What does it mean to be saved? To be a Christian?
1. You must believe you are a sinner!!
"As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one." Romans 3:10-12
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
2. God gives us the faith to be saved.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." Romans 5:1-2
God justifies us, or makes us righteous!
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Eph 2:4-5a
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:8-10
If you are not saved by God, you are a dead person. But God can take you from death to life! God will give you grace through faith, and save you.
3. Once God gives you faith, you must believe in Christ! You have heard the gospel of God's saving grace, you now can be saved!
"If you declare 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 profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:8-10
This is the only way to be saved. You are not a Christian because you were born into a Christian family. You are not a Christian because you go to church, you are not a Christian for trying to work to be a better person. Works will always fail to save you, although we do follow Jesus, & obey his commands.
4. Here are several other ways the Bible says the same thing! Ask, like the Philippians jailer did, "What must I do to be saved?"
"He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:39-31
5. Here is a complete recounting of the gospel, in one place!
"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Cor 15:1-8
6. Repentance! This follows salvation! We must repent to God of our sins. He will help us turn away from our sins!
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Cor 7:10
"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
Finally, have you repented of your sins and turned to Christ?
"have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." Acts 20:21
I hope by understanding the gospel, you will believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and you will follow him all the days of your life!