What Does it Mean to Be Saved?

The idea of being “saved” is central to Christianity, yet it remains unclear or even confusing to many people. Christians often speak about salvation, but what exactly does it mean to be saved? Saved from what? And how does someone receive this salvation? What role does baptism play in the saving?

People commonly misunderstand salvation. Some assume it’s about being a “good person,” imagining God as a judge keeping track of our good and bad deeds. If our good outweighs the bad, they reason, then we earn a place in heaven. Others believe salvation is secured through religious rituals—such as baptism, communion, or confirmation—as if these actions alone guarantee eternal life. Still, others feel salvation is reserved only for those who meet an impossibly high religious standard, leaving them convinced it’s beyond their reach.

But the truth about salvation, as taught by the Bible, is both simpler and more profound. At its heart, salvation is about faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture clearly states that everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s holiness. No amount of human effort or good deeds can bridge this gap. This is precisely why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again, overcoming sin and death on our behalf.

Thus, salvation is not earned—it is a gift freely given by God to all who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone. As Ephesians 2:8-9 explains:

Let’s explore further what the Bible teaches about salvation by faith and how this connects to the Christian practice of baptism.

Saved by Faith Alone: What the Bible Says

When it comes to salvation, the Bible is clear – it is about faith, not works. No one earns their way into Heaven based on the good things they do in life. Romans 10:9-10 says:

Notice there’s no mention of religious rituals or earning salvation through good deeds. Instead, salvation revolves around two key actions: confession and belief. Confession is straightforward—declaring openly that Jesus is Lord.

Believing in your heart is deeper, reflecting an active, personal trust and conviction. The Greek word Paul uses here, πιστεύω (pisteuō), implies much more than intellectual agreement; it involves a kind of faith that fundamentally changes a person’s thinking and perspective.

Belief and faith, though related, are distinct and powerful concepts. Belief is primarily cognitive—it is about acknowledging something as true, accepting it intellectually because of convincing evidence, logic, or experience. It is an active choice that involves changing one’s thinking when confronted with new truths, such as the resurrection of Jesus.

Faith, on the other hand, goes further—it is a profound trust and reliance on the truth that has been believed. As Hebrews 11:1 states, faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Belief can be seen as the crucial first step, the moment when we decisively accept what God has done through Christ. Faith is our active trust as a result of that belief. I grows from that initial belief, maturing into an ongoing, steadfast trust that shapes how we live every day, anchoring us in God’s promises and power even when visible evidence seems lacking.

Recall the account in Acts of Paul and Silas being jailed in a Macedonian prison. The prison guard feared the prisoners had fled following an earthquake and was ready to take his own life. Paul stopper him saying all were still in the prison. The Philippian jailer recognized the miracle. Moved he asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, they replied (Acts 16:31):

The biblical evidence clearly points to salvation being received through faith as a result of our belief – our change in thinking and our trust in Jesus as God and savior.

Are you like the jailer – wanting to know what you must do to be saved? We have a great article on salvation here at Approved to God that can help. Do you want have questions? Do you want to talk about it – reach out to us.

What is Baptism Really About?

This article is about Baptism. It is important to recognize that baptism does not save you – you must be first be saved by placing your trust in Christ – then you should consider being baptized. But what is baptism? It is something that Christians are supposed to do – right?

In the Bible, baptism is consistently portrayed as an outward symbol of the inward change that has already taken place when someone puts their faith in Christ. It’s an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith, but not a requirement for being saved.

Matthew 28:19-20 records Jesus giving the Great Commission to his followers:

Baptizing others is something that disciples of Jesus were commanded to do as a response to faith, not a prerequisite for salvation.  Sometimes we get this mixed up.  This confusion is often a result of not fully grasping the simplicity of the doctrine of salvation causing some to conflate the two. 

Some claim Mark 16:16 states that baptism is necessary for salvation.  It says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” A closer examination of the verse reveals that it does not actually teach baptism as a requirement for salvation. The verse makes two basic statements:

1) Those who believe and are baptized will be saved.

2) Those who do not believe will be condemned.

While it affirms that believers who have been baptized are saved, it does not say anything about believers who have not been baptized. The writer merely assumed all believers would be baptized as a result of saving faith. In fact, the second statement in the verse emphasizes belief as the sole condition for avoiding condemnation, which is consistent with the many other Bible verses presenting salvation (John 3:18, 5:24, 12:44, 20:31; 1 John 5:13).

Since baptism is not salvific what then is its purpose?  Romans 6:3-4 explains the purpose and symbolism of baptism – it represents the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection:

Going under the water portrays dying to your old sinful self, and coming up out of the water portrays rising to new life in Christ. The emphasis is on the spiritual reality that baptism symbolizes, not on the physical act itself having some kind of mystical saving power.

