When Does One Become Saved?

When Does One Become Saved?                                          February 5, 2023

            One of the best ways to answer a question is to let the Bible answer it for us.  That is one of the main reasons Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  We need to see when God saved others.

            The first study is that of Noah.  When did God save him?  We see in Hebrews 11:7 that his faith in God saved him.  “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.  By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

            Note that the verse said, “By faith Noah….saved his household.”  Now was he saved when he first believed in God, or when he obeyed what God told him to do?  This verse actually answers that question for us.  God told Noah that He was going to destroy all flesh.  He then gave him the instructions to build a great boat.  It was because of his “reverent fear” that he built the ark.  His salvation came after he did what God instructed.

            Our second study is that of Israel and the tenth plague.  They received instruction from Moses as to how God would save them from the destroyer.  In Exodus 12:1-13 we see how specific these instructions were.  The actions of Israel indicated that they believed this message for they followed God’s instructions.  My question is this, would an Israelite family have been saved if they simply said, “Because I believe what God said, He will save me?” 

            Now finally, God has told us that we are to believe in Him if we want to be saved.  Will we be saved if we say we believe God, but refuse to obey Him?  Must obedience not come first?  I believe God, so I will repent of my sinfulness (Acts 17:30).  I believe in God, so I will confess Jesus before others (Matthew 10:32-33).  I believe God, so I will be baptized for the remission of my sins (Acts 2:38).  I believe God, so I will live faithfully until I die (Revelation 2:10).  Does that not harmonize with Noah and Israel?  Let the Bible explain itself.

By Bob Oliver