What Must I Do To Be Saved?

While in prison the apostle Paul was asked this very question. His simple answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. . ." However, writing to a church in Greece, he warned that they could "believe in vain." In other words, he was saying that there is a kind of faith or belief which does not save a person. James, the Lord Jesus' brother, inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble!" The devils of hell believe in God but they won't end up in heaven. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said that everyone who claims to believe in Him will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So, what does the Bible say we must do to be saved?

The first thing to know is that if, in asking the question you mean, "What can I do to gain God's favor so that I might be saved," the answer is an emphatic, "Nothing!" God's Word is clear. Salvation is by grace through faith. It is a gift from God. It is not a result of good works. There is nothing we can do to earn the gift of salvation.

Speaking to a group of church leaders Paul explained that salvation is received through "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Repentance is turning from our sin and turning to God, submitting ourselves to Him and His purpose for our lives completely. We acknowledge that we have sinned and that our sin offends a holy God and the result of our sin is death, both physical and spiritual. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for the consequences of our sin. It includes a godly sorrow at having offended God and an "about- face" attitude in the direction of our lives; a change in heart that produces a changed life.

Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, is more than just believing that Jesus lived and died. The word "Lord" is a title reserved for God. To be saved you must believe Jesus Christ is God, who became a man, lived a sinless life, and then voluntarily gave Himself up to be crucified. All of that was according to the Scriptures written long before He even lived. Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ or having faith toward Him means that you simply trust Him as the one who can remove that barrier between you and God, that is, your sin. Call on Him to save you, to rescue you from your sin. Come to Him today for eternal and He will receive you as His own.

If you have questions about salvation in general, yours in particular, or anything else about the Christian faith, please contact us at pbcinfo@peoplepc.com or 713-910-7887.

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