How to Be Saved

Those who are used to doing something to earn something misunderstand how to be saved according to the Bible. They find it very difficult to understand and believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. This article will help you see salvation from the Bible’s standpoint.

In this Article:

1. Introduction
2. Why Do We Need to be Saved
3. How to Be Saved According to the Bible
4. A Note on Good Works

Introduction

There are billions of people in the world today who either do not know how to be saved, or do not even care about it. Yet, salvation is the most important thing you can have in this life.

Others are trusting in their own works or obedience to get them to God. But the Bible teaches that we cannot attain salvation on our own merits. Trusting in Christ alone is what makes and keeps you saved.

So today, I want to talk about why you need salvation, and how you can get saved and be sure of it. I hope and pray that this is a blessing to you.

Today’s Texts:

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

Why Do We Need to be Saved?

The reason why many people in the world do not care about salvation is because they have no idea why they need it. This is also why many of those who claim to be saved cannot explain what it means to be saved. So, why exactly do we need salvation?

Sin and Its Consequences

What is Sin? Sin is anything that we think, say, or do that disobeys God. Any form of rebellion against the commandments of God is a sin. The Bible says that “All unrighteousness is sin” 1 John 5:17. And you only need to disobey God once to be a sinner.

Human sin begins with Adam and Eve’s disobedience against God when the first man and woman chose to please themselves with their freewill rather than God. Their disobedience brought sin, shame, and death upon the entire human race.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

“All Have Sinned”

Lest you think that you have nothing to do with Adam’s transgression, let me remind you that you have sinned too. The Bible is clear that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.

Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

To be more specific on this subject of sin, think of hatred, malice, envyings, drunkenness, adultery and fornication, and even lying, as so on. All these acts or behavior are sins. Everyone is guilty of at least one disobedience against God, and one sin is sufficient to make you a sinner.

Sin is the reason why we need to be saved. We have sinned, and our sins have separated us from God. Hence the need for reconciliation between God and man.

This reconciliation is crucial because if it does not occur before a person dies, he will face the ultimate consequence of sin, that is, eternity in the lake of fire. This is what it means to perish.

And this was exactly why God sent Jesus, “his only begotten Son,” to die for the sins of the world so “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

So, when we talk about being saved, we are talking about being saved from perishing. That is, eternal separation from God, or eternity in the lake of fire which is the ultimate “wages of sin.” Romans 6:23. The Bible also calls this the “everlasting punishment.” Matthew 25:46. 

How to Be Saved According to the Bible

Note that the work of our redemption is accomplished apart from us. The typical response of the people after realizing that they’ve done wrong is to try fixing things or fixing themselves, try doing right. There is nothing wrong with that, it is just not the way out of the problem of sin.

Since “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” it is impossible for us to be good enough to save ourselves. We need someone apart from us who can intercede for us before God. This is where Jesus Christ comes in.

God must punish sins by death, but it takes a sinless person to die in the place of the sinners. This is exactly what Jesus did for us. And it is all driven by the love of God for all men.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus Christ is God who came in human form, lived in perfect obedience to God the Father, just to be sacrificed in our place. This He did willingly because of His love for us. He “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8.

The Just for the Unjust

We deserve to be punished for our sins. But Jesus Christ is our Saviour who died and paid the (death) penalty for sins on the cross. He suffered, shed His blood, and died in our place. Remember the Bible says that “the wages of sin is death,” that is the price that we owe, and that was the price that Jesus Christ paid on our behalf on the cross.

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The blood that Jesus sheds on the cross is the ransom for our redemption. The Bible says “we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Ephesian 1:6-7; Colossians 1:12-14.

But the story does not end with Jesus’ death on the cross.

Christ Rose from the Dead

This is one of the most amazing parts of the story. Christ rose from the dead after three days, according to the scriptures. See Matthew 20:19; 28:1-6; Mark 16:2-7; Luke 24:5-7; John 20:1-9; Acts 2:23-24.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

If Christ had died and remained dead, like many false gods, He couldn’t have been our Saviour, or we would have a dead Saviour. But Christ’s resurrection from the dead completes His work of redemption, our redemption.

The Bible says that Christ “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:25.

Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Hebrews 10:12-14 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

The above is the simple message of the gospel: that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day.”

