All right. This is a question or topic that is often talked about in Christian and non Christian circles. I should clarify: How are we saved from our sins/Hell? Another way of putting it would be, "How does one enter into a relationship with God?" One of the problems I have discovered over the years is that a lot of people are very dependent upon what a preacher, priest, pastor or friend communicates to them. But here's the deal, why would you allow your eternal destiny rest in the hands of another person? If you were going to solo sky dive what would you do to prepare? Personally I would take every class I could...I would take a lot of notes and ask a lot of questions. I would also personally learn and pack my own chute, and if someone had packed it for me I would recheck for myself. Are you with me?
I strongly believe that the same should hold true for our relationship with God. Why would you allow another person to tell you how to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus when you can find out the truth for yourself. So what I suggest every Christian should do is find out for themselves. Now, I wish I could take credit for this little exercise but alas I have to give credit where credit is due. One of my college professors, Chuck McCoy suggested this and I have personally done it twice. So if you want to know how to be saved, here is a good exercise to engage in.
Find a good concordance and look up the following words: "saved", "save", "saves" and "salvation." If you're looking for a tool online check out Biblegateway.com and do a "Key Word" search for those same words. Once you have done that, collect and group all the verses that are related specifically to being saved from sin and or Hell. Then make note of what each grouping of verses teaches...then do what they say.
Now, I highly recommend that you do this exercise for yourself. But if you want a quick glance, here are all the verses in the New Testament that use the words, "save", "saved", "saves" and "salvation." Do a read through and see what they say. I would love to hear your thoughts.
New Testament Scriptures using the word, “Save”/ “Saved” / “Salvation” / “Saves”
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ~ Mt 1:21
22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. ~ Mt 10:22
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. ~ Mt 16:25
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ~ Mk 16:16
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ~ Jn 3:17
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ~ Jn 10:9
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ~ Acts 2:21
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” ~ Acts 4:12
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” ~ Acts 15:11
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ~ Acts 16:31
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ~ Romans 1:16
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ~ Romans 5:9
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~ Romans 10:9
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. ~ 1 Cor. 15:2
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ~ 2 Cor 7:10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. ~ Eph 2:8
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ~ Titus 2:11
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ~ Titus 3:3
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. ~ Heb 7:25
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. ~ James 1:21
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. ~ 1 Peter 3:21
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