I asked some people what their understanding of salvation is, and their responses varied:

v  "It is the act of going to church and engaging in church activities, not forgetting to ensure that you help the needy."

v  "It is the act of simply avoiding sin and doing what is right."

Different people have different ideas about the same subject. The Bible, however, does not pose to us any room for any argument on this topic.

Some say that they are saved, simply because they have grown up in Christian families and have been attending church services and engaging themselves actively in church activities since childhood, and their parents are born-again Christians. This is a myth!!! Salvation can never be achieved through inheritance! (Know the story of the 7 sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-16? These sons invoked the name of Jesus in a bid to cast out demons. What became of them? They received such a beating that they ran naked and bleeding. Remember that Sceva was a Jewish High Priest meaning that he was a man of God. His salvation did not guarantee his sons the right to speak in the name of Jesus.) Is it getting clearer? I know it is.

Yet others, argue, " because I always do the right things, I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, I don't fornicate, I respect my parents and do so many good things, then I am saved."  These are good things to do, but would it surprise you to hear that they cannot give you salvation? These are just qualities that one who has already received salvation is expected to have. (Matthew 7:16 You shall know them by their fruits)

Salvation is a gift of Grace given to ALL human beings freely by God by letting His only son die on the cross for the sake of our sins. This was a sign of INCREDIBLE LOVE (John3:16) that we may not perish.

Salvation is through faith alone, faith in Christ Jesus. To attain this, we must believe in Jesus; believe in His death by crucifixion, his burial, and the subsequent resurrection. This is what faith is. (Romans 5:1)

"But I believe in the existence of God. Am I not saved?"  James 2:19 "You believe that there's one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder"

According to Acts 4:12, it is only through Jesus that we achieve salvation. (John14:6 Jesus said to him: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father, but by me."

In a nutshell, to receive the free gift of salvation, we only need to believe in the gospel of Christ, repent our sins, and be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned., Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)

Baptism is a way of identifying ourselves with Jesus through his death, burial, and resurrection. We die to sin, we are buried in the water and rise with Christ( a new creation, holy, cleansed) (1 Peter 3:21).

These are decisions one makes for themselves. A young child cannot, therefore, be claimed to be 'born again' even if they are baptized because they have no capacity to make independent decisions thus the baptism may be 'repeated' when one receives a personal conviction from within.

~ Muya Njoroge.