THE WAY OF SALVATION

The most important question one can ever ask is, "What must I do to be saved?" In a real sense, the entire Bible has been given to men for the express purpose of answering this question. How tragic it is that there are so many different answers given by different religious groups. If God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (and He has, cf. 2 Peter 1:3), then surely He has given us the answer to this most important question. On the other hand, if the answer is so vague as to be impossible to understand, or if the answer is deemed of little consequence, what would be the use of even having a revelation from God regarding this matter? The Bible assures us that we cannot attain salvation on our own; that we could not, without the guidance God has given us, propose a method or plan to escape from the eternal consequence of sin. Let us, then, study the Word of God and find what God would have us do to be saved. Remember, we need to study all of what the Bible teaches on this subject.

First, the Bible teaches us that it is necessary to hear the Word of God. In Romans 10:17, Paul wrote, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Since the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), it is essential that the gospel be preached and heard. Jesus, in the parable of the sower, stated, The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:4-15). Thus, the seed must be planted and received in the heart of the one who hears.

Second, the Bible teaches that faith must be the response on the part of the one who hears the word. In Hebrews 11:6 we read, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." While it is possible to hear the gospel and turn away in disbelief, only those who "gladly receive the word" (Acts 2:41) and believe its testimony to God and His Son Jesus Christ are promised a reward.

Third, the Bible teaches that God demands repentance. In Acts 17:30, 31 Paul spoke these words to the philosophers of Athens, Greece: "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." Jesus, in Luke 13:3 and 5, in answer to questions about catastrophes that had affected some in his audience, replied, "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Repentance is a change of the will which results in a change of behavior. It is more than being sorry for sin, though that is a prerequisite of repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is more than being convicted of one's sins before a righteous and holy God, though that also is a prerequisite (Acts 2:37, 38). Someone has given the following definition of repentance: Repentance is learning to hate what you once loved (sin), and learning to love what you once hated (God's righteousness).

Fourth, the Bible reaches that one must confess the name of Jesus as Lord. In Matthew 10:32, 33 Jesus said, "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." In Romans 10: 9, 10 we read the following words from Paul: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Fifth, the Bible teaches that one must be baptized in water for the remission of one's sins. In Mark 16:15, 16 Jesus' commission to the apostles is recorded as follows: "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Peter answered the question, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (asked by a multitude of Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem less than two months after the death and resurrection of Jesus) as follows: "Repent and be baptized 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" (Acts 2:37, 38). In Galatians 3:27 Paul states, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." In Romans 6:3, 4 Paul paints a vivid picture in the following words: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Does your "salvation experience" differ from what has been described above? If so, can you find your "experience" taught in the Scriptures? If your "experience" was different, but you cannot find it in the Bible, in which one do you want to place your trust for your eternal destiny?