Just how does one get saved, anyway?
Do we need to understand the creeds and the Trinity or the hypostatic union (two natures of Christ) to be saved? What about someone who does not deny them but does not understand them? Already things are complicated! It’s a good thing Scripture is clear and simple on how to be saved!
Before we begin in earnest, here are the links to three creeds that discuss the Trinity and the nature of Christ and other truths + my (starter-kit) commentaries:
6. Two Natures in One Person: Definition or Creed of Chalcedon + Commentary
The Athanasian Creed ends with the assertion that if you do not faithfully believe it, you are not saved. Is this true?
However, believing in those three creeds is not necessary for salvation. The poor sinner and most Christians would be doomed! Understanding the Trinity and the hypostatic union beyond repeating creeds in church is for mature believers, not for initial salvation. On the other hand, to reject them outright is dangerous, because this rejection will lower the deity of Christ.
Scripture is clear about salvation …..
To be saved, all you have to do is to obey the truths in these verses:
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:15)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father [God] loves his child [the Son of God] as well. (1 John 5:1)
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. […] 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10, 13)
Allow me to combine these verses from different chapters in Acts:
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, […] 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 3:19, 16:31)
Here are two verses from John’s Gospel that speak of regeneration or being born again. The Spirit must do it.
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. […] 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3, 8)
Peter says in Acts:
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes on him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43)
And so to be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Repent of your sins and turn back to God. Profess your saving faith out loud. Declare him Lord, with your mouth. Believe in your heart that God resurrected him (= vindicated his Son’s entire life, ministry, and death). The Spirit causes you to be born again. And then you shall be saved and born of God. Simple. Even a child can do this with his childlike faith.
Here is a time-tested acronym to explain faith:
F-A-I-T-H = Forsaking All, I Trust Him.
I see nothing in those verses about understanding or believing in the complicated theologies to be saved.
To be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Now pray this prayer:
Loving, Heavenly Father,
In the name of Jesus, I repent of my sins. I surrender my life to Jesus. I place my faith and trust in him. I believe that he is the Son of God. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. I declare him Lord of my life. Cause me to be born again by your Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Spirit to overflowing. Wash and cleanse me from all my sins.
Thank you, Father, for saving me and filling me with your Spirit.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
RELATED
Is Belief in the Creeds Necessary for Salvation?
What Is the Work of Salvation?
What Is the Source of Salvation?
How Do We Respond to God’s Salvation?
Begin a series on the Trinity, here:
The Trinity: What Are the Basics?
Begin a series on the hypostatic union (two natures of Christ, human and divine), here:
1. Two Natures in One Person: Key Terms and Concepts
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 
Hi
I wonder if you have considered writing a piece on those in the Methodist or similar churches who say the bible is essentially a book of stories legend and myths in which very little of the content is historical
it would seem they accept the existence of God and see Jesus as the eternal son within the Godhead but they say sin is an old fashioned concept and question the role of Christ on the cross as providing salvation rather than being an example of how to become victorious through suffering
They say that a loving God would never send anyone to hell and that the role of the Christian is to follow Jesus example and be his followers as doing good to others as Jesus did in a way by his miracles
So that produces a gospel without Sin and largely without repentance and without the idea of Jesus paying for our sins upon the cross and also without the need to be born again because they say we are all children of our heavenly father
It also has a strong element of a works based salvation ie follow Jesus example love others etc
To make it more their rule book in the UK anyway says they follow the teachings loosely of John Wesley in his 44 sermons and his Notes on the New Testament
To sum up their version of salvation is you are baptised as an infant and this confers on you salvation and you then confirm this at your confirmation and by attending at church receiving communion being a follower of Jesus and doing good to others is the outworking of our Christian faith
I’d be interested in your thoughts as I come from a very different position very similar to Billy Grahams understanding of salvation and the need to be born again and have wrestled with some of these alternative ideas from others in the Methodist Church in the UK
Thanks
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Greetings, I can’t say I will write about Wesley and Methodism UK per se because it would take too much time to research it, but I have articles on sin and faith in my theology 101 series.
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