Where in the Bible did you find your formula for salvation? It is not in my Bible and I have worn out numerous Bibles and that formula for being saved was not in any of them. I have preached to many inmates in the state prison, and numerous ones of them became obedient to the gospel and were baptized into Christ there in prison. The gospel is the same for every person whether in prison or out. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus makes it plain that only those who do the will of God are going to be saved. Read what Peter told the convicted crowd what to do when they heard the gospel and realized they were lost (Acts 2:37,38,41). In Galatians 3:26,27 the apostle Paul who was inspired by the Holy Spirit said, “ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Now I ask you can anyone be saved out of Christ, if so where do we find that in the Bible? Paul makes it plain that one is baptized into Christ, but it is an act of faith. Look at Acts 8:26-40, when Philip preached Christ to the eunuch he wanted to be baptized, now why did he want to do that if he could be saved without it? Search the scriptures and you will never find anyone being saved like you suggest.

How can I know that I am saved?

If your believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God and thus believe
its message you will know that you are saved when you have obeyed its
commands relative to salvation. The New Testament is God's word for the Christian age which began with Jesus' death and subsequent resurrection.
Just before he left the earth he gave the Great Commission to the apostles as is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20; and Mark 16:15,16. On the first Pentecost following Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension into heaven the apostles preached the first gospel message as recorded in Acts chapter two.

During the sermon the people are cut to the heart being convicted of their
sins and ask what they must do (verse 37), Peter's reply is very plain as he
tells them they must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
(verse 38). Then notice verse 41 when the scripture says, "Then they that
gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls." As you continue to read you will
note that in the last verse of the chapter it states, "And the Lord added to
the church daily such as should be saved." The American Standard and the
NIV reads "those being saved." When believes (Rom.10:10,17); confesses his
faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32,32; Romans 10:10); repents (Luke 13:3; Acts
2:38); and is baptized for remission of sins (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38;
Romans 6:3-6) we know we are saved from our past sins. Eternal salvation in
heaven will be contingent upon our faithfulness following our obedience to
the gospel.

From man’s earliest days on earth sacrifices were offered to God, Genesis 4:3-4. With the giving of the Law of Moses, Exodus 20, first in the 10 Commandments and then with the expounding of that law, as seen in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, one can see the purpose of some of the sacrifices as being offered for sin. However, the tabernacle and the sacrifices were only a shadow of the things to come, Hebrews 9:1-10. 

It is through the law that one has knowledge of one’s sins, Romans 3:20. The law could not justify, Romans 3:20. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins, Hebrews 10:4. Man could not keep the law perfectly and the sacrifices of animals could not bring about the salvation needed. The only way man’s sins could finally be removed would be through the offering of one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. That perfect sacrifice was Jesus. Jesus committed no sins, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:21-22. Therefore He was perfect. He was the one who would take away the sins of the world, John 1:29. Jesus died for our sins, Romans 5:6, 8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It is through Jesus’ death that men are saved, Romans 5:9-10. Jesus’ death as a type of sacrificial lamb for sins accomplished what nothing else or no other human could. It was only through Jesus’ death that man could be saved.

CAN SALVATION BE LOST?

 

What does being saved really mean?

Salvation means deliverance from sin. It is a return to a right state with God. To be saved is to be forgiven; to be saved is to receive pardon from the condemnation of sin.

All accountable people have sinned before God and are in need of His forgiveness. To sin is to come short of a given standard (Romans 3:23). Sin may also be a deliberate transgression of divine law (1 John 3:4). Sin is sometimes described as wickedness or iniquity (Isa. 59:1, 2). Or, it may be simply a failure to do what we know to do (James 4:17).

A Holy and Just God could not be indifferent to sin, so a penalty was enacted which is death (Romans 6:23; 5:12). Even while living, the sinner is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).

A loving God sent His Son to earth to "seek and save" the lost (Luke 19:10) and to pay the ransom price for our sins ( 1 Cor. 6:20). He suffered death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 5:8,9). Through obedience to Christ we receive forgiveness, pardon, salvation from our sins.

Who can be saved?

Our Savior invites ALL to come to Him for salvation (Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 22:17). Christ came to earth to provide salvation for every sinner. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men," (Titus 2:11).

That salvation in not forced on anyone. We must have the faith necessary to accept and obey the conditions revealed in the New Testament. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21.) And he said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:15-16.)

All who turn from sin to Christ in faith, repentance, and baptism are saved from past sin. (Acts 2:38.) As a Christian, a follower of Christ, we are continually cleansed from our sins by the blood of Jesus. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9.) All followers of Christ who are faithful to him will receive eternal life or salvation (Revelation 2:10.)

  Does God want all people to be saved?

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9.) "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4.) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.)

Is it possible for one to lose their salivation?

God created man so that he could choose the way he wanted to live. He could
serve God or not. Some people were Christians but then decided to return to
their past way of life. Paul speaks of Demas. He calls him a fellow laborer
in Philemon 1:24, but in 2 Timothy 4:16 Paul says that he has loved this
present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. This implies that
Demas had left the faith and had fallen.

Maybe a clearer reference is when Paul writes that "... some will fall away
from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons (1 Timothy 4:1)." Paul tells Timothy to keep the faith for ".. some
have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these
are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan (1 Tim
1:18-20)."

Jesus himself said that some would fall to temptation after they had
received the word (Luke 8:13). This reminds us that we need to study and try
our best to live for Christ. 1 John is a great letter that reassures us that
if we constantly try to live our life in a Christ like manner and confess
our sins we will be forgiven (1 John 1:7). It also tells us that no one who
is a Christian can continue in sin (1 John 3:9).