Biblical salvation is simple, but we often have many questions about it. Sometimes these questions can linger long after we've been saved because of the abundance of Bible teaching that doesn't properly teach the Bible! Here are a few that will be addressed here:
Why do I need to be saved?
What are the consequences of my sin?
Can I get saved by being a good person?
I am a sinner, I want to be saved, and I realize that I can’t earn it – so what can I do?
Can I lose my salvation after I get it?
Does that mean that after I’m saved, I can do whatever I want and still go to heaven?
Do you have one or more of those questions? Keep reading to see what the Bible says about each of these topics!
Why Do I Need to Be Saved?
Most of us are basically good people. We might have some bad habits, or occasionally do things that we shouldn’t do, but it’s not like we do anything that’s really bad. So from our own point of view, and the point of view of our family, friends, neighbors, and peers, we’re good people. But what about from God’s point of view? The Bible says:
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” – Romans 3:10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23
"And there shall in no wise enter into [Heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoeverworketh abomination, or maketh a lie.” – Revelation 21:27
"For [outside of Heaven] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, andidolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." – Revelation 22:15
The Bible makes it clear that from God’s point of view, we have all sinned. According to the Bible, sin is more than just the really bad stuff. Sin is as simple as telling a single lie, as we can see in the verses above from Revelation. Which of us can honestly say that we have never told a lie? We are sinners, and there are consequences for sin, which is why we need to be saved.
What Are the Consequences of My Sin?
God is righteous and completely opposed to sin, so our status as sinners cannot be taken lightly. The Bible says:
“For the wages of sin is death...” – Romans 6:23
This is more than just physical death. It also includes what the Bible calls “the second death,” which is eternity in a lake of fire, separated from God. Notice that the following verse includes people who have lied as those who will experience the second death:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8
Being saved means being rescued from these eternal consequences so that we may spend eternity at peace with God rather than in torment separated from God. Fortunately for us, it is God’s preference that we be saved so that we may spend eternity with Him:
“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
Salvation does not come free, however. God is righteous and just, and the penalty for sin must be paid somehow.
Can I Get Saved by Being a Good Person?
The Bible makes it plain that we cannot be good enough to earn salvation, nor can we be good enough to erase any of the sins we have already committed.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6
From God’s point of view, all of the righteousness that we can muster amounts to nothing more than filthy rags. Going to church every week, getting baptized, reading the Bible, praying, and helping other people are all good things, but they will not earn you a spot in heaven. There is no way to be good enough. If you want to pay the penalty yourself, the only payment you can offer is eternity in the lake of fire.
I Am a Sinner, I Want to Be Saved, and I Realize That I Can’t Earn It – So What Can I Do?
There is nothing you can do to be saved; you must put your faith in the one who paid the penalty for your sin – Jesus Christ – and trust what He has done for you as your only means of getting to heaven. We already looked at the first part of Romans 6:23, so now let’s look at the complete verse:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
Salvation is not something you earn – it is a gift that you accept! Why would God offer such a gift to sinners? We’ve already seen 2 Peter 3:9, so let’s look at another verse:
“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 the most incredible act of love ever displayed, God Himself – Jesus Christ – lived a righteous, sinless life, and then sacrificed Himself to pay the full penalty for our sins. To prove that the payment was complete, Christ rose from the dead, because death can not conquer God (Acts 2:24). When we recognize our sin and our need for a Savior, and then place our trust in Christ’s payment on our behalf rather than in our own ability to be “good enough,” then it pleases God to credit us with the righteousness of Christ, and we are saved!
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe...” – Romans 3:22
“They replied, 'Believe in the LORD Jesus, and thou shalt be saved...'” – Acts 16:31
If you could be good enough to be saved – if you could do anything to make-up for your sins – then Christ suffered and died for no reason. He is the only way to solve our sin problem!
Can I Lose My Salvation After I Get It?
Once you are saved, you cannot lose your salvation. Here’s why:
As we saw above, we cannot be good enough to earn salvation, so how could we possibly hope to be good enough to keep it? God offers us salvation, not probation.
As we saw above in Romans 6:23 and John 3:16, God offers eternal, everlasting salvation. How long is eternal and everlasting? Forever!
When you are saved, the Bible says you are born again (I Peter 1:23). Can you be un-born? Of course not!
When you are saved, you become a child of God (1 John 5:1). Although you may grieve your family, be distant from your family, or even reject your family, nothing can change the fact that you are a member of that family.
Nothing can separate us from Christ (Romans 8:38-39).
We are secure in Christ’s hand, and the Father’s hand (John 10:28-30). That’s double security!
John makes it plan that we can know that we have eternal life. We don’t have to hope, or guess, or worry; we know: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” – I John 5:13
Does That Mean That After I’m Saved, I Can Do Whatever I Want and Still Go to Heaven?
Your salvation is secure and nothing can take that from you, but living a sinful lifestyle can rob you of the feeling of security that you would otherwise have. Furthermore, at the moment of salvation our relationship with God changes: He becomes your Father. Like any good father, He will discipline His children when they misbehave. Do you really want to provoke God to discipline you? Here’s what the Bible says:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” – Romans 6:1-2
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” – Romans 6:12-15
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” – Hebrews 12:5-11
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” – Hebrews 10:31
Clearly, we are not saved to continue a life of sin, but when we do stumble into sin after we are saved, Christ’s sacrifice still keeps us saved.
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” – I John 2:1 and 2:8-10
It is plain from the Bible that our works do not save us, but once we are saved, it is time to get busy living for God and not living for sinful desires. Salvation is a free gift, but when we live for God, He promises us rewards on top of that free gift. Notice what the Bible says (text underlined for emphasis):
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” – I Corinthians 3:11-15
In short, yes, you could continue to sin and still go to heaven, but by doing so you are provoking the discipline of your heavenly Father and robbing yourself of eternal rewards in Heaven.
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