What must I do to be saved?

Introduction

Salvation is something that we all ponder and are definitely curious as to how it comes to us. Currently, there are many programs on the market today used to invite people into having a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Just to name a few: “The Four Spiritual Laws”, “The Roman’s Road to Salvation”, “Steps to Peace with God”, “This was your Life”, “New Life in Christ: Plan of Salvation”, and “God has a wonderful plan for your life”. 

All of which are very similar. For the most part, each of them will walk you through a serious of steps bringing you to the point where you must make a decision to choose for yourself God’s gift of salvation. We’ve all heard the calls from pastors, evangelists, and ordinary people prompting us to “invite Jesus into our heart or life”, to “give our heart or life over to God, or to “choose Jesus or as our savior and make Him the Lord of our life”. Unfortunately, salvation doesn’t work quite like that. 

Our biggest problem in life is sin and its consequences - death and eternal damnation. We are dead in our sins and separated from God because of sin. “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” Ephesians 2:1 NIV. And, there is nothing in our power or ability to resolve this problem. Dead people cannot make themselves alive again. What we need in a total rescue from someone else. That, somebody other than ourselves would reach into our lives and breathe new life into us. That somebody else is Jesus, the one who gives us new birth and new life. “Jesus replied, “Very truly I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3.3 NIV.

Salvation is not something that we can decide for ourselves. We cannot choose God or salvation simply because sin has obstructed our ability to communicate with God on our own accord. Communication with God can only happen on His terms. Luther states in The Small Catechism under his explanation of the Third Article of the Creed – “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

Rather, salvation is the work of God alone acting upon us. It comes to us in the work of His Son dying and rising from the dead for our justification. Salvation is the sole work of God from beginning to end and it comes to us alone by the Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV. The Gospel heard has the ability to turn one toward God in faith, to turn one from I don’t believe to I do now believe that Christ’s death and resurrection alone is sufficient to save me. You see, the Gospel creates in the human heart the very thing that it calls for. It creates faith that takes hold of what God has promised us in Christ – the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. Hearing the Gospel is critical and necessary. For this is where God grants faith and moves one to believe God, trust Christ, and receive His promised gifts of eternal life, salvation, and peace with Him.          

Enjoy our booklet titled “Rescued – Delivered from the Clutches of Death”, which gives a more detailed accounting of God’s plan of salvation for mankind.