God’s Method To Eternal Life

Acts 16:30 — “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:31 — “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

THE ONe PATH

The Narrow, Good, and Only Way:

1) Admit you are a sinner.

Romans 3:23 — “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”

Sin is universal. Every person needs God’s mercy. No matter how much good we do, we will still come short of paradise.

2) Realize the penalty for sin.

Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Revelation 20:15 — “If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.”

The Bible speaks honestly about judgment. But it also speaks clearly about God’s gift. Sin leads to corruption and death. Christ’s free gift grants life.

3) Believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for you.

God’s answer to our sin is Jesus Christ: His death and resurrection.

Romans 5:8 — “But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Acts 10:39 — “whom they… killed, hanging him on a tree.”
Acts 10:40 — “God raised him up the third day…”

Jesus is not only a teacher or example. He is the Savior who paid for sin and conquered death.

4) Understand that God gives eternal life.

John 3:15 — “that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Titus 1:2 — “in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;”

When God saves, he gives eternal life: life that lasts.

5) Call on the Lord in faith.

Salvation is received by faith, which is personally trusting Christ and turning to him alone for salvation. We exalt Christ, not ourselves.

Romans 10:9 — “that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:10 — “For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.”

If you’re ready to trust Jesus Christ, you can express that trust to God in prayer. Here is example wording you can use, but we encourage you to speak to Him from your own heart:

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need your salvation. I believe you died for my sins and that God raised you from the dead. I confess that you are Lord. I am trusting you to save me and give me eternal life. Amen.

FAQs

Yes, salvation is available to all who believe. No sin is too great for Christ to overcome if we believe. Romans 10:13 assures us: “For, ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Believing in Jesus does not mean accepting a set of facts about his life or death or simply believing in God (even the demons believe—James 2:19). Belief—faith—implies TRUST.

A person must trust that Christ rose from the dead and has the power to save us from sin and death. One must trust that He, and He alone, has this power. “Believe on Christ” means to trust in His promised redemption.

We cannot save ourselves through our own works. If someone is trusting their works for salvation, they are not trusting Christ.

If a person believes (truly trusts) in Christ, they will believe in the promises He has given, and will come to Him alone to find salvation. As He said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

There is only one way. Christ is that way. We must believe in that promise (His very own words) to find salvation.

Yes, Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. Acts 4:12 states, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

Because we have such a great God, He is merciful and does not make salvation complicated.

However, while salvation is simple, it is not “easy”. If it were easy, millions more would be saved Christians right now and our country and world would look radically different.

Truly trusting in Christ requires a complete disavowal of your own internal pride, because you must accept that you are helpless and can do nothing for your own salvation. It is all Christ’s atonement for you (please read the FAQ question above: What does “believe on Christ” actually mean?).

Human pride is the hardest thing for us to overcome, so to claim that the scriptural way to heaven is “easy” is incorrect. It would be far easier if we could just do a few good works every week and earn our own way into heaven. That false gospel requires far less humility than the true pathway to salvation.

But 1 Corinthians 1:29 affirms: “that no flesh should boast before God.” In other words: no one will get to heaven and be able to say, “I did this.”

So to summarize: Salvation is simple, but it is most definitely not easy.

No, salvation is a gift from God, not earned through good works. Ephesians 2:8–9 affirms, “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” Notice that Christ did not say you can choose to come by Him or by your own works or some combination of the two. He said it is through Him alone. Being a “good person” (in your own eyes or even in the world’s eyes) is entirely irrelevant regarding salvation. It is all Jesus.

Find further “good works”-related common questions below:

Q: Why are good works insufficient for salvation?
A: Good works, though important, cannot erase our sins or merit salvation. Only Jesus does this. Any good works we do were only made possible by God allowing us to walk in them in the first place. Titus 3:5 explains, “not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”

Q: Can’t I earn my way to heaven through doing x/y/z?
A: No, our righteousness cannot make us acceptable before God. Isaiah 64:6 declares, “For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

Q: Can I add my good works to faith for salvation?
A: No. Galatians 2:16 says, “yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ… justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.” (See also Romans 3:28.)

Q: Why is it important to understand that works cannot save us?
A: Understanding that works cannot save us directs our focus to Christ and His finished work on the cross. We rest in Him more and worry less. We can walk in the good works He provides us more confidently knowing our salvation is never at risk. Galatians 2:16 emphasizes that “no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.”

Q: What role do good works play in the life of a believer?
A: Good works are evidence of our faith and gratitude for salvation, but they do not contribute to our salvation. Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.” And James 2:26 says, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.”

Q: Can I lose my salvation if I don’t do enough good works?
A: No, salvation is secure in Christ, not dependent on our works. John 10:28 assures us, “I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” And 1 Corinthians 3:15 says, “If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.”

Q: Why is it important to rely solely on the grace of God for salvation?
A: Relying solely on the grace of God for salvation humbles us and exalts Christ as the only Savior. Romans 5:15 teaches, “But the free gift isn’t like the trespass… much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.”

Seek assurance through prayer, a faithful local congregation that edifies you (church), and studying God’s Word. 2 Peter 1:10 encourages, “Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.”

Seek Him earnestly through prayer, repentance, and returning to His Word. James 4:8 encourages, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Another thing to consider is that many times we feel distant from God because we are not walking in the works He has provided us, thus not allowing Him to demonstrate His power through us.

A faithful local church could also help if one is feeling distant from God, both through fellowship and in counseling.

Those who reject Christ face eternal separation from God. John 3:36 warns, “One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

There is a variety of Christian belief on this subject. What we know for sure is that God reveals Himself through creation and the conscience, and He commands His people to proclaim the Gospel. Romans 1:20 explains, “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse.” Those that hear the Gospel and do not accept it are most at risk. For those that do not have the chance to hear the Gospel, we leave that up to denominational debate.

God made mankind for life with him, and he gave a real command with real consequences alongside free will to choose. “In the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17).

In the garden, mankind chose disobedience. “She took some of its fruit, and ate. Then she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too.” (Genesis 3:6).

That rebellion brought sin and death into the human condition. “As sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12).

Because God is holy and true, sin has a real penalty. “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23).

Because God is loving and merciful, he acted to rescue and reconcile sinners. “God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
“He loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10).

This is why the Son of God took on our humanity. He entered our “flesh and blood” condition and broke the power of death by his own death. “Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death… and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14–15).

God also designed salvation to be received as a free gift, so the glory stays with him and human pride is humbled. “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23–24). “By grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8). “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

So God’s way to heaven fits the whole story: mankind freely fell into sin and death, and God freely gives salvation through Jesus Christ.

Praise God! Now the best part begins: a growing relationship with Christ and a new life of spiritual growth. Christians refer to this process as “sanctification”, where we grow closer to God’s will for us over time. We are to grow in the faith over time (Ephesians 4:14–15; Hebrews 5:12–14).

The best place to start is with God’s Word. By reading only three chapters a day, you will finish the entire Bible in a year! The Bible is God’s written Word directly to you; He will speak to you through it.

We also strongly recommend finding a Bible-believing local church. Attending church is not required for salvation, but it is imperative for sanctification.

As you learn more through God’s Word, solid preaching, and church edification, you will find where God is calling you in your earthly life. Perhaps even better, you will grow in understanding of the promise of the coming eternal life.

If you have any questions that are not answered on this website, or you are doubtful about anything regarding salvation, we are here to help. Reach out to us using our Contact Us page.