There are many churches, most of which agree on some of the basics of Christianity, but as people begin to explore them, they realize there are things on which they disagree. Is the first part of Genesis figurative or literal? Should children be baptized? Does the Holy Spirit indwell a believer before or after baptism? Calvinism or arminism or something else? Is speaking in tongues a signifier of salvation or not?
To understand what salvation is, and how to know if one is saved, it is important to be in agreement with the idea that people need to be saved from something.
Doctrine is agreed upon beliefs and principles which are held by a group. Because people are fallible, they read the Bible, and begin to interpret the text, and sometimes come to differing conclusions. The more and greater disagreements people had, the more that they began to congregate with the interpretations they preferred.
- God is not Father, Son, and Spirit
- Jesus was not resurrected
- Additional revelation outside the Bible
- The Bible is not the inspired, perfect, preserved word of God
- You cannot be certain of salvation
- Jesus was not perfect
- To be saved you must speak in tongues
- Hell is not real
- Real Christians do or don’t do certain things
- Christians can sin as much as they want
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8).
Salvation is not something that can be earned. God is the only one who can take the credit for anyone entering the Kingdom of God. He made the path, paid the price, and it was sealed by Him. People either accept this gift of grace or they do not. There are no works before salvation or after salvation that contribute to the state of salvation.
Jesus did warn that many would claim on the Day of Judgment that they knew Him, but they were false prophets, hard-hearted, and self-deceived, and will be turned away. Security in salvation begins with an examination of the heart. Does someone believe that Jesus is Lord and that God the Father raised Him from the dead? If yes, has that been declared publicly through prayer, and through confession to others? Once someone has done these things, the Bible calls on them to submit to baptism.
Sources
Moody, Dwight. What Must I Do to be Saved? Editora Dracaena, 2014.
So Great Salvation What It Means to Believe in Jesus Christ.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Old Testament and New Testament
Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible
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