Common Questions about Salvation

1. What is Salvation? Safety; deliverance from evil; eternal life Salvation comes only by God’s grace and through Jesus Christ when a person accepts Christ as Lord & Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9 (a gift from God)

2. What is sin? Missing the mark of God’s will by choice and because of human weakness; action or attitude that disobeys God, betrays Him or fails to do good. Romans 3:23; James 4:17

3. Why do I need to be saved? Because of our sin, we require a savior. Romans 5:19; 6:23

4. What does it mean to be saved? Rescued, delivered from the judgment of sin; whole or complete. Colossians 2:10-15

5. What do I need to do to be saved? Believe & confess. Romans 10:9

6. Once I am saved, can I lose my salvation? No one can pluck you out of God's hand. John 10:28-29

7. Is salvation by faith alone, or faith plus works? Faith without works is dead, but we don’t work to become saved, we work because we are saved. James 2:14-20

8. What is the age of accountability? Although from a biblical perspective I can not tell you with certainty which view is correct, I can tell you that there is no denying that we are all born and conceived in sin. The comfort, however, comes from the very nature of God, because we know that God is a God of justice (Deut. 32:4). We also know that God is a God of consummate love; He's loved us with an everlasting love and He's drawn us by His loving kindness (Jer. 31:3). Therefore, we can rest assured that everyone, particularly children, will be judged fairly and in love. Excerpt from CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

9. What about people who don't hear the gospel? It is not God’s will that anyone shall perish. However, rather than speculate, I will trust God with His creation. 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 18:14; Romans 2:13; Luke 1:37

10. Are we held accountable for others salvation? We are responsible for sharing the gospel; only God can save people, we are powerless to do so. Matthew 28:19-20; John 12:32

11. What does it mean to live saved? To be set apart; live to please God, not man. Leviticus 11:44; Romans 8:8

12. Since we are all children that God created why is it that He doesn’t save everyone? It doesn’t seem fair since the Bible says He loves all of us, why aren’t all of us able to go to heaven? God loves us so much that He did not create us as robots; He gave us the freedom of choice. We can choose to serve Him or we can choose not to. God does not send anyone to hell; we make the choice to go to heaven or hell. However, He provided an example for us to follow and He provided the truth of his Word. John 14:6; Philippians 3:18-20

13. If it is what we believe that saves us then why do we need to worry about the things we do if we already believe in Jesus? We must walk in the newness of life and not continue to do the things we did before we came to know Christ. Romans 6:1-7

14. Can we be saved by works? No, we are not saved by works. Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:14-2

15. If I believe that Jesus is God's Son, but I haven’t been baptized, am I saved? (What specifically is the purpose for being baptized?) Baptism is an outward symbol of your inward confession; going under the water is like a dead person being buried, it pictures that a person has died to his old way of life; rising up from the water is like coming up from the grave (resurrection); baptism is not salvation any more than a picture of you is not the real thing; it’s just a representation. Romans 6:1-7

16. Is there any sin that I could do (ex. murder, suicide, rape) that God wouldn’t save me because my sin was too great? The only unforgiveable sin is unwillingness to accept God. Matthew 12:31

17. Is there anything I could do after I have been saved that is so great it would cancel out my salvation? See #6 above and read the following scriptures for assurance. Matthew 12:31, John 3:16, John 6:37, John 6:40, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 John 4:13-17

18. If I am saved but I have committed a lot of sins that I don’t feel sorry for and I haven't repented for will my unrepented sins stop me from going to heaven? Repentance is one of the 1st steps to becoming a Christian

...realize that you are a sinner;

...repent of your sins

...receive Jesus personally as Savior and Lord

Mark 1:15; Luke 6:46; Romans 2:5-11

19. When I get saved and this supernatural thing happens to me is there something that has to occur within me that proves my salvation? (Do I have to be able to speak in tongues for me to be saved?) Believe & confess Romans 10:9; you are regenerated (born-again) by turning from your sin and turning to Christ. Ephesians 2:1-10; Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift and all Christians do not have the same gift. 2 Corinthians 12:4-11