This is a question I have for my own personal salvation honestly. I have been trying to figure out how I can be saved but a big wrench in my searching is the whole "Calvinistic doctrine" as people call it. These Calvinists argue that I can't save myself, which I believe is true.
And the Bible agrees with this. In fact, the sole reason Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to earth and paid the entire sin penalty for everyone. So they could be saved on the basis of faith in Him.
But they say that I am predestined to either hell or heaven. Predestined to continue in sin or to repent and believe in Christ for my salvation. They basically teach that I have no free will but I am still responsible for if I go to hell or not.
And this is where the Calvinists go way off the rail. There is no such teaching in Scripture.
I am hopelessly confused by these teachings (predestination, free will, salvation.)
That's what Calvinism does. They are very confused.
I thought salvation was supposed to be simple but honestly it seems like most people who call themselves Christians can't even agree on how salvation works.
The reason for such disagreement is Satan. He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
I've seen constant arguing between Calvinists and others and now it has confused me, an unbeliever, to the point where I don't know what to do for salvation.
If you are familiar with the Bible, what is there that you don't yet believe?
Great question. Actually, a jailer from Philippi asked that question to Paul the apostle.
Acts 16:30-31
30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
It is really that simple. When Paul said, "believe in the Lord Jesus", he meant trust in what Jesus Christ did for YOU personally on the cross. He paid YOUR sin debt completely. But that doesn't save you. You must trust that His work on your behalf does save you. This is why you can't save yourself. You, and everyone else in humanity needs a Savior. And Jesus Christ IS that Savior. Him alone.
Do I just hope that I have been predestined to be saved? Do I just ask God to save me?
Nope, and nope.
And I'm afraid that no matter what I do I will be seeking salvation the wrong way.
The only way to know for sure how to be saved and have eternal life is what the Bible says.
Salvation:
Luke 8:12 "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 11:14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'
Acts 16:31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Rom 10:9, 10 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1 Cor 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
2 Tim 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
2 Thess 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Eternal Life:
John 3:15-16 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
John 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
1 Tim 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
I've heard people even say that trying to seek faith in Christ or trying to believe is a work.
Trust is not a work. It's a response to what Jesus did for YOU.
Or that I am placing my faith in my faith instead of Christ (if that makes sense even.)
It's a fairly common claim. Your action of trust doesn't save you. God saves those who believe.
1 Cor 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached
to save those who believe.
Very clear. It is God who saves, and He is pleased to save those who believe. So there is NO work involved in believing in Christ for your salvation.
Here's a good analogy. If you were drowning, and someone threw you a life preserver, do you think that you "saved yourself" by grabbing on? Of course not. You would give all credit to the one who threw you the life preserver.
Some have said that repenting and believing is a work. And some have even said that salvation comes before repentance and belief. That only the elect will believe.
You need to separate yourself from all Calvinists. They don't have any Scripture to back them up.
Do I just hope and beg God to save me?
Nope. Do what Paul told the jailer to do: believe on the Lord Jesus and you WILL BE saved.
If I am not elect then he won't do it anyway.
Calvinists wrongly think that election is to salvation, in spite of NO VERSES that say that. In fact, election is for service, not salvation. So you can ignore any statements about "the elect". It has no bearing on one's savlation.
If I am not predestined he won't save me. That is what I've heard from Calvinists at least.
Well, there you go. Ignore the Calvinists.
What if I am not one of the elect or predestined to be saved? As an unbeliever I am hopelessly confused as to how to be saved.
Ignore the Calvinists.
Oh, and, btw, ignore the Arminians as well. They'll try to convince you that you can lose your salvation, another totally unbiblical bit of nonsense.
Study the verses I've shared. They all tell you the same thing about how to have salvation and eternal life.
You'll never go wrong with knowing what the Bible says and believing what it says.