Believer’s Baptism: Faith First, Then Baptism

The biblical pattern is for people to be baptized after they’ve put their faith in Christ, not before. This is sometimes called “believer’s baptism” because the person getting baptized is old enough to consciously choose to believe in, trust in and follow Jesus.

Consider the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:36-38. As Philip explains the gospel to him, the eunuch sees some water and says, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” Philip replies, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch affirms his faith in Jesus as the Son of God, and then Philip baptizes him. Belief was the prerequisite for baptism and baptism the proclamation of that faith.

Similarly, when the Philippian jailer and his household put their faith in Christ, Acts 16:33 says he “was baptized at once, he and all his family.” The clear order of events is believing first, then being baptized as a testimony of that faith. 

Rightly Understanding Other Views

Not every Christian tradition shares this “faith alone” view of salvation and baptism. Some, like the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, believe that baptism itself plays a role in salvation. They might point to passages like 1 Peter 3:21 which says, “Baptism…now saves you,” or Mark 16:16 which says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

At first glance, these verses might seem to contradict the idea of salvation by faith alone. But let’s look more closely. 1 Peter 3:21 goes on to clarify that it’s not the mere act of baptism that saves when he says, “not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The focus is on the internal heart attitude, not the external ritual. The change in the heart is a direct result of faith and belief.

As we discussed earlier, Mark 16:16 mentions both believing and being baptized, the second half of the verse puts the emphasis on the belief: “But whoever does not believe will be condemned.” It’s lack of belief, not lack of baptism, that leads to condemnation.

Other passages like John 3:5 which mention being “born of water and the Spirit” are sometimes interpreted as referring to baptism. But in context, Jesus seems to be contrasting physical birth (“born of water”) with spiritual birth (“born of the Spirit”), not talking about baptism.

Clarifying the Gospel Message

It’s important to understand and graciously dialogue with Christians who hold different views while holding to core gospel message – that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Some are tempted to assign baptism to the less critical secondary issues of the faith. This may be acceptable provided we are not stipulating it is necessary for salvation.

The danger in viewing baptism as necessary for salvation is that it can lead to a works-based mindset and obscure the grace that is central to God’s gift free gift. If we think we have to do something (like get baptized) to earn or even complete our salvation, then we’re not really trusting in Christ’s finished work alone but instead adding our own effort to what Christ did on the cross.

The apostle Paul faced a similar issue in the early church when Christian Jews began insisting that circumcision was necessary for salvation as well as strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. He responded forcefully in Galatians 5:2, “Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.” In other words, if you rely on a ritual like circumcision to be saved, then you have declared that the work of men can save and the work of Christ on the cross was not necessary. This is an abomination to God who sent His Son to live, die, and finally conquer sin and death.

In the same way, if we view baptism as a requirement for being saved, we risk nullifying grace and undermining the sufficiency of Christ’s work on our behalf. We’re saved by His merit, not by our actions or merit. Any obedience we show, including being baptized, is a fruit of our salvation, not a root of it.

Baptism’s Ongoing Significance

None of this is to say that baptism is unimportant or optional. Remember, Jesus commanded His followers to baptize new disciples (Matthew 28:19). The early church consistently practiced baptism for believers. For the Christian being baptized is an issue of obedience to Christ – if He tells us to do it, we should! 

Baptism serves as a powerful public testimony. It’s a way of identifying yourself as a follower of Jesus and proclaiming your faith to others. It pictures the gospel message, showing how you’ve died to your old way of life and been raised to new life in Christ. And it follows the pattern modeled by Jesus Himself, who was baptized by John the Baptist at the start of His public ministry.

So, while baptism doesn’t convey Salvific action, it certainly is an important step of obedience that every Christian should take after being saved. It’s not the means of salvation, but it is a meaningful sign that points to salvation.

Conclusion: The Main Thing is the Main Thing

In the end, the most important thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing in this case is trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. We never want to let peripheral debates sidetrack us from the core message that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). At the same time we must stay true to the gospel message – Salvation is through Christ alone plus nothing else.

If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, then you can have assurance of salvation, it is that simple. Romans 8:1 reminds us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  At the same time, if you are trusting in Christ and walking according to His will, then He calls you to follow Him in baptism as a testimony of your faith. If you haven’t yet taken that step, prayerfully consider doing so in obedience to our Lord.

May we be a people who passionately proclaim salvation by faith in Christ, who joyfully celebrate baptism as a sign of God’s saving work, and who graciously extend fellowship to all who call on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13). To God alone be the glory!

If you have not put your faith in Christ then I urge you to do that today – there may not be a tomorrow. Read our article: Why Become a Christian)