Requirements for Salvation
…as Defined in the Bible
The Bible says we must have four things for salvation:
BAPTISM
The Bible is very clear that you must be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit to be saved. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16; John 3:5)
TRUE FAITH IN JESUS
True faith, that produces good works out of love by obedience until the hour of your death is what is necessary to be saved.
Countless places in the Bible states how Faith without works is dead (cf. James 2:14-26). Because when you truly believe in God you will want to do His works (His will), and those who don’t live God’s word and don’t try to obey Him don’t truly believe, and they won’t inherit eternal life (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). Salvation is never earned by ones works, but is a gift from God to those who truly believe (cf.Ephesians 2:8).
One must stay faithful until the hour of their death to be saved (cf. Matthew 24:13). Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
RECONCILIATION
An unrepentant sinner who dies with mortal sin (serious sin that destroys ones relationship with God by their own free will) on their soul will not enter into Heaven (cf. 1 John 5:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:9).
Satan’s goal is to convince souls into thinking they don’t need to confess their sins, there is an easy way out, and they don’t need to obey God to be saved.
However, the Bible says differently.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another…” (James 5:16, Proverbs 28:13)
When Jesus was giving instructions to His apostles (the first priests of God’s Church), He said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Yes, God has asked us to confess our sins to His priests…his chosen priesthood (cf. 1 Peter 2:9). Some might think this is too embarrassing or they think they are wiser than God’s church (the Catholic Church – the only church Jesus himself started) and refuse to believe in the teachings of the Bible and the traditions of God’s church. However, such arrogance and stubbornness could end in eternal damnation if one dies with unrepentant mortal sin on their soul (cf. Galatians 5:19-21).
God is all fair and just. Judgment is real. Eternity is forever, and God’s mercy is crying for His children to repent. God loves all of His children and wants all to be saved. Listen to ALL of His words and call upon His mercy. Jesus saves and forgives all sins at the asking (cf. Matthew 12:36).
HOLY COMMUNION
“ For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty….. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life…This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh….Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6 33-58). Need I say more.