Requirements for Salvation
...as defined in the Bible:
Salvation (spending eternity in Heaven...versus Hell where eternal pain and suffering prevail) should be the main goal of our lives (cf. Matthew 13:42). You might die tomorrow...only God knows your hour. Are you prepared for judgment with Jesus? Salvation is NOT given to everyone. The Bible is very clear about that (ct. Matthew 7:21). God loves us and created us so we may KNOW, LOVE and SERVE HIM, and share eternal happiness with Him in heaven when we choose to do His will here on earth. God doesn't give the reward of eternal life, through the merit of Jesus, to those who don't love and serve Him. So, what are you doing with your life? Are you really loving and serving God the way the Bible says you should (cf. Matthew 22:37)?
In reality, seeking to save our own soul from the sufferings in Hell shouldn't be the fullness of our desire, but rather we should desire to truly love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. And when we have true love for God, the reward of eternal life will be given as a gift.
Satan and his devils toil day and night to make light of our responsibility to God convincing us we need to do all sorts of worldly things to be happy and that we must fulfill our selfish desires. It is all lies to keep you from salvation (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:3). Actually, people who truly give their entire lives to God, which is why we have been created, receive immeasurable happiness as a reward in this life and in eternal life (cf. Proverbs 24:12). What a loving God! The Bible says there are different punishments and rewards for how we choose to live in this life (cf. Matthew 5:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). God is entirely fair and just which is something our sinful nature can't comprehend; it is one of God's wonderful mysteries. So, live a good life...a life for God following His plan for our lives in the Bible and be rewarded justly for all of eternity.
Satan also has fooled us into making light of sin (cf. Proverbs 14:9). All sin is an absolutely horrible offense to God, not to be taken lightly. Both venial sins (less serious sins) and Mortal sins (serious sins that must be repented of before one dies, to prevent the punishment of Hell), hurt God. Do you want to hurt God? I don't. He deserves our love. I love God, and I don't ever want to hurt Him. Therefore, all sin needs to be avoided as much as possible; however, everyone is going to sin. Sadly, it is unavoidable because of the fall of Adam and Eve (cf. Genesis 3). Fortunately, God who is most loving and merciful wants us to be happy in this world and in heaven with Him and is longing to help us avert sin if we simply ask Him for help (cf. Psalm 86:5).
Tragically, many people think God really doesn't care about what they do. "He will forgive me," they say. It is true, God will forgive the repentant (one who is sorry) sinner of any sin. It doesn't matter how horrible the sin or how long you have been sinning. God loves you unconditionally and will always forgive you if you are indeed sorry. True sorrow for the pain someone has caused God brings great rejoicing in Heaven, and God floods the truly repentant sinner with GREAT GRACE (gifts)."...there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (cf. Luke 15:10). Sadly, many think they can commit whatever sins they want, since it makes them feel good for the moment (cf. Proverbs 14:12). Then they will tell God they are sorry, and bam...God will forgive them. Well, it should be to no surprise that you can't con God. God knows when you are just saying you're sorry, to hopefully prevent yourself from getting punished when you really aren't sorry at all. And that is a big problem. The lack of actual sorrow, or remorse, is prevalent and running rampant in our society today. Souls are in danger of dying (going to Hell) and only the truth will save them (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4). People must know that their sin is killing them....literally. Not only does it lead to a life of sadness, it also breaks their relationship with God by removing sanctifying grace from their soul (the grace every soul needs to enter Heaven), and it also makes receiving the actual grace (help) God wants to give them on a daily basis very hard to receive, since their soul is mostly closed off to God's love. The concern with comforts today leads people to stay in sin, and walk blindly into darkness because Satan's pleasures have them confused to what is right and wrong.
Sadly, many people are so concerned with seeking the approval of others, they won't talk about sin or salvation, and refuse to allow God to use them to spread the truth. They are even willing to allow their own family members die with out fulfilling the basic requirements for salvation, to avoid a possible disagreement. And God, who wanted to use them to save the soul of their family member, couldn't because through their free will they chose to say "No" to Him. It is very sad; the loss of souls is staggering, and we as a whole (body of Christ) are to some degree responsible. The salvation of souls for Jesus is what we should be striving for, just like Christ's disciples did. God wants to use you to save the lives of His children. Therefore pray for courage, and say "Yes" when you hear God's call to teach about salvation which is found through reconciliation (confession), because a truly sorry heart is needed for true contrition (sorrow) for one's sins. So, it isn't the sin or the constant repetition of sins that is the problem, it is the lack of desire to sin no more and the lack of sorrow for one's sins that is damning many. Anyone can tell God anything, but Our Lord knows if you have true sorrow and no unrepentant sinner will be saved (cf. Luke 13:3).
