
The concept of salvation in Christianity is centred on the idea of being saved from sin. Sin is what separates humans from God, and Jesus is believed to be the mediator between the two, paying the price for our sins by dying on the cross. Salvation is therefore understood as being delivered from the wrath of God due to our sins, as well as being saved from the continual committing of sins. According to the Bible, all have sinned and deserve spiritual death, but we cannot save ourselves; we must trust in God and His grace to be forgiven.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
What must I do to be saved? | Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. |
How can I be saved? | Receive, in faith, the salvation God offers. |
Why do I need to be saved? | We are all infected with sin and we all choose to sin. |
Saved from what? | Sin is what separates us from God and puts us on the path to eternal destruction. |
What do I need to be saved from? | Eternal destruction. |
How did God provide salvation? | God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ, lived among us, and taught us. |
How can I be saved from my sins? | Hear the word of God, believe the gospel, repent, confess your belief in Jesus Christ, be baptized, and remain faithful to God. |
What is salvation not? | Works-based, universal, or found in legalism. |
What is biblical salvation? | It's not by works, legalism, enlightenment, and it's not universal. |
What is the meaning of salvation? | Restoration – setting right what is wrong. |
What You'll Learn
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" is a Bible verse from Acts 16:31. This verse is in response to the question "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). The answer is simple: believe in the Lord Jesus. This belief, or faith, in Jesus Christ is the way of salvation (John 14:6).
Salvation, in Christian terms, refers to the restoration of our fallen condition. We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23) and, because of our sin, we deserve death (Romans 6:23). However, through Jesus Christ, God provided a way of salvation. Jesus, being both fully God and fully man, could pay the penalty for our sins through His death on the cross. His resurrection demonstrated that His sacrifice was sufficient. Now, all we must do is believe and receive the salvation that God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This belief in Jesus Christ is more than just intellectual assent. It involves a deep, personal trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It requires faith and trust, which should be followed by actions based on that trust. It also entails repentance, or a sincere willingness to turn away from our sins and towards God.
This salvation is not just for the individual but can also extend to their household. In the ancient world, the household was the basic unit of society, and the head of the household's decisions often affected everyone within it. Therefore, the faith of one person could lead to the salvation of their entire household.
In conclusion, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" is a powerful statement of the Christian message of salvation. It is simple enough for everyone to understand yet deep enough to warrant a lifetime of study and reflection.
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Turn to Jesus in faith and be saved from spiritual death
Turning to Jesus in faith is the only way to be saved from spiritual death. This is a gift from God, who sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins, giving us the opportunity to choose a life with him in heaven. Jesus' death and resurrection reconciled us to God, and his sacrifice was a payment for our sins.
To turn to Jesus in faith, we must first hear the word of God and believe the gospel—that God exists and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world. We must then repent, turning away from our sins and towards God. We must also confess our belief in Jesus Christ as our Saviour and that He is Lord.
Baptism is also necessary for salvation. We must be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins. After this, we must remain faithful to God. This is a passive and active process, as we depend on God to sanctify us, but we must also strive to obey Him and take steps to increase our sanctification.
Salvation is not about following a set of rules or 'do's and don'ts'. It is not something that can be earned or worked towards, but rather, it is a gift from God. We must put our faith in Jesus alone and trust in Him for the payment of our sins.
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Hear the word of God and believe the gospel
Hearing the word of God and believing the gospel are essential steps in being saved from our sins and receiving salvation.
Firstly, we must hear the word of God. As Romans 10:17 states, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ". We must open our hearts and minds to receive God's message, which comes through the preaching of His word. This act of hearing requires an attitude of humility, honesty, and willingness to learn and obey. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, we should eagerly receive the word of God and diligently search the Scriptures to confirm its truth.
Secondly, we must believe the gospel, which is the good news that God exists and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). This belief is more than just intellectual assent; it involves putting our trust and faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. We must believe that Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6) and that through His death and resurrection, we can be saved from our sins and restored to a right relationship with God.
By hearing the word of God and believing the gospel, we are taking the first steps towards salvation. However, it is important to remember that salvation is not something we can earn through our own works or efforts. Instead, it is a gift from God that we receive by faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast".
Therefore, let us approach God with humility and gratitude, trusting in His grace and mercy as we seek to be saved from our sins.
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Repent and turn away from your sins
Repentance and turning away from sin is a central tenet of Christianity. It is important to note that all people struggle with sin (Romans 3:23) and that we will never be perfect while on Earth.
Repentance is a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in our actions and behaviour. When we are faced with sin, we have two choices: to proceed or to turn away. While this may sound simple, it can be a struggle for many people. However, we are never alone in this struggle, and God will always provide a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
When we sin, we do not need to fear that we have lost God's love or approval. God is merciful and forgiving, and we can approach Him with confidence when seeking forgiveness (Psalm 103:12). Salvation through Jesus is offered to us while we are still sinners (Romans 5:8).
Acts 3:19 says:
> "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
This verse encourages us to turn away from our sins and towards God, who will forgive us and bring us peace and restoration. By repenting and turning away from sin, we can be saved from eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15) and receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
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Be baptised for the forgiveness of sins
The Bible offers clear guidance on how a person can be saved. In Acts 16:30, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?". Paul and Silas responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).
To be saved from our sins, we must turn to Jesus in faith. We must hear the word of God, believe the gospel, repent, and confess our belief in Jesus Christ as our saviour.
One of the steps to receiving salvation is being baptised for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is a public declaration of faith and an outward sign of an inward transformation. It symbolises the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Acts 2:38, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." This passage underscores the universality of the call to repentance and baptism. The message of salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to all people, regardless of their background or previous beliefs.
Baptism is not a requirement for salvation, as salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, it is an important step in the process of salvation, as it is a sign of one's faith and a declaration of membership in a community of believers.
Through baptism, we are immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins, symbolically washing away our sins and beginning a new life in Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
We can be saved from our sins by believing in the Lord Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for everyone, but only those who turn to Him in faith will be saved.
To be saved means to be delivered from our fallen condition. We are all infected with sin and in need of restoration.
In Acts 16:30-31, Paul and Silas are imprisoned and an earthquake frees them. The jailer falls before them and asks, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?". They reply, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved".
To believe in the Lord Jesus means to have faith and trust in Him, and to act on that knowledge. It also means to repent, or turn away from your sins and to God.