Salvation is by Faith Alone

So, what must I do to be saved? Since we cannot do anything on our own to be justified before God, how exactly do we get saved? This question was asked in the Bible and a simple answer was provided in response:

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that’s all it takes. This may sound too simple for many people, especially those who are used to doing something to earn something. But salvation works differently!

What It Means to Believe in Jesus Christ

So, what exactly does it mean to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”? That is also simple: it means that you first admit that you are a sinner who cannot save himself, that is repentance. And believe that Jesus Christ died to pay (by His shed blood) the penalty of your sins, and that He was buried and He rose again the third day.

That is what it means to believe in Jesus Christ, or to “call upon the name of the Lord.” Romans 10:13. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour means that you are trusting in the blood that He shed on the cross as the payment for your sins. We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Notice that I mentioned repentance above, but this is not about telling people to stop committing sins before they can be saved. This is about turning to God in admission of your sins. And if it is genuine, it will be coupled with the desire to forsake your sins. That is true repentance.

Remember, the Bible says that Christ died for our sins “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). He did not wait until we have changed our mode of dressing for instance, or stopped keeping malice with our neighbors before He died for our sins. He died for those sins while we were still busy committing them.

Faith Comes by Hearing

The Bible says “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Salvation takes place in the life of a person when he hears and believes “the word of truth,” that is, the gospel of salvation.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

Pay attention to God’s way to salvation, the Bible says:

• you hear the word of truth, that is the gospel of salvation – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins.
• you believe, that is trusting in Christ alone
• and you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit – which obviously is part of being saved

This means you cannot be saved apart from hearing and believing the message of the gospel. Listen to the Bible:

Romans 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Here is the point: you don’t get saved by just praying or repeating a prayer after a preacher. To call upon the name of the Lord means that you are trusting in Him (alone), you believe in Him as your personal Saviour. 

But you must hear something first (in this case, the gospel) before you can believe it. And that is what you just heard in this lesson.

Do You Believe?

You have heard the message, the word of truth, the gospel of salvation.

Have you admitted that you are a sinner? Do you believe what Christ did for you, as described above? If you don’t just have the head knowledge of the gospel but believe it with all your heart, then you’re saved.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

But if you have never trusted in Christ, it is not too late to do so now.  Open your mouth and talk to God from your heart: tell Him you have sinned and you admit it today. Tell God you believe that Christ died and shed His blood for your sins and rose again. Ask Him to help you live your life for His glory henceforth.

As soon as you believe in Jesus Christ, your sins will be forgiven. You will be “born again” into eternal life. That’s why Jesus died and rose again.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

1 John 5:12-13 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Eternal or “everlasting life” is the opposite of eternal death or “everlasting punishment.” The Bible talks about both. But eternal life is what you get when you receive or believe in Jesus Christ. And that is also what you lose if you die without receiving Christ.

The choice is now yours! And this is the most important choice you will ever make in this life.

A Note on Good Works

Before ending this session, I will like to add that the desire to do good works, or to live right, stems from being genuinely saved. This desire will grow in the life of any individual who have truly experienced salvation.

The Unbiblical Outreach

Problems happen when those who are supposedly preaching the gospel, or evangelizing the world, are simply telling others how to live like Christians. In their outreach effort, the gospel preaching is totally eliminated and replaced with a list of things that the people must do to become Christians.

This makes people build the foundation of their faith on a sinking sand. Telling non-Christians to live like Christians is like building a house without a foundation. They will think that salvation and the Christian life are all about what they do, but that’s not what God intends.

We get saved by faith, and the just shall live by faith!

God’s Intent for Salvation

The Bible says that it is the grace of God, not works, that brings salvation. But after salvation has come, it teaches us how to live righteously and godly. Read it for yourself:

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The point is that you do not, and cannot, get saved by doing good works, or trying your best to be a good person. The Bible says that our salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5.

The only requirement for salvation is faith. Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Salvation is never about what we must do or keep doing, but about what has already been done for us. It is not until we realize this that we can truly experience the salvation offered by God.

So, if you’re saved today, see that your life proclaims the love and glory of Christ. If you go out to tell others about Christ, please do not give them a list of things to do to be saved. Simply share the gospel with them, tell them about their sins and what Christ has done to address it and encourage them to believe.

But if you’re yet to be saved, it is not too late to believe. You can believe today and get saved, even now!

Thank you for reading!