How To Be Saved By God: Ways To Cherish The Gift Of Salvation

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Published by Kenneth Garcia

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Co-Founder of Biblekeeper, Author & Theologian

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Salvation is the primary aim and essence of Christianity. When our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned and disobeyed God, they were banished from the Garden of Eden. They also lost their perfection and immortality. As a consequence, we also bore their sins, imperfections, and judgment into death.

But, despite our fallen nature, God has plans for us and our eternal destiny. The Bible reveals that out of His abounding and overriding love, He will carry out the redemption of humanity. God’s salvation is something that can only happen through Jesus Christ.

God sent His only begotten Son, who died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we could live with Him in Heaven. The incarnation of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, is the cornerstone of God’s redemptive plan to bring salvation to every human being.

What Does The Bible Say About How To Be Saved By God?

God’s Plan For Salvation

God initiated His plan of salvation by establishing a covenant with Abraham, promising that through his descendants, all nations would be blessed. This covenant laid the groundwork for the eventual arrival of the Savior.

Throughout the Old Testament, prophets played a crucial role in communicating God’s will and announcing the coming of the Messiah. Their prophecies provided hope and anticipation for the redemption of humanity.

Salvation By Grace Through Faith

By grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8–9

Some of us may ask, “How do I know if I’m really saved?” The Apostle John wrote his first letter to address this question: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Salvation is a gift from God, given to all who believe in him. Out of His abounding love for us, it is a gift that God offers to those who accept this priceless gift through faith. Salvation must be received and not earned, and it is only through the grace and name of Jesus Christ that anyone can be saved.

The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4

The Gospel, as the intrinsic narrative of Jesus Christ, is one of the most important stories in history. Jesus Christ is the Messiah[1], the Savior of mankind. The Gospel is a core element of Christianity, and it is the most vital message that Jesus has ever given us. God raised Jesus from death as a realization of His promise.

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us and set us free from the shackles of sin. Christ’s death and resurrection are the reasons why we can have hope in our lives, and it is the hope that will never be lost. God loves us and desires to save us through His Son, Jesus. It further embodies the rationale and very reason for His incarnation on Earth, as willed by our Father in Heaven.

Why Do You Need To Be Saved?

We Are All Sinners

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

In the Garden of Eden, our first parents were sinless and perfect until they disobeyed God. As a consequence, we bore the original sin and the judgment of God. Romans 6:23 reads: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thus, every one of us is a sinner, regardless of color, social status, or creed.

The human race is in a state of constant decay, and it’s our aim as Christians to get us back to God’s grace and embrace. The Bible says that we are all mired in sin, but it also gives us hope and the power to change our lives. When we inevitably fall short of perfect obedience, we have the promise that God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us.

We can never have a sinless life like Jesus. God loves sinners. But we need to be saved in order to be spared from eternal doom in hell.

Judgment Seat Of God

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10

Although God created us and loves us, He cannot simply overlook our sins; His divine righteousness requires Him to judge us. God is a righteous judge, and the Bible tells us that in the last days, He will decide our final destination. Because we have all sinned, we deserve God’s judgment.

The judgment seat of God is a place where we will stand before the Lord to give an account of the way that we have lived. In God’s court, our sins will be revealed, and we will be held accountable for them. We will be judged on our words, thoughts, and deeds that we have done during our lifetime.

john bible verse and how to be saved by god

What Are You Being Saved From?

Freedom From The Wrath Of God

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 3:36

The Bible teaches that when Jesus died on the cross, he paid for our sins and that we are saved and freed from the wrath of God. The wrath of God is a punishment that God will inflict on those who deserve it. The anger of the Lord God is the punishment that God assigns to those who have committed sins, such as those listed in the Ten Commandments.

Moreover, the wrath of God can also be referred to as a just punishment, which is what God will give to those who are deserving of it. If you have done something that you know is wrong, you might fear that the wrath of God is coming for you.

The wrath of God is a term used to describe the fury of God, which is described in the Bible as the righteous punishment of God against those who sin. Some of the effects of this anger are described in the Bible and include punishment by fire, sword, and plague. But when we inculcate faith in Christ, we are spared from the wrath of God.

Eternal Punishment In Hell

Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Matthew 25:41

Hell is the eternal punishment for all who die in a sinful state. It is a place of unceasing torment, where the fires of hell are never quenched and the worm that never dies never rests. To be sent to hell is to be sent to a place of unending misery.

In this depiction of hell, the concept of Abaddon from the Book of Revelation, as an angel of destruction and ruler of an abyss, aligns with the theme of eternal damnation.

When the rich king asked Abraham to send Lazarus to alleviate his torment in Hades, Abraham replied that his pain could no longer be eased because he was already sentenced to the dark realms (Luke 16:19–31). We need to be saved to avoid the eternal fire in hell. The amount of torture that sinners and the unsaved will have to endure will be unimaginable. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What Must You Do To Be Saved?

Believe In The Name Of Jesus Christ

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

— Acts 16:31

The name of Jesus Christ is the most powerful name in all of history. He lived a sinless life. But He died on the cross for our sins and offers us a free gift of salvation and a new life in Him. When we believe in Jesus Christ and confess our sins, God promises that we will be forgiven and granted everlasting life.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer bound by our past but instead can look forward to a life full of hope and joy. When we accept His gift, we are given a life of eternity and a relationship with Him. This gift cannot be earned or bought; it is only available through faith in Jesus Christ.

