Understanding God’s Graceful Gift of Salvation

Published 3/20/2024

To get to heaven, you need to accept God's grace by believing in Jesus, who took away our sins on the cross. It's like what John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Moreover, acknowledging Jesus’ divinity is important. The Roman soldiers believed in Jesus’ existence, as they saw Him with their eyes, but rejected His divinity. Ultimately, they were condemned for that reason. Romans 10:9 presents this idea perfectly, ”that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;“

Being sure about going to heaven means fully trusting in Jesus and not relying on your own efforts. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains it like this: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This makes it clear that our salvation comes only through Jesus, not our own actions.

When you truly believe in Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit, as Ephesians 1:13-14 mentions: “And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him." The Spirit is like a guarantee of the good things to come, showing how faith can transform us to praise and honor God.

Understanding that the good things believers do are because of God working in them, we are a testimony of Him, Matthew 7:20-21 says: “So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Nevertheless, people will know that you are saved by the Spirit that lives in you producing good fruits, not your flesh.

Once you receive the gift of salvation, you can't lose it. Romans 8:38-39 assures us: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So nothing can separate us from God’s love. However, if someone says they believe but then leaves faith, it suggests they weren't truly honest about their faith.