When you think about Salvation, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Salvation are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

5 Things that will not Save You:

(Acts 10:1-8,24-43)

The first thing that won’t save you is: Being Devout
The Definition of one being devout according to Websters 1828 Dictionary is as follows:

1. Yielding a solemn and reverential attention to God in religious exercises, particularly in prayer.

We must be constant and devout in the worship of God.

2. Pious; devoted to religion; religious.

Simeon was a just man and devout. Luke 2.

Devout men carried Stephen to his burial. Acts 8.

3. Expressing devotion or piety; as, with eyes devout.

4. Sincere; solemn; earnest; as, you have my devout wishes for your safety.

Cornelius is said to have been a devout man, but that wasn’t enough to please God, or to save his soul.

Also, notice that in Acts 13:50, and Acts 17:16-17 that we find devout people fighting with the Man of GOD; which is obviously not pleasing to God. A person can be completely devoted to something, but still be completely wrong.
See for instance Romans 10:1-4: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” The religious leaders of Israel at the time had a zeal for God or were devoted to their cause, but they were wrong. They thought that by living by the law (which no-one outside Jesus Christ has ever been able to do) they could be saved. We can look all the way back to Genesis to see that this is not the case. The whole conflict that Cain had with Able was over what type of sacrifice was acceptable to God. Cain thought that a sacrifice of his works should be good enough, but Able realized that only a blood sacrifice would do.

Second we notice that Fearing GOD can’t save you:
Notice that in James 2:19 we read that even the Demons fear GOD. In 2 Kings 17:31-34 we see that the Unsaved fear GOD as also in Jonah 1:16.
So the question is what does it mean to fear God?
Again according to the Websters 1828 dictionary defines fear: To reverence; to have a reverential awe; to venerate.
In scripture, fear is used to express a filial or a slavish passion. In good men, the fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and his laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun every thing that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience. This is filial fear.
Slavish fear is the effect or consequence of guilt; it is the painful apprehension of merited punishment. Rom. 8.
So we can plainly see that Fearing God either in reverence or in the light of realizing the punishment deserved because of a sinful life will not save a person. The later is quite obviously not a path to salvation, but it said as to how many deceived people believe that to reverence God will in some way give them some merit on judgment day.

Thirdly we see that the act of Giving Alms (Money to the Church) cannot, and will not save a person from their sins. Notice what the Bible says in Matthew 6:1-2.
First of all, I would like for you to notice the word salvation is not even found in this passage. Rewards are the outcome of a gift given with the right heart, not eternal life. If giving alms or money could save a persons soul don’t you think the Lord Jesus Christ would have said so while he was on the subject?

Next we see that Praying to GOD does not give anyone eternal life see Luke 16:23-31. The act of prayer of and in itself will do nothing for your relationship with God. Unbelievers pray all the time when it suits their needs.
Finally, notice that Having a good reputation will in no wise offer eternal life. We see in Acts 26:1-12 that the apostle Paul before he was saved had a good reputation in the eye’s of the Pharisees, but once he was saved and started preaching the gospel that these same men wanted his life taken from him. What “men,” think of you is of no consequence.

WHAT WILL SAVE YOU?
It’s on by the Grace of God that anyone can be saved. None of us deserves to be saved, and that is the first thing that a sinner must realize, and admit of him or herself. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We are all sinners and have fallen short of God’s glory. Not so sure this pertains to you? Well take this simple test to see how you measure up to God’s standards:
1) Have you ever told a lie?
2) Have you ever stolen anything no matter how large or small?
3) Have you ever committed adultery?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28 that even if you look upon a woman (or man) with lust in you heart then you have committed adultery in your heart. God ponders the heart he doesn’t just look at our actions, but he looks on our motives, and thoughts. Most people if honest would have to answer yes to all three of these questions, and in so doing you will find that you are guilty of breaking three of God’s laws. On judgment day, Jesus will stand as the judge (see Romans 2:16, and II Timothy 4:1) and find us guilty in his court.
In Romans 6:23 we can see that the penalty for being a sinner is death. That is what we all deserve, but this is where Gods grace comes into play; the second part of that verse says, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:8 says” While we were yet sinners Christ died for us” Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day for us, not for himself. Jesus said in John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” and that is exactly what he did for us. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” So without grace no one could be saved.

The reason Jesus had to die on the cross in order to save us is because a blood sacrifice had to be made, but our blood is infected with sin, so God himself in the person of Jesus Christ came to the earth to be that sacrifice for us. The bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. So The Blood of Jesus had to be shed on our behalf. Ephesians 2:13 says that we “were made close to God by the blood of Christ.” According to Romans 5:9-11 we see that The Blood of Jesus is what makes us justified in God’s sight, and this is what reconciles us to him.

How do we get The Blood of Jesus applied to our account? The Lord has made it simple for us to get in on this reconciliation. We don’t have to earn it, there are no pre-requisites to receiving it we simply must accept the Gospel. We find the Gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-5. Gospel means good news. The good news is “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” The Gospel shows us that all the necessary work has already been done by Jesus we just need to accept him has our Lord and Savior.

Receiving Jesus as Lord & Savior is the only thing that we must do to obtain eternal life. Jesus said, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6), and in Romans 10:9-10 we see “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The Bible also say in Romans 10:13 “that whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
When you have put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and only in him for salvation than you have eternal life. According to I John 5:13: which states “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that y may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Salvation. Share your new understanding about Salvation with others. They’ll thank you for it.