I have a question about being saved. I have heard so many things about the requirements to be saved, and I am really confused.  I think I have the basics, but I want to be 100% sure.  I know that some websites say that if you believe in Jesus, you will be saved.  I know that it does say that in the Bible, so it is true. Some people believe that this is all you have to do.  Others say that if you believe and try your best to repent and change your ways, you will be saved.  It seems like it depends on whom you ask.  This is what I “think” from all the research that I have done. I could be wrong, of course, but I think that if you do the following steps, you will be saved. Believe everything that Jesus said, believe that Jesus was “God in human form”, believe that Jesus rose from the dead and went to heaven, know that we can’t save ourselves and that Jesus died for us, believe Jesus never sinned, believe Jesus became sin for us, believe that we don't deserve and cannot save ourselves, ask for forgiveness, and then try to live by the ten commandments as best as you can until the day you die, if you slip up ask for forgiveness, and you need to be baptized. Do you think that I am on the right path?

Sincerely, Baby Steps

Dear Baby Steps,

The Bible outlines five things you must do to become a christian. The question, “What must I do to be saved?” is the most important question any human can ever ask. Plenty of groups will pick and choose what they want to focus on. Many groups say that all you must do is “believe in your heart” and you will be saved – unfortunately, this is cherry-picking out one requirement and leaving the rest behind. We must always remember that the sum of God’s Word provides the truth (Ps 119:160). Belief is obviously an important element to salvation, but it is not the only condition. The Bible outlines five separate requirements for salvation, and all of them are necessary.

1. Hear the Word. Faith comes through hearing, and hearing comes through the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Until someone hears God’s Word, they are incapable of obeying it.
2. Believe the Word. It is impossible for someone to become a christian unless they believe that Jesus is the Savior and Son of God (Jhn 20:31, Acts 16:31, Jhn 3:16).
3. Repent of your sins. ‘Repent’ means to ‘change your mind’. That change of mind always involves a change of action as well. Repentance is when we change our mind about what is important and submit ourselves to Jesus and His Word. Repentance is a necessity of salvation (Mk 6:12, Lk 13:5, Lk 15:7).
4. Confess Jesus to others. If we have sworn our allegiance to Jesus, we must be prepared to publicly confess Him as our Lord. If we won’t confess Jesus before men, He won’t confess us before God (Matt 10:32-33, Lk 12:8-9).
5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus for salvation. Many groups baptize people, but very few baptize people for the right reasons. Baptism isn’t merely an “outward showing of an inward faith” or “for membership”. Baptism is what saves us (1 Pet 3:21). Baptism is the point where someone goes from being lost to saved because they are buried and resurrected with Christ (Rom 6:4-5). Baptism is the final requirement to become a christian (Acts 2:37-38, Mk 16:16, Acts 2:41). There is not a single example of someone becoming a christian without baptism. Baptism is just as necessary as the other four requirements.

After that, there remains nothing else but to find a faithful congregation to assemble with (Heb 10:24) that teaches God’s Word and God’s Word only (see “Finding a Church” for more details) and to continue to grow in knowledge and practice of God’s Word (1 Pet 2:2).

Relating to your post, "Judas in a Handbag", you state that there are various degrees of judgment in hell. I was under the impression that hell is hell. Am I right in interpreting this as: someone that had the opportunity to obey the gospel and doesn't will be punished more than someone that had never been exposed. Isn't it our own responsibility to seek the truth for ourselves? Can you elaborate on these verses a little more?

Sincerely, Equality For All

Dear Equality For All,

There are varying degrees of judgment in hell. That is the only way to interpret the idea of ‘heavier judgment’. Jas 3:1 talks about the idea of heavier judgment for teachers. Heb 10:29 talks about those who fall away from the gospel receiving a ‘sorer punishment’. Heb 6:8 states that saints who have fallen away are rejected and ‘cursed’. The general principle seems to be that if someone has had more opportunity to obey the gospel, they will be all the more condemned if they still fail to turn to God. This matches the principle Jesus lays forth in Lk 12:47-48.

Everyone is without excuse on the Day of Judgment, for all have sinned (Rom 3:23). Also, every human has evidence of God in His creation (Rom 1:20). All those who go to hell will be there rightfully… but how much greater the suffering if you had opportunity after opportunity to serve God, and you chose rebellion instead?

What do you suggest as a response to the following?

I wrote this: When we die, we go to Hades, which is a realm above the evil-doers, and it consists of Paradise and Torment. Good, Christ-loving spirits are in Paradise; evil ones go to Torment.

He wrote this: When we die, we go to the Judgment Seat, unbelievers as well.

I wrote this: Heaven is yet another realm above Hades where God and Jesus are with the angels.

