How can I be saved?

Romans 10:13“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

God’s Word promises salvation—an eternal guarantee of a perfect life in heaven—to anyone who calls on Jesus’ name to have their sins forgiven. We need only to call out to him in prayer and tell him that we want him to save us. He promises he will.

John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 5:24“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

Acts 16:31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Romans 3:20-22No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Jesus promised that those who believe in him will be saved. All we need to do is accept what Jesus did for us. God sent Jesus Christ to take our place and receive the punishment that our sins deserved. When we believe that he died to save us from our sins and rose again to give us eternal life, then we will be saved.

Romans 10:9-10If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Ephesians 2:8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

It seems too easy. The greatest gift God could ever offer—life forever in a perfect world—is absolutely free. We just have to accept it by (1) agreeing with God that we have sinned and are a sinner, (2) acknowledging that our sin cuts us off from God, (3) asking Jesus to forgive our sins; (4) and believing that Jesus is Lord over everything and that he is the Son of God. The gift is ours.

Matthew 14:23-33After sending them home, he [Jesus] went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

We cannot save ourselves from sin, guilt, judgment, and spiritual death any more than Peter (who apparently couldn’t swim) could save himself from going under while walking on the water. Only Jesus can save us. We only contribute our absolutely helpless selves to the transaction.

Romans 11:6Since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

Ephesians 2:8-9God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

We cannot earn our way to heaven by being good and doing kind deeds. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus.