Are there "steps" required for salvation in Jesus Christ? While resources exist that mention "steps to peace with God" and other religions require steps or processes to gain eternal security, the Bible offers only one step to salvation—faith in Jesus as the risen Christ.
Romans 10:9 presents the essential beliefs for salvation: "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 includes faith that Jesus is God's Son and that Jesus was literally resurrected from the dead.
But is there anything we must do to be saved? Ephesians 2:8-9 answers, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." God's grace freely offers salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. You don't need to make your life better before believing in Jesus. You believe in Jesus and He will help make your life better.
What happens if you choose salvation in Jesus? Will you need to change your life or do anything differently? The answer is yes. However, God's Spirit will now be with you to help empower you to live differently. For example, the Bible teaches that those who follow Jesus should be baptized (Matthew 28:18-20). Baptism does not save you, but is an important step in publicly expressing your faith in Jesus.
Galatians 5:22-23 also shares the fruit of the Spirit all believers in Jesus are to strive to express. They include, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Ephesians 2:10 also mentions that God has prepared believers for good works. Believers in Jesus will also desire to grow in understanding God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15) and to spend time with others who believe in Jesus (Hebrews 10:25). Again, these actions do not save you, but are the kinds of changes that take place in the life of a person who is saved in Jesus Christ.
If you are uncertain about your salvation, you can settle your doubts right now. Are you willing to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive this free gift of eternal life? You can do it now. There is no special prayer you must pray to do so. However, the following prayer is one you can use to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior now:
"Dear God, I realize I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life."
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