What must I do to be saved? The difference between the right answer and the wrong answer to this question is the difference between heaven and hell.
The Bible is the only source to find the right answer. God’s plan to save people has not changed. Whatever God required people to do in the New Testament times in order to be saved from their sins is what we must do today.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is sprit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7
Salvation MYTHS
MYTH #1: Ignorance is an excuse.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world… Acts 17:30-31
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiates 9:11
MYTH #2: All you have to do is say the Sinner’s Prayer to be saved.
MYTH #3: Baptism is not needed.
Pentecost: Acts 2:41
Samaria: Acts 8:12-13, 16
The Eunuch: Acts 8:38
Saul: Acts 9:18
Cornelius: Acts 10:47-48
Lydia: Acts 16:15
The Jailer: Acts 16:33
Corinthians: Acts 18:8
Ephesians: Acts 19:5
MYTH #4: God is a merciful God so He wouldn’t send anyone to hell; we are all saved.
Hear: You must hear the word of God in order to be saved.
The Bible is the only source to find the right answer. God’s plan to save people has not changed. Whatever God required people to do in the New Testament times in order to be saved from their sins is what we must do today.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is sprit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7
Salvation MYTHS
MYTH #1: Ignorance is an excuse.
- Some people believe that if you never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus you will automatically make it into heaven. The Bible tells us that all men will have the opportunity to know Jesus.
- Ignorance cannot wash away sin. ONLY the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world… Acts 17:30-31
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiates 9:11
MYTH #2: All you have to do is say the Sinner’s Prayer to be saved.
- The Sinner’s Prayer is not found anywhere in the Bible.
- There are no examples of salvation by prayer alone in the Bible.
MYTH #3: Baptism is not needed.
- To suggest that you can be saved without baptism is to say that you can be saved without the blood of Jesus; baptism is where we make contact with the blood of Jesus.
- Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9
- Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9
- Even Jesus was baptized. Who are we to think that we are greater than Jesus and don’t need baptism?
- And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Matthew 3:16
- There are many examples of individuals who were saved in the Bible and these examples involved baptism in order to be saved.
Pentecost: Acts 2:41
Samaria: Acts 8:12-13, 16
The Eunuch: Acts 8:38
Saul: Acts 9:18
Cornelius: Acts 10:47-48
Lydia: Acts 16:15
The Jailer: Acts 16:33
Corinthians: Acts 18:8
Ephesians: Acts 19:5
MYTH #4: God is a merciful God so He wouldn’t send anyone to hell; we are all saved.
- If God were to overlook sin He would not be a just and righteous God.
- Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne…Psalm 89:14
- Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne…Psalm 89:14
- We will all be judged for the things we say and do.
- For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:17-18
- For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:17-18
- God has no respect of persons. Sin is sin no matter who you are.
- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23
- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23
Hear: You must hear the word of God in order to be saved.
- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in who they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?... Romans 10:13-14
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:15-16
- … for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John 8:24
- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
- ...If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9
- Therefore I endure all things for the elects’ sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10
- …Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
- What is repentance? Repentance…
- Involves a change of mind or change of thinking.
- But what think you? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. Matthew 21: 28-29
- Involves a change of mind or change of thinking.
- Involves godly sorrow.
- For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:10
- Involves a change of life.
- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
- Confess: You must confess your sins to be saved.
- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10
- Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
- Be Baptized in the name of JESUS: You must be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins; baptism is where we contact the blood of Jesus.
- And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16
- …Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
- For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28
- 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
- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in who also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13
- And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4
- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26
- …Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9
- And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish….So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14: 27-30, 33
- For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and, The sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2:20-22