The question – “Does it really matter how I’m saved?” – is somewhat amusing, and yet, salvation – forgiveness of sins and preparation to meet God in the Judgment – is too serious of a matter to treat it lightly. If it were true that salvation were actually achieved by whatever procedure, how one is saved would not matter. However, the inquiry assumes a fact not in evidence – salvation is achievable in more than one way or in ways of one’s own choosing.
First, let’s define sin and against whom it is committed. Sin is violation of divinely inspired biblical instruction. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4 NKJV). God is offended by transgressors of His laws. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Secondly, who has sinned? Every accountable person, despite perhaps intentions to do otherwise, commits sin at least sometimes. “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 3:23). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. … If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10).
Thirdly, the law of God effective today is the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 8:13) or Testament (Hebrews 9:16-18), also referred to as the Gospel (Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-7), the Truth (Romans 2:8; 2 Corinthians 13:8; Ephesians 4:15) or the Word of God (Acts 6:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Fourthly, for we who are alive today, God’s plan for the redemption of humanity from sin appears in the New Testament. Numerous Scriptures declare elements that pertain to human redemption; we’ll note only a few here. Jesus summarized the divine scheme of redemption thusly in Mark 16:16. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). A biblical faith of Who Jesus is (John 8:24), coupled with immersion in water (Acts 8:38; Romans 6:3-5) for the remission or forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), results in salvation from past sins (Romans 3:25). Without faith, a soul remains lost, and per Mark 16:16, in that spiritual condition, baptism needs no mention for such souls.
Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus called upon mankind to repent prior to salvation being extended (Luke 13:3). Compare Acts 2:38 and see that repentance precedes baptism and salvation. Our Lord also calls upon souls to confess or acknowledge their faith in Him before others (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10).
In conclusion, salvation is only available through Jesus Christ and no other. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus saves those who obey Him. “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus Christ adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47) – those in the same context who repented and were baptized (Acts 2:38).
After becoming a child of God – a Christian – sin can still enter one’s life. There’s a difference between unforgiven sinners and forgiven sinners – Christians. When guilty of sin, the child of God can repent and pray to God for forgiveness of those sins. In addition, should a Christian be guilty of sin unknowingly, it will also be forgiven as long as one continues to faithfully practice Christianity. “But if we [Christians] walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Yes, it matters how a soul goes about trying to obtain salvation. Jesus grants forgiveness of sins only according to His New Testament. Persons who believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ – the Son of God, the Messiah and the Savior – who consequently repent of their sins and who are willing to confess or acknowledge such openly, and who voluntarily imitate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ by immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins – baptism – obtain salvation, are added to the church and become Christians. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep” (John 10:1-2). Only the “Good Shepherd” (John 11:11, 14) – Jesus Christ – truly offers salvation. There is only one way – His way – by which a soul can be saved!
