Acts 15:11 - But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

 

What exactly does it mean to be “saved”?  We understand from scripture that because of our sin, we are by nature born into this world as the children of wrath.  Men are deserving of God’s wrath for their sin, disobedience, and rebellion against Him.  Ephesians 2:3 - Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

​Being saved has to do with being delivered from the wrath of God that we deserve by nature.  Romans 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

This salvation is not something you “get” by saying a prayer, walking an aisle, asking Jesus into your heart, or any of the other commonly taught ideas of our own day.  Salvation is a promise of God to a certain group of people who, while deserving of His wrath, are promised to be delivered by His great mercy.  1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

God has promised deliverance to a certain group of people that Paul teaches are appointed to salvation.  The question for us is, “Who are these people to whom the apostle refers in this passage?”.  We are taught in scripture that it is those who have believed God.  The promise of deliverance from wrath and damnation is given to those who believe the truth of God.  2 Thessalonians 2:12 - That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

Most importantly in our own time, the question centers around what must be believed?  The New Testament Scriptures are thunderingly clear on this point.  In this age, men are not justified by believing Jesus died for our sins nor are we justified by asking Jesus into our heart and we will not be saved because we ask to be saved.  We are justified by faith.  Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

Specifically, we must believe, that is have faith, that Jesus is the Son of God who has all authority in heaven and earth.  This authority is given to Christ by the Father, and as the Son of God, His Word, Testimony, and Commandments are to be received as the very Word of God.  The faith we must possess is not a faith in what He did, but Who He is.  The things Jesus did bear witness to who He is.  Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:  John 14:11 - Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

 

It is because of who Jesus is that His work has significance.  It is because of who He is that His testimony has significance.  It is because of who He is that His commands have significance.  John 8:24 - I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

 

Whether or not we will be partakers of the salvation that is promised to men is known by whether or not we have believed the record that God gave concerning His own Son Jesus Christ.  Luke 9:35 - And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 

1 John 5:10 - 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.

​

Whether or not we have believed the record God gave of His Son is known by whether or not we act upon Jesus' Word.  Matthew 7:24 - Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  Hebrews 5:9 - And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

​

Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.