How Can I Be Saved?
“How can I be saved?” is the most important question anyone can ask. The Bible presents salvation as God’s gift, rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and available to all who confess Him as Lord. Romans 10:9 provides the clearest answer: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This confession of faith—possibly an early baptismal creed—does not highlight Jesus’ crucifixion directly but places the emphasis on His resurrection and His lordship. In doing so, it shows that salvation is not only about forgiveness but about entering into Christ’s reign and the new age inaugurated by His resurrection.
1. Confessing Jesus as Lord
The first element of salvation is confession: declaring with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
Connection to Yahweh: Paul quotes Joel 2:32: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In Joel, “the Lord” refers to Yahweh. By applying this to Jesus, Paul identifies Jesus with the God of Israel, making confession of His name an act of worship and allegiance to Yahweh Himself.
Public declaration: Confession is not merely private belief. It is openly acknowledging Christ’s lordship before others, aligning oneself with His people and His kingdom (Matthew 10:32–33).
Lordship over life: To call Jesus Lord is to submit every area of life to Him. Salvation is not a license for sin but a pledge of obedience and loyalty to the risen King (Luke 6:46).
Confession means declaring Jesus not only as Savior but also as sovereign ruler.
2. Believing in the Resurrection
The second element of salvation is belief: trusting in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.
Vindication of Jesus: The resurrection proves Jesus’ identity. It shows that God vindicated Him as the true Messiah and Son of God (Romans 1:4).
Victory over sin and death: Believing in the resurrection means trusting in a living Savior who has conquered the grave (1 Corinthians 15:20–22). Only one who has defeated death can grant eternal life.
Entrance into the new age: The Old Testament anticipated that resurrection would signal the establishment of God’s kingdom (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2). Paul declares that this future age began with Jesus’ resurrection, making Him the firstfruits of the new creation (1 Corinthians 15:23).
Belief in the resurrection is essential. It is not enough to see Jesus as a good teacher or moral example—faith requires trusting in the risen Lord.
3. Salvation as Sharing in Christ’s Reign
Salvation is more than escaping judgment; it is entering into Christ’s rule.
Resurrection victory: By believing in Jesus’ resurrection, Christians share in His triumph over death. This is not merely future hope but present reality: “God… raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
Rule in righteousness: Salvation joins believers to Christ’s mission of reigning over the world in justice. Those who belong to Him will reign with Him in His kingdom (2 Timothy 2:12).
Already and not yet: Christ’s reign has begun through His resurrection, but it will be consummated in the new heavens and new earth when He returns (Revelation 21:1–5).
To be saved is to become part of this reign, submitting to Christ’s sovereignty and awaiting His final victory.
4. Repentance and Discipleship
The Bible consistently connects salvation with repentance and discipleship.
Turning from sin: Repentance means rejecting former allegiances and turning fully to God (Acts 2:38). Without repentance, confession is empty.
Following Jesus: Salvation calls us into discipleship. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
Life under Christ’s lordship: To be saved is to live as a citizen of Christ’s kingdom, demonstrating faith through obedience (James 2:17).
True faith cannot be separated from a life of repentance and discipleship.
5. The Simplicity and Assurance of the Gospel
Though salvation involves confession, belief, repentance, and discipleship, the heart of the gospel is simple:
It is God’s work: Salvation is not earned but given freely by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9).
It is Christ-centered: Salvation rests on the finished work of Jesus—His death for sins and resurrection for our justification (Romans 4:25).
It is secure: Those who call on His name are promised salvation (Romans 10:13).
The Bible’s message is both profound and accessible: salvation is found in confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection.
Conclusion
“How can I be saved?” The Bible’s answer is both clear and compelling: confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead. This confession acknowledges His identity as Yahweh, His resurrection victory, and His rightful reign. To be saved is to join His people, live under His lordship, and look forward to the fullness of His kingdom.
Salvation is the gift of God, grounded in the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is both present assurance and future hope: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the promise of reigning with Christ in His kingdom.
Bible verses About Being Saved
Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Joel 2:32 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 1:4 – “Declared to be the Son of God in power… by his resurrection from the dead.”
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – “Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.”
Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Mark 8:34 – “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Philippians 2:11 – “Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
2 Timothy 2:12 – “If we endure, we will also reign with him.”
Revelation 21:5 – “Behold, I am making all things new.”
