How is a person saved?
There are certainly various opinions on this subject. The important thing to consider are the passages that are relevant to salvation. Lets consider some of the following passages.
First, a person needs to believe. Believing comes through hearing and understanding the Gospel, as referenced Romans 10:17 KJV, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Other passages state the importance of believing.
- Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (Joh 11:25 KJV)
- Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1Jo 5:1 KJV)
These passages prove that believing is necessary but there is there more to salvation than just believing? This is one of the most widely debated points of salvation. Let's look at what the Bible says.
- Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, 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. (Act 2:36-38 KJV)
- And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Act 17:30 KJV)
These passages as well as many others show that repentance is expected and necessary for those who have not been saved from their sins. In the case of the passage in Acts 2, the people were pricked in their hearts. They were told to repent after asking what they needed to do. When people are touched by the Gospel today, they should be compelled to repent of their sins. In the case of the sermon on Mars Hill as we study in Acts 17, those who had not put on salvation were told that God commands all men every where to repent. The scriptures speak out strongly about the need to repent.
What other steps are involved in salvation? The next one we have already read about in Acts 2. Peter told those who were pricked in their hearts that they needed to be baptized for the remission of sins. Jesus also taught of the necessity of baptism.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mar 16:16 KJV)
Notice that Jesus states that it is believing coupled with baptism that saves man. He says that those who do not believe shall be damned. This shows an important relationship between baptism and believing. Those who do not believe will be damned whether they are baptized or not. So we see that belief is a prerequisite for baptism to free us from our sins and not the only step required to be saved. But what kind of baptism was Jesus talking about in Mark? Jesus explained what acceptable baptism is in John 3.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 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 spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (Joh 3:3-7 KJV)
Notice that Nicodemus was having a difficult time understanding that Jesus wasn't talking about a physical rebirth. Jesus explains that he is referring to a spiritual rebirth. Notice also that Jesus says that a man must be born of water. This is the baptism that Jesus tells us is necessary. A burial in water that allows us to arise a new spiritual man. We see a very good example of this baptism as the Ethiopian Eunuch
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Act 8:35-39 KJV)
Take notice of the eunuch's understanding of what he needed to do to put on salvation. He was given a baptism in water to remove his sins. It is evident that this was a very important step for the eunuch as he desired it so sincerely and asked the question "what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip heeding the very words of Christ said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest."