Most people want to get to heaven. The problem is that there are many different religious organizations in the world today and they all tell us a different story on what we must do to be saved. And they will all have some scriptures to back up what they claim. Who should we believe? Well, it is obvious that instead of listening to all these opinions of man, we need to be reading what God has revealed to us. After all, it is God who will judge us and God has told us what we must do to be saved. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." [John 12:48]. If we want to go to heaven, we must follow the plan that God has revealed to us. The only way to heaven is by following God's plan. And the only way to know His plan is to study His word.

 

Do you know how to get to heaven? Please click on the link below which identifies the way that you believe we are saved:

• We are saved by the gospel.
• We are saved by grace.
• We are saved by faith.
• We are saved by grace through faith.
• We are predestined to be saved.
• We are saved by calling on the name of the Lord.
• We are saved by reciting the sinner's prayer.
• We are saved by the blood of Jesus.
• We are saved by repentance.
• We are saved by confessing Jesus.
• We are saved by obedience.
• We are saved by baptism.
• We are saved by grace and obedience.

 

 

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How Can We Be Saved? - The Answers

When we search God's word to discover His Plan of Salvation, we must be careful to evaluate all of the evidence. There is some truth in each of these answers. But we must look at all of what the Bible has to say. We cannot live part of our life according to the Bible while other parts of our life contradict what it tells us. We must follow all of God's plan if we want to be pleasing to Him and to be given a home in heaven. There are many false doctrines that look like they are true if you only look at some of the Bible, but a little study will show that they contradict other parts of the Bible and, therefore, they are false.

 

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Are We Saved by the Gospel?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by the gospel. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." [Romans 1:16]. See also Acts 13:26, Acts 20:32, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:15, and James 1:21.

But the gospel does not save us by itself. It is the merely instruction manual. God expects us to study it, to believe it, and to obey it.

The Bible tells us that God will judge us based on what we have done. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." [2 Corinthians 5:10].

The gospel gives us God's entire plan. We must study it to find all the passages that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Grace?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by grace. "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" [Ephesians 2:5]. See also Acts 15:11, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11, and Titus 3:5.

But grace teaches us that we need to do more. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" [Titus 2:11-12]

The Bible also tells us that only those who obey God will be saved. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" [Hebrews 5:9]. So, even though we cannot be saved without God's grace, He has specified conditions that we must satisfy before we can be saved. If we do not obey God's commands, we will not be saved. "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:" [Matthew 7:26].

Many denominations teach that the need for man to do anything negates grace. But they also teach that man must have faith or man must call on the name of the Lord. Both of these show the necessity for man to do something. So, why not do all that God has commanded?

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Faith?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by faith. "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." [Acts 16:31]. See also Mark 16:16, John 3:16, John 8:24, and Hebrews 11:6.

But the Bible does not say that we are saved by faith alone. To believe in God is not enough by itself. That will not make you any better than the devil himself. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." [James 2:19]. God's word tells us what to do. If we believe it, we will obey it. And if we obey it, we will be saved. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." [Romans 1:16]. If we read Hebrews chapter 11, we will see many of the Old Testament worthies who are praised for their great faith. But in each case, we see that these people showed their faith by the acts they performed. Their faith was an obedient faith. And our faith can be an obedient faith if we obey all that God has commanded.

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Grace Through Faith?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by grace through faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" [Ephesians 2:8]. Please see the other references listed above under Saved by Grace and under Saved by Faith.

But the Bible also says that God will punish those who do not obey Him. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" [2 Thessalonians 1:8]. We need God's grace and we must have faith. But we have other commands that must be obeyed as well.

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Predestined to be Saved?

The doctrine of Predestination is misunderstood by many religious bodies. The Bible does say that those who are predestined will be saved. "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." [Romans 8:30].

This cannot refer to specific people because that would contradict many other scriptures. Therefore, it must refer to a class of people, those who obey what God has commanded. "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." [1 Timothy 2:4]. God could not desire for all men to be saved if He had already hand-picked those who would be saved. "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" [1 Peter 1:17] God is no respecter of persons. Whoever obeys will be saved. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." [2 Peter 3:9] Jesus died for all men, not just for the elect. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." [1 John 2:2] See also Acts 10:34-35, Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:24-25, Titus 2:11-12, Hebrews 2:9 and Revelation 22:17.

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Calling on the Name of the Lord?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by calling on the name of the Lord. "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." [Acts 2:21].

Paul described how this works in his letter to the Romans. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" [Romans 10:13-14] Before they could call on the name of the Lord, they needed to hear God's word and believe it. A careful study of the Bible will show that there are other commands that need to be obeyed as well.

So there is a lot more involved that just calling on Him. God expects obedience. That is why Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." [Matthew 7:21]. This shows that calling on Him is not enough. Obedience is necessary also.

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Reciting the Sinner's Prayer?

This answer cannot be found in the Bible. This is similar to Calling on the Name of the Lord, which does play a part in our salvation. So see the explanation given in that section. We can see that prayer saved Simon the Sorcerer. But his happened after he had been saved and after he fell back into sin. He was told to repent of his sin and pray to God for forgiveness. "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." [Acts 8:22].

But Simon had already been saved. Earlier in the chapter we see that he had believed and been baptized. Prayer only restored him to a relationship with God. It did not save him in the first place. We must be obedient to God's commands. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." [1 John 2:3].

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by the Blood of Jesus?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by blood of Jesus. "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." [Romans 5:9].

But how do we reach the blood? We reach the blood of Jesus through baptism. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." [Romans 6:3-4].

God has done His part by sending His Son to die for our sins. But God expects us to do our part by obeying the commands that He has given us.

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Repentance?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by repentance. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." [2 Corinthians 7:10]. See also Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 and Acts 17:30.

But repentance is only one of the commands that we must obey. Can a man obey some of God's commands and disobey other commands and still be pleasing to God? No, we must obey all of His commands. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" [1 Peter 4:17].

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Confessing Jesus?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by confessing Jesus. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." [Romans 10:9]. See also Matthew 10:32, John 12:42 and Acts 8:36-37.

But God has given us other commands to obey. Can we disobey those other commands and still expect to be saved? "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." [John 14:23]

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Obedience?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by obedience. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" [Romans 6:16]. See also Matthew 7:21-27, John 14:15, John 14:23, Acts 10:34-35, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Hebrews 5:8-9, James 2:24, 1 Peter 1:22-23, 1 Peter 4:17, 1 John 2:3-4 and 1 John 5:2-3.

But we must also remember that it took the death of God's Son to wash away our sins. We can never be saved by our works alone. Even if we obey all of God's commands, we have only done what is expected of us. It still takes God's grace to save us. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." [Luke 17:10].

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Baptism?

This answer is true but incomplete. The Bible does tell us that we are saved by baptism. "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" [1 Peter 3:21]. How can someone explain away baptism when Peter told us that we are saved by it. See also Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 2:40-41, Acts 8:36-38, Acts 10:48, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-5 and Galatians 3:27.

But we still need God's grace and the sacrifice of His Son to wash away our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." [John 3:16].

In order to know God's entire plan, we must look at all the other passages in the Bible that describe our salvation.

 

 

 

 

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Are We Saved by Grace and Obedience?

Yes, it takes all of these parts to make up the whole Plan of Salvation. God has a part in providing His grace and man has a part in being obedient. God has already done His part. He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

The Bible clearly states that our salvation is conditional. God has given us commands that we must obey in order to be saved. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" [Hebrews 5:9]. Salvation is only for those who obey God.

Listed below are five commands that God has given us. We must obey all of these commands in order to be saved. If we fail to keep even one of these commands, we will not be saved.

1. We must hear the word. God's word contains everything that we need to do to be saved. But we have to study it to know what it says. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." [Romans 10:17].

2. We must believe the word. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." [Hebrews 11:6]. This is something that we must do. It takes action on our part. "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." [John 6:29]. Jesus said that faith is a work.

3. We must repent of our sins. "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." [Luke 13:3].

4. We must confess Jesus as our Lord. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." [Romans 10:9].

5. We must be baptized for the remission of our sins. "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." [Acts 2:38]. Like each of the previous steps, this is an action that we must take. There is no power in the water. It is our obedience to God's command that saves us. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." [Acts 22:16]. Paul was not saved until he was baptized.

Anyone who does not obey these commands will not be saved. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." [Matthew 7:21]. In fact, there is a fiery hell that awaits those who will not obey God. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" [2 Thessalonians 1:8].

Once you are saved, you need to continue to obey the commands of God because sin separates us from God. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." [Isaiah 59:2] This is true before you are saved and it is still true after you have been saved. But, like Simon the Sorcerer in Acts chapter 8, if we sin after we have been saved, we can pray to God for forgiveness.

Sin still has the same consequence after we are saved. It still separates us from God and we can lose our salvation. "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 13:40-42] This tells us that there will be some in the kingdom (the saved) that will be cast into hell.

Please take out your Bible and study to see that these things are true. You will not get to heaven unless you obey God's commands.

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