He responded with: Hades is hell, and heaven is heaven.

My question is, I thought Hades was where paradise and torment are. Also, I didn't think we'd immediately be before God upon death?

Sincerely,
Habeas Corpus

Dear Habeas Corpus,

The easiest way to prove that Hades is not the same as hell is to compare two verses concerning Jesus:

1. It was prophesied that Jesus would go to Hades, but not remain there (Acts 2:25-32)
2. Jesus said that after He died at the crucifixion, He would be in Paradise (Lk 23:43)

The only way to reconcile these two verses is if Paradise is a place in Hades.  The other thing to consider is that Hades (which means 'the unseen place' in Greek) is the Greek word for 'Sheol' (Sheol is a Hebrew word used in the Old Testament).  In fact, when the Greeks translated the Old Testament into the Greek language (The Greek Old Testament is called the Septuagint, and even Jesus quoted from it), they used the word ‘Hades’ in place of the word ‘Sheol’.  The reason this is important is because it is VERY clear that ‘Sheol’ means ‘the place of the dead’.  Jacob said he would go to Sheol as he mourned the loss of his son (Gen. 37:35).  Jacob was a godly man, and it wouldn't make sense for him to say that he would go to hell in mourning.  ‘Sheol’ just means 'the place of the dead' - exactly like 'Hades'.

We will go to Paradise or torments directly at death, but there we, and even the angels, will wait for the great Day of Judgment (Jude 6).

There is a 'new' idea floating around that after a non-christian dies, they simply cease to exist. For them, there will be no eternal hell; they will only be destroyed on the Day of Judgment because God is a compassionate God and wouldn't allow the lost to suffer eternally.  I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but since it is floating around the churches, I just want to make sure I'm not missing something here.

Sincerely, Oblivion Oblivious

Dear Oblivion Oblivious,

Hell is a real place that you really don’t want to go to. The whole idea of the wicked simply ceasing to exist is conjured not from the Scriptures - but from the mind of man. Consider these verses:

1. The story of Lazarus and the rich man makes no sense without hell (Lk 16:20-24). Jesus would effectively be telling a scary myth in order to terrify people into going to heaven even though what happened to the rich man wasn’t true.
2. The wicked go to a place where the fire burns, but the worm never dies (Mk 9:47-49)
3. At the judgment the wicked shall go to where there is ‘everlasting punishment’ (Matt 25:46).
4. There are various degrees of judgment in hell (Lk 12:46-48). This makes no sense if hell is nothing more than oblivion.
5. A false teacher incurs a stricter judgment (Jas 3:1). Once again, what is ‘stricter judgment’ if hell doesn’t exist?

The false doctrine of ‘oblivion’ has cropped up amongst God’s people from time to time for many, many years. It never survives very long because it has no basis in Scriptural fact.

What does the Bible teach us about what is to come after death; specifically, do we know our ultimate fate immediately, or do we have to wait until the Day of Judgement?  What happens until then?  Also, can our loved ones watch over us such as is commonly believed? And will we know one another in Heaven?  I have heard "all of life's questions are answered in death"; is this true?  Will we even care about "life's questions" once we are gone from this world?

Sincerely, Looking Ahead

Dear Looking Ahead,

The Day of Judgement will only happen once, and then all of mankind will be divided between heaven and hell (Rev 20:12-15). However, until that time, all the dead will wait in Hades. Hades (also known as Sheol) is the place of the dead, both the good dead and the bad dead. The word ‘Hades’ literally means ‘the unseen place’.

Within Hades, there are two areas where people wait for the final judgment. All of the faithful who die wait in the good part of Hades called ‘Paradise’ (2 Cor 12:4, Lk 23:43). All of the wicked who die wait in a part of Hades known only as ‘torments’ (Lk 16:23). We cannot say with entire certainty whether people can look down on the affairs of Earth while in Hades, but the story of the rich man and Lazarus implies that they can’t. When the rich man died, he was in the ‘torments’ of Hades. He then began to inquire about his brothers in a way that leads us to believe he couldn’t see what was going on in their lives (Lk 16:27-31).

We will definitely know one another in heaven. In fact, if the transfiguration is any indication, we will know everyone in heaven, not just those we have known in this life. When Jesus was transfigured on the Mount of Olives, both Moses and Elijah appeared and talked to Christ (Lk 9:30). The remarkable thing is that Peter recognized both of those men even though they had been dead for many centuries (Lk 9:32-33).

As far as “all of life’s questions” being answered, all we are told is that every tear will be wiped away (Rev 21:4) and pain shall be done away with. Will we know everything? I have no idea. But, we will know what we need to understand, and we will be at peace with the light that God’s presence provides (Rev 22:5).