Ten Questions about Salvation

1. What Is salvation?

Salvation is a term used to refer to the change of state. Prior to salvation men are lost and dead in trespasses and sin. After salvation men are made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1). This transformation from death to life changes ones ability to understand and commune with God (1 John 1:7). The lost are said to be spiritually dead and blind to the truth (John 3:3). The saved are spiritually reborn to new life in Christ, and now have fellowship with Him.

2. Who Needs Salvation?

Everyone needs salvation because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This does not mean that everyone is as bad as he\she could be. Some people are very moral by the world’s standard. However, you will not be judged by world’s standard, but by the law of God if you are not saved (Romans 3:19). To pass this judgment and to be declared righteous would require perfection (James 2:10). Since no one is without sin, it is impossible to be saved by keeping the law (Romans 3:20). This begs the question, “Who then can be saved?”

3. Who Can Be Saved?

Anyone who is willing to die to himself\herself can be saved. The idea of dying to oneself may seem strange. This is a way of saying you must lay aside your earthly desires for heavenly desires. You must be willing stop living for yourself and start living as God desires you to live (Mark 8:34-38). This is called repentance.

It is important that you understand this is not self-reformation. That would make salvation a matter of works. Instead, this willingness is the work of God in regeneration according to His grace (Titus 3:5). Because salvation is a work of God even the vilest sinner may be saved.

4. Do I Need To Pray To Be Saved?

No, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The moment one believes and trusts in Jesus he\she is saved (Romans 10:10). You must trust in His sacrifice to atone for your sins. However, those who are saved are willing to confess Jesus with their mouth (Romans 10:10).

5. Why Is Jesus the Only Way?

Jesus is the only one who can save you because Jesus is the only one who lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15). He was able to do this because He is God in the flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). Those who want to be pleasing to Him must believe in Him only Hebrews 11:6). He is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14).

6. What Happens When I Sin?

When a believer sins he has an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1-2). It is because of Christ that believers are not consumed. Christ appeases the Father on the believer’s behalf. However, a believer’s sin has consequences.

It grieves the Holy Spirit of God when a believer sins (Ephesians 4:30). This will always bring the chastening hand of the Lord down on the believer (Hebrews 12:6).

7. Can I Lose My Salvation Because of Sin?

Theologically speaking a believer cannot lose his\her salvation. This is true because believers are kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5) However, they are kept by the power of God through faith. Therefore, practically speaking one may prove, because of sin, to have never been saved. Believers remain faithful until the end. That is a characteristic of a true believer just as fish have gills believers are faithful (Hebrews 3:6, 14)

8. What Can I Look to For Assurance of Salvation?

Look to the promises of God. What He promised was everlasting life (John 3:16). That life begins the moment a person is saved not after he dies physically (John 10:10). Life consists of freedom from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14). Therefore, look to the promise of new life. Look for a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Do that by following Peter’s advice in the following passage.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, [you will be] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2-11 NKJV Emphasis Added).

9. Do I Need To Be Baptized?

Water baptism does not save a person; remember that happens the moment one believes. However, yes you should be baptized as a testimony to the grace of God in your life. Jesus left instructions for the apostles to make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)

10. Do I Need To Join A Church?

Like baptism joining a church does not save a person. However, at the very least a believer needs to assemble with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25).