There are some people who almost never even ponder their salvation, or give much thought to eternal life, and then through the misguidance of others they may end up turning away from the truth altogether. Then sadly, what could have been is lost forever, due to the others having a lack of faith and trust in God. Sin and salvation are serious matters and any attempt to describe it as "no big deal" is done in great error, which leads many people away from God and to their doom (cf. Proverbs 28). Therefore, everyone should be on their guard, and always seeking salvation, because Satan is always seeking to destroy their souls.
A multitude of people like to think that when they die they will go to Heaven just because they say, "Jesus is Lord". Even people who attend church regularly have been fooled and a great lamentation is filling Heaven when so many of God's children (the ones who should know better) are going to Hell. Yet, God has been very clear, in the Bible, saying we must actually do what He says to receive the gift of salvation because if you really love God, and have true faith in Jesus, you will want to listen to Him and at least try to obey His commands (cf. John 14:21-24). Simply saying you believe in Jesus once isn't true faith until the end, which is what the Bible says, since you will be judged on the state your sould is in at the moment of your death. Therefore it doesn't matter how "good and holy" you once were. If you broke your relationship with God (separated your soul from Him due to your sins) then you are deserving of Hell because you no longer have a relationship with God, unless you go to confession with true sorrow and receive reconciliation (forgiveness) before death (cf. Matthew 24:13, Matthew 25:41, Hebrews 3:14).
Then there are the people who are overly concerned about avoiding Hell, and think they can earn Heaven by doing good works (cf. Ephesians 2:8). Some people think that if they can do enough good God will then reward them with eternal paradise. The Bible states clearly that salvation is a gift, not because of one's works (good deeds) but because of their faith. On the other hand, the lack of good works is a clear indication of a lack of faith (cf. James 2:18). Since the Bible claims faith without works is dead, and dead faith is no faith...and with no faith, there can be no salvation. If you love God - I mean really love God - you will want to serve Him, and then good works will flow from you (cf. James 2:24) Not because you think you have to do good to save yourself, but because you want to do good for the love of God.
So how do you get this faith that saves? It starts with prayer. So begin to pray, and pray some more, download the Free Prayer app and open your heart to God's truth. Then learn God's commands. They aren't suggestions. Then read God's Holy Word (The Bible) and LIVE IT!
The Bible says we must have four things for salvation:
BAPTISM
The Bible states clearly that you must be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to be saved. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16, John 3:5)
TRUE FAITH IN JESUS
True Faith that produces good works out of love by obedience until the hour of your death is what is necessary to be saved.
In countless places the Bible states how Faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26) Because when you truly believe in God, you will want to do His works (His will) and those who don’t live God’s word and don’t try to obey Him don’t truly believe, and they won’t inherit eternal life. (Matthew 25:31-46) Salvation is never earned by ones works, but is a gift from God to those who truly believe. (Ephesians 2:8)
One must stay faithful until the hour of their death to be saved. (Matthew 24:13) Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
RECONCILIATION
An unrepentant sinner who dies with a mortal sin (a serious sin that destroys one's relationship with God by their own free will) on their soul will not enter into Heaven. (1 John 5:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:9)
Satan’s goal is to convince souls into thinking they don’t need to confess their sins, there is an easy way out and they don’t need to obey God to be saved.
However, the Bible says differently.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another...” (James 5:16, Proverbs 28:13)
When Jesus was giving instructions to His apostles (the first priests of God’s church), Jesus said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Yes, God has asked us to confess our sins to His priests...his chosen priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9) Some might think this is too embarrassing or they think they are wiser than God’s church (the Catholic Church - the only church Jesus himself started) and refuse to believe in the
teachings of the Bible and the traditions of God’s church. However, such arrogance and stubbornness could end in eternal damnation if one dies with an unrepentant mortal sin on their soul. (Galatians 5:19-21)
God is all fair and just. Judgment is real. Eternity is forever, and God’s incredible mercy is crying for His children to repent. God loves all of His children and wants all to be saved. Listen to ALL of His words and call upon His mercy. Jesus saves and forgives ALL SINS at the asking and salvation will be yours. (Matthew 12:36)
HOLY COMMUNION
“ For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty….. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life…This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh….Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6 33-58).
Need I say more.
