How do we know that we are saved or that we have eternal life with GOD, GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT. We shall look at Bible verses that tell us how to have eternal life with GOD. Today we are in the age or dispensation of grace, church age or in the body of CHRIST, so we will look at a Bible verse concerning this time.

  • 1 Corinthians C15 V1 – 4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 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:” From this epistle of Paul we see that Paul was the first to preach the gospel by which we are saved that, JESUS died for our sins, was buried & rose up on the 3rd day – all according to old testament scriptures. If we believe/have faith/trust in what Paul’s gospel states, what JESUS did and only what JESUS did, then we are saved, have eternal life with GOD.

Now we will look at a few old testament accounts were people were declared righteous/saved/have eternal life by faith in what GOD said and find relevant verses in the new testament.

  • Genesis C4 V2 – 16, the story of Cain & Abel, V4 “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:”
  • Hebrews C11 V4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
  • Genesis C5 V19 – 24, the story of Enoch, V24 “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
  • Hebrews C11 V5 – 6, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
  • Genesis C6 V8 – Ch9 V29, the story of Noah, C6 V8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
  • Hebrews C11 V7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
  • Genesis C12 V1 – Ch25 V8, the story of Abram/Abraham, C15 V6 “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
  • Romans C4 V2 – 3, “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
  • Hebrews C11 V7, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

The above people were declared by GOD to be righteous/saved/have eternal life with GOD. They all lived hundreds of years before Moses & the law in the dispensation of conscience (Abel & Enoch), dispensation of human government (Noah) & dispensation of promise (Abram/Abraham). Thus, no works of their own saved them (obedience to the law/ordinances/rituals/traditions), their faith in what GOD said saved them.

Now for an example of being saved during the dispensation of law, Zacharias & Elisabeth, father & mother of John the Baptist.

  • Luke C1 V5 – 6, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” All 613 laws to include the 10 commandments.

Other Bible verses concerning salvation/righteousness/eternal life with GOD.

  • Matthew C1 V21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” JESUS saves us from our sins – nothing we can do except believe.
  • Matthew C12 V37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” We speak what we believe so our words or beliefs justify us or condemn us.
  • John C1 V12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” believe in JESUS thus sons/children of GOD
  • John C3 V15 – 18, 36, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”         believe in JESUS eternal life, do not believe condemned
  • John C5 V23 – 24, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” believe in JESUS you believe the FATHER thus eternal life
  • John C14 V6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Must believe in JESUS’ finished work to see GOD the FATHER
  • John C20 V31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” JESUS is the MESSIAH, SON of GOD, believe & have life (eternal)
  • Acts C2 V21, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” call on the name of the LORD & be saved (you must believe in the name/person you call on)
  • Acts C4 V10 – 12, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” saved only by the name of JESUS CHRIST (MESSIAH) of Nazareth
  • Romans C1 V16 – 17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Paul teaches gospel of CHRIST, power of GOD for salvation for those who believe, live by faith
  • Romans C3 V21 – 24, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Salvation/justification is the free gift of GOD once believe what JESUS and only JESUS did (suffered, died on the cross, shed HIS blood & rose on the 3rd day) and not obedience to the 613 laws to include the 10 commandments.
  • Romans C4 V24 – 25, “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” faith that GOD raised JESUS who died for our sins from the dead for justification/salvation/eternal life with GOD
  • Romans C5 V1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” justified/saved by faith, peace with GOD through JESUS CHRIST
  • Rom C6 V23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” sin therefore death but by the free gift of GOD saved/righteous/eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, we do nothing but believe
  • Rom C8 V1 – 14, read-lengthy, believe in JESUS‘ finished work therefore led by the HOLY SPIRIT not the law
  • Romans C10 V4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”   JESUS CHRIST our LORD is the end of the law/works but believe to be saved
  • Romans C10 V8 – 11, “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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.” faith & say JESUS CHRIST our LORD died & GOD raised HIM you shall be saved
  • Romans C16 V25 – 26, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” Paul’s gospel was a secret till GOD revealed it to Paul for obedience of faith.
  • 1 Corinthians C12 V13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” by the HOLY SPIRIT we are baptized into the body of CHRIST
  • 2 Corinthians C5 V21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” JESUS CHRIST who knew no sin was made sin that we become the righteousness of GOD in JESUS CHRIST
  • Galatians C2 V16 – 21, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” faith in what JESUS CHRIST did & not works or the law (613 to include the 10 commandments) saves us, if the law/works saves us (against the grace of GOD) JESUS died in vain
  • 2 Corinthians C3 V7,  “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:” ministration of death engraved in stone refers to the 10 commandments
  • 1 Peter C1 V24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” JESUS bore all mankind’s sins in HIS body thus we have righteousness & our bodies are healed.
  • Hebrews C9 V22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” JESUS’ divine blood shed during HIS passion is the only sacrifice GOD accepts for the forgiveness of sins.
  • Revelations C1 V5 – 6, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” JESUS washed us clean of our sins with HIS blood to make us kings & priests to GOD our heavenly FATHER.

From this quick/short study we see that it is our faith in what JESUS did, HIS suffering, dying on the cross, shedding of HIS blood for the forgiveness of sins(Hebrews C9 V22), burial & resurrection on the 3rd day (1 Corinthians C15 V1 – 4) saves us or gives us righteousness. Paul’s gospel (1 Cor C15 V1 – 4) was a secret until GOD revealed it to Paul (Romans C16 V25 – 26), it is the gospel of grace for the dispensation of grace that we are in now. Once you believe in JESUS‘ finished work you are led by the HOLY SPIRIT and not the law. Verses used were selected for their brevity. Other passages that could be used required many verses to be quoted to convey the idea/thought. As with every study in the Bible, do not only read the verse/verses given/presented but read a few previous & a few post verses from the given/presented verses.

Lastly, it is our faith in JESUS CHRIST, HIS finished work on the cross and not obedience to the 10 commandments (ministry of death engraved in stone 2 Corinthians C3 V7) or the other 603 laws GOD gave Moses to Israel that saves us, JESUS CHRIST has already saved us – just believe.

Dispensations are another study.

Salvation PDF