Salvation is the most important question anyone can ever face. The Bible teaches that every human being is sinful and separated from God by their sin. Yet, God in His great mercy has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus saves sinners. But how does this salvation work, and how can you know you are saved?
The foundation of salvation is the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This includes His active obedience—His perfect fulfillment of God’s law on behalf of His people—and His passive obedience—His suffering and death to bear the punishment for sin. On the cross, Jesus bore the penalty that we deserved for our sins. In theological terms, our guilt was imputed to Him—it was placed on Him as if it were His own. In exchange, His perfect righteousness is imputed to us, so that when God looks at a believer, He sees the righteousness of Christ.
This is the great exchange of the gospel: Jesus receives our punishment, and we receive His reward—eternal life with Him and all the saints in the new creation. This redemption is applied to us by the instrument of faith, a gift of God’s grace.
It is vital to understand that saving faith is more than just knowing facts about Jesus or agreeing that those facts are true. As the apostle James wrote, “Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19). True saving faith involves not only knowledge and agreement but also trust. It is a wholehearted reliance on Jesus Christ for salvation.
Saving faith is always accompanied by repentance. Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It is a change of heart and mind that results in a change of behavior. A sign that the Holy Spirit has truly regenerated us is that we begin to see our sin for what it is—an offense against a holy God—and we abhor it. Repentance does not mean we become perfect in this life, but it does mean we no longer make peace with our sin. Instead, we strive to turn away from it and follow Christ as Lord.
If you are not yet sure whether you believe that Jesus is God or whether you are ready to acknowledge Him as your Lord, we encourage you to take steps toward Him. Come to worship with us, read the Bible, and pray to God—even if you feel uncertain. God promises that those who seek Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. You are also welcome to speak with us or ask any questions you have about faith. We are here to help you as you explore who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.
To trust in Jesus for salvation is also to accept Him as Lord. This means acknowledging His authority over every area of your life. Jesus is not merely a Savior who rescues us from hell; He is the risen King who calls us to follow Him in obedience. A faith that says “Jesus is my Savior” but refuses to say “Jesus is my Lord” is not saving faith at all.
The Bible teaches that salvation is entirely the work of God. Scripture shows that God planned our salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). In time, the Holy Spirit applies that salvation to individuals through a series of steps, often referred to as the Ordo Salutis, or order of salvation:
Election: Before creation, God chose those who would be saved, not based on anything they would do, but according to His sovereign grace.
Calling: God calls His chosen people through the preaching of the gospel, drawing them to Himself.
Regeneration: The Holy Spirit gives new life to spiritually dead sinners, enabling them to respond in faith and repentance.
Justification: Through faith in Christ, God declares the sinner righteous, imputing Christ’s righteousness to them.
Adoption: God makes us His children, giving us the rights and privileges of sons and daughters.
Sanctification: The process by which God makes us more holy, conforming us to the image of Christ.
Glorification: In the future, God will complete our salvation, giving us resurrected bodies and eternal life in His presence.
Salvation is a gift, but it must be received. If you have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, the Bible calls you to do so today. Confess your sins to God, turn away from them, and place your trust in Jesus. Pray to Him, acknowledging your need for His forgiveness and grace. Surrender your life to Him, committing to follow Him as your Lord.
Jesus promises, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). If you come to Him in faith, He will not turn you away. Trust in Him today and experience the joy of salvation and the hope of eternal life.
If you would like to learn more about salvation or talk to someone about your faith, we invite you to contact us at Pilgrim International Church. We are here to walk with you on your journey of faith.
