To go to Heaven and be saved(eternal life), believe on Jesus Christ(who is God and Savior). Believe, trust and have faith in Jesus alone that he saved you. Also to be saved, believe, trust and have faith in the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again. The gospel is according to the scriptures for our justification of our sins.
Is one saved when they believe on Jesus(believe, trust and have faith that Jesus saved you) or the gospel(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)? Or does one need to believe both things to be saved? At least some people believe that the gospel(including that Jesus died for our sins) happened but may not believe that it saves.
Thank you.
Consider salvation requires sins to be remitted. Scripture reveals this occurs upon obedience to the command to be water baptized in the name of JESUS. And receiving the indwelling presence of the Spirit is essential. According to Paul people who do not have the Spirit are not God's children. (Romans 8:9)
Jesus said, except one is born of
water and
Spirit they cannot SEE or ENTER into the kingdom. (John 3:3-5) Being born of water and Spirit requires believing in the one who made it possible; Jesus. He did that through His death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus said repentance and remission of sin (
connection to water baptism) would be preached in His name to ALL nations, and would BEGIN in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47) This was begun for those living in the NT after Jesus shed forth the Holy Spirit and the reality of being born again became possible for NT believers on the Day of Pentecost:
"Therefore
(Jesus) being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the
Holy Ghost,
he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Then Peter told them what they must do:
"...
Repent, and be baptized (Water) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Spirit)
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." Acts 2:33-42
As Jesus prophesied, the apostle's doctrine/gospel was carried forth and continues its journey into all nations. Those willing to believe and obey experience the NT rebirth spoken of by Jesus. See: John 3:3-5, Acts 2:4-41, 8:12-18, 9:17-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7, 22:16.
Consider the fact that the Apostle Paul was still carrying the same message some 20+ years after the initial message was presented at Pentecost:
"...Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." Acts 19:1-7