Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
"Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21).
To learn more about salvation, please read my article:
What is salvation? Why did particularly Jesus have to die to save us?
http://blog.shirleycheng.com/2009/10/15/what-is-salvation-why-did-jesus-christ-have-to-die-to-save-us-from-what-are-we-saved.aspx
Please, I implore you, if you truly want to learn about salvation or any other crucial topic, study the Bible yourself. Personal study and constant prayer to God will give you the truths. Don't just take people's word for it, because there are many different interpretations and false teachings out there.
If you need help in better understanding the gift of salvation, please e-mail me via http://www.shirleycheng.com and I'd be more than glad to do my best to answer any questions you may have!
Salvation requires both faith and repentance. Our faith in God must be a working faith, for faith without works is dead (James 2:26), and "that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith." (James 2:24) And without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Those who maintain a working faith will be eternally saved. On the other hand, those who, like the demons, simply believe in God without repenting of their evil deeds and without maintaining a working faith, or those who turn from their initial working faith, will not receive eternal salvation (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Romans 11:22; Revelation 2:4-5; Revelation 20:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Of course, our works will never be perfect; this is why we can never earn salvation through our works. Salvation is a free gift to those who believe (having a working faith) and repent.