Salvation
Are You Saved?
Hear
Without a doubt, the most important question you could ever ask is, "What must I do to be saved?" To find the answer, you need to open your Bible. It is necessary to understand that one cannot "earn" his salvation. Yet, it is equally important to know that there are conditions of salvation that must be met. Regarding Christ, the Hebrews writer penned these words: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9). According to the Scriptures, obedience to the Lord is necessary in order to receive salvation. Later the same writer informs us that there is another necessary component, faith. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). How then does one come to develop faith in God? Simple, HEAR the good news of the Gospel of Christ! "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
Believe
Once you hear and learn of the saving grace of our Lord, you can come to fully believe that Jesus is the Son of God and has died for your sins. Then you can make the same confession as did the Ethiopian eunuch, "...I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). Notice the eunuch made a declaration or "confession" of his belief, this too was necessary. Paul, writing to the church in Rome, stated "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).
Repent
The saving grace of God revealed through the Gospel also teaches us that a change in lifestyle is necessary. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). This change of mind resulting in a change of behavior is called "REPENTANCE" (Matthew 21:28-32; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10) and is necessary. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:20).
Baptism
Finally, you can have your sins washed away through the "operation of God" (Colossians 2:12). This operation takes place when immersed in water, or baptized (Acts 2:38; 8:38; 22:16). To the Romans, Paul wrote "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). At this point, you might be asking, "Is it really necessary to be baptized?" Hear the words of Jesus, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16). Remembering that obedience is necessary for salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9), the response to baptism must be a resounding YES!!
