There is no topic that is more important than the salvation of a person’s soul. The Bible, and the Bible alone, gives mankind God’s teaching about what a person must do in order to be saved. Let us consider some questions related to salvation, and then LET THE BIBLE answer. Are you ready to accept what the Bible says about salvation?

Why was the Son of God called "Jesus"? A: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Can a person go to heaven (the Father) without following Jesus? A: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Is every one that prays accepted by God? A: "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination . . . but he (Jehovah) heareth the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 28:9; 15:29).

Will all people that call Jesus "Lord" be saved? A: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

How many people does God want to be saved? A: "(God) who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth . . . not willing that any should perish . . ." (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

If God desires that every person be saved, does that mean that all will go to heaven? A: "Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13,14).

Can a person be saved if he is not a believer in God? A: "But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

What must take place before one can believe (from what does faith come)? A: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

Can one please God if he believes in the Father, but does not believe in Jesus? A: "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him . . . for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 5:23; 8:24).

In order to be saved, in addition to believing in Jesus must one also obey Him? A: "And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9).

Of what is Jesus the savior? A: "And he is the savior of the body" (Ephesians 5:23). And what is the body? A: " . . . and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body . . . " (Ephesians 5:23).

What makes salvation possible to mankind? A: "For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11).

Through what can we receive the remission of sins? A: "In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14).

Where can salvation or redemption be found? A: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . . that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24; 2 Timothy 2:10).

To what does the Lord add saved people? A: ". . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).

What did Jesus do in order that His church might be bought and saved? A: " . . . to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood . . . Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it" (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25).

Is a person justified or saved by faith only? A: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).

What does the Bible say about faith without works? A: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).

What kind of faith is profitable, that is, what kind of faith can save a person? A: "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6).

Is it really necessary to repent, or is repentance only optional? A: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).

Does repentance really lead to anything good or beneficial? A: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of ["regretted," NKJV] . . . then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" (2 Corinthians 7:10; Acts 11:18).

What if a person believes in Jesus but will not confess Him? A: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32,33).

Should people be baptized because they are already saved, or should they be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins? A: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . ." (Acts 2:38).

Are the sins of a person washed away before baptism or at the time of baptism? A: "And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

What must one that is already a Christian do in order that his sins might be continually washed away? A: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

by Roger D. Campbell

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