To believe in Him means to trust His word and accept His promises. It also requires us to repent of our sins and turn away from them, trusting in Jesus alone for our salvation. By believing in the holy name of Jesus, we can be saved from sin, death, and all its consequences.

Confession

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

A confession is a powerful act that can bring us closer to salvation. The Bible also tells us that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). But confessing our sins helps us recognize our wrongdoings and seek forgiveness from God. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Through confession, we can unburden ourselves of the guilt and shame associated with our sins and find peace within ourselves. Lastly, we can open up a path toward redemption and spiritual growth.

We confess our sins not only to God but also to other people. James 5:16 reads: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Confession also gives us an opportunity to reflect on our actions and learn from them in order to become better people. We can use the power of confession to restore harmony in our lives and attain salvation.

Repentance

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Acts 3:19

Repentance is the first step toward restoring our divine relationship with God. It is a sincere change of heart about how we have lived our sinful ways. It is also an act of humility and self-reflection, in which we acknowledge our wrongdoings and strive to make amends. Repentance is not only about recognizing our mistakes but also about making genuine efforts to change our behavior and embracing God’s grace.

When Jesus started His ministry on Earth, He first emphasized the importance of repentance. Matthew 4:17 reads: “From that time on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Through repentance, we become more aware of the consequences of our actions and are better able to take responsibility for them. In this way, repentance can help us find forgiveness from God and ultimately lead us on the path toward salvation.

Baptism And Gift Of The Holy Spirit

Peter replied, “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 2:38

Baptism is an important undertaking in Christian theology. It marks the beginning of a person’s journey of faith and is seen as a symbolic washing away of sin. Jesus Christ died for our iniquities. The Bible also tells us that those who have been baptized in Christ are also baptized into Jesus’ death.

In like manner, we are to be baptized for the remission of our sins by the blood of Jesus. We also receive God’s gift of everlasting life. Furthermore, the Bible stresses that through baptism, the Holy Spirit enters into the life of the believer and brings about transformation.

Baptism also follows repentance. The gift of the Holy Spirit is also seen as a special blessing from God that enables believers to live out their faith in accordance with God’s will. Together, these two elements are essential for an individual to truly experience God’s grace and mercy.

Build Up Your Faith

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 

Luke 17:5

The level of our faith determines the degree of our belief in our Creator. Jesus often admonished the disciples that they needed to nurture their faith. The following are essential traits and practices we must adopt every day to increase our faith in Jesus:

  • Prayer. Communicating with God regularly through a robust prayer life is key to building our confidence and unswerving belief in our Creator. The prayer of salvation is a spiritual invocation where we can express our belief in Jesus Christ and seek redemption.
  • Read God’s Word. The Bible is the source of all truth. It contains all the commands and instructions of God to increase our faith in Jesus.
  • Attend Church Services. God delights in the worship of the congregation of His saints. In church, we also hear preaching about God’s Word and have fellowship with our fellow Christians.

What Does It Mean To Be Saved?

Justification

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

Justification and salvation are two concepts that are closely intertwined in the Christian faith. Justification is the process by which a person is declared righteous and saved from the consequences of his sins through faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation, on the other hand, is the result of justification, where a person receives everlasting life and freedom from sin. Both of these concepts have been discussed throughout history as they are essential to understanding Christianity. They provide an explanation for how humans can be reconciled with God despite their sinful nature and how they can receive everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sanctification

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

The biblical meaning of sanctification is the process by which a person is set apart from the world and consecrated to God. The word “sanctify” comes from the Latin Sanctus, meaning “holy.” This process begins with salvation when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior. Sanctification is a lifelong process that continues as we grow in our relationship with God. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, sanctifying us and making us more like Christ.

As Christians, we will never be perfect and sinless during our temporary life and sojourn on Earth. But when we gain salvation, we sin less and less through sanctification. We also begin to hate sin because we believe it jeopardizes salvation. The love of God abides in all who persevere through faith in Him.

We Become A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

The simple statement of the apostle Paul has profound implications for our lives. If we are in Christ, then we are new creations. This means that our old sinful selves have been crucified with Christ, and we have been given new life in Him. We are now born-again, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. God brought Christ Jesus from the dead, and He will also raise us from our demise.

This is a wonderful truth that should bring great joy to our hearts. We don’t have to live in our sin anymore. We don’t have to be controlled by our sinful desires. Instead, we can now live for the Lord Jesus Christ and please Him. We can now grow in holiness and become more and more like Him.

We Gain Eternal Life

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

A life of eternity in God’s kingdom is the paramount purpose and objective for all believers. It is different than just living forever. This is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23). It cannot be earned and is only given to those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. To live in eternity with God is to have an unceasing relationship and fellowship with Him. It is also to know God personally and experience His love, power, and forgiveness.

salvation scrabble letters and how to be saved by god

Conclusion

Today, many faiths and cultures have their own unique set of beliefs on how to gain salvation. Sadly, others don’t believe in God, creation, or everlasting life. As Christians, we learn that eternity beckons for the forthcoming kingdom of heaven. May God bless the saved and grant grace and mercy to the unsaved.

In Paradise, pain, suffering, brokenness, and death will no longer exist. Instead, we will spend eternity in everlasting peace, joy, and holy fellowship with God. The key to salvation and redemption is our infallible identity and relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

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