How am I saved?

     Christians believe that God did something unique in Jesus that changed the whole world spiritually. Because of Jesus, all humans now have the invitation to a God-directed, grace-filled life. Christians have used various images for what happens when we enter into a relationship with God (like getting saved, rescued, or healed), but they all describe the same thing: life with God, in community with God’s family, and experiencing the first fruits of God’s good future.

How does it work?

1. We realize we need God. Humility is a gift given by God’s grace that enables us to see how much we need God. We will never receive a gift we don’t think we need. In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” To be poor in spirit is to recognize what we do not have; it is the door that opens our hearts to God.
2. We seek and meet God. We have been given means through which we experience the grace of God: worship, Bible study, prayer, community, service, giving, Communion, and Baptism. As we recognize our need for God, we begin to seek him in those means. As we seek, God’s grace begins to enter more and more of our lives.
3. We confess, repent, and commit ourselves to God. Repent means to change your mind or heart. When God’s grace draws us close, we inevitably begin to grapple with much in our lives that is not worthy of God. God’s grace enables us to change our mind about sin and turn toward God, often using a prayer like the one below. This step is often marked by Baptism or a reaffirmation of Baptism.  God, I know I cannot do this alone. I need you. I repent of my sin, and I ask you to help me follow you all the days of my life.
4. Where we can, we make restitution. We confess to God and also to those we have personally hurt. In Luke, we hear the story of Zacchaeus, who after meeting Jesus gave half of his wealth to the poor and committed to repay anyone he had cheated. Action always follows sincere repentance.
5. We trust the grace of God. God promises us that we will not be bound by sin forever. The work of grace in our lives slowly sanctifies us—makes us more like Jesus. Our job is to practice the means of grace and trust the faithfulness of God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of “abiding in me.” This refers to the lifelong habits of worship, prayer, community, and sacraments that keep us close to Jesus.
6. We repeat. Faith is a lifelong journey, and even mature disciples will continue to find sin in their lives. Often, we will find ourselves needing again the humility that brings us back to seeking God. Every experience that humbles us is a gift meant to bring us closer to God and illuminate more work that God wants to accomplish within us. Faith in this lifetime is not a static destination, but rather a journey of holiness and grace, winding through the mountains and valleys of life, bringing us to the very heart of God.

Do you want to pray with someone about your salvation? Contact Pastor Meredith here.