Introduction.
For a lot of people, receiving Jesus Christ as Savior is big deal and rightly so. Many think that repeating a few words, called the “Prayer of Salvation,” means they’re saved forever no matter what they think, say, and do. Irrespective of how good they are based on their own efforts and regardless of the depths and heights of sins committed they yet believe they’ll automatically go to heaven when it’s their time. We’re going to delve into this matter and provide Scriptures to prove that we need to abide in Christ, spend time in His Word and maintain an ongoing genuine connection with Him to be called His disciple.
In this article, we’ll cover these 4 areas: 1. What do we mean by being saved? 2.Why do people think they’re automatically going to heave no matter how they live on earth. 3. Is God required to accept us into heaven regardless as to how we live on earth? 4. What does Repentance have to do with all this salvation stuff?
What Do We Mean by Saved?
Are you forever saved by repeating the Prayer of Salvation? Do you go to heaven if you die right after the Prayer of Salvation? My thought: If you were genuine and meant it with all of your being, then yes. Only God knows if you truly meant the repentance part. Jesus explained salvation better than anyone can imagine. In John 3:7 Jesus said, “you must be born again.” The word “salvation” has taken on so many different connotations that we need to explain it afresh based on what the Holy Scriptures say. Let’s look at the Bible verses below.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:3, 5 to 7 NKJV
Born Again By the Regenerative Work of the Holy Spirit
The Bible says, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit and that which is born of the flesh is flesh. That means we can’t be born again or receive Jesus Christ as Savior apart from the inward work of the Holy Spirit. For it is the Spirit of God that draws us to Jesus in the first place. See supporting Bible verses below. After receiving salvation, the Holy Spirit begins to reform and renew us inwardly through the Word and the power of God. This is how the Believer goes through the transition of sanctification: living holy, pure and obedient to the instructions of Jesus Christ and the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit.
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:43, 44 KJV
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:19 to 21 KJV
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:14 to 17 KJV
ABC’s of Salvation
There are steps to being saved. These steps might not always occur in this order. For example, some confess that Jesus Christ is Lord because they heard that He is Lord over all the world. And they’ll do this without first believing and accepting that truth based on understanding that comes through teaching.
1. Accept: Fully accept the truth that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. He was sent by God as the sacrifice for the sin of mankind and to heal, save and deliver.
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 KJV
2. Believe: Know and believe in the fact that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, He came to earth through the virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Ghost. And that He died on the cross, rose from the dead for the sins of all mankind.
No other name given among men whereby we might be saved. Acts 4:12 KJV
3. Confess: Say out loud that Jesus Christ died for your sins and you believe that He is the Savior of the world.
8 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;
9 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.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:8 to 10 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 KJV
Salvation is More Than the Prayer of Salvation:
Salvation is not only receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and repenting for your sins. For that is just the first step. Note, repentance is essential to walking out the steps to salvation and we should strive to live a life of repentance. Salvation is a lifelong commitment to Christ to walk closely with Him in fellowship and obedience. You are pledging your allegiance to Him and to a life of holiness and purity. All the while, admitting the need for His strength and grace to fulfill the assignment He has placed on our lives. And to follow the guidance of a holy, consecrated and obedient person, like a Pastor, Christian leader, Sunday School teacher, as examples, who lives according to the Bible’s statutes and precepts in both the Old and New Testaments.
Why People Think They’re Saved No Matter What.
Many have been told that they’re saved no matter what happens, no matter what they do and regardless of how many sins and how detrimental those sins are to themselves and others. This is why we need to read and study the Word in our personal time, in addition to time we spend attending Bible Study, Sunday School, Bible School, etc. As we study the Bible, we gain God’s approval and the Word also cleanses us. See John 15:3, 2 Timothy 2:15.
The Scripture clearly states in the Bible that we must follow God’s rules in order to make it all the way into heaven. God wants people who will love Him for who He is and serve, obey Him as a form of worship.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21 KJV
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31 KJV
Scriptural Proof All People Don’t Go to Heaven Who Profess Christ.
Although God is love, there will be multitudes who wind up in hell. And it won’t be because God put them there. It’s not about how sweet and kind we are. For there will be thousands, perhaps millions of people who are nice to others who will go to hell. There are reasons why many people who say the Salvation prayer will not make it into heaven. Here are a few reasons:
1. Continuing in sin, iniquity without truly repenting. True repentance keeps us close to God and puts us back on the right track when we error. Depart from me, you worker of iniquity…
21 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.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21 to 23 KJV
2. Lukewarmness. If we repent for not staying on fire for Christ, He’ll forgive us and restore us. Revelation 3:15 to 17, 19
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:13 to 16 KJV
3. No genuine relationship with God. Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection made it possible for us to abide in Him. Jesus’ words admonish us to dwell and live in Him in the 15th Chapter of John. John 15:5, 6
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:4 to 6 KJV
4. Don’t allow God to quench their thirst. These follow vain persons and us the things of this world to satisfy the longings of their lives and lead others to do so. Instead Believers should be getting filled with God’s Word and His Spirit. See Isaiah 5:13, 14 and Revelation 2:19 to 22.
13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isaiah 5:13, 14 KJV
Explanation of Repentance:
The explanation of repentance in the paragraph below is an excerpt from my book, A Book of Prayers published in 2024;
“Recognizing your sin, accepting God's correction of it (which leads to walking in obedience), and renunciation of sin are all workings of repentance. Praying for forgiveness is important, but that’s just the start. Changing your ways (with God’s guidance) is the major step on the road of repentance. Repentance indicates that you're coming back to God because there was a rift in your relationship with Him. When a sin is committed, there is a break (big or small) in our connection with God. God is everywhere because He is omnipresent, but when we sin, our close fellowship with Him is contaminated. Repentance brings us back into right alignment with Him.” (A Book of Prayers, 2024)
Sin makes life feel off kilter. Which means things are askew because sin causes an imbalance. Sin brings/can bring: sickness, emotional and physical pain, lightweight and severe consequences, families torn apart, divorce, violence, addiction, and the list goes on. These penalties happen when there’s been a deviation away from the truth, will and ordinances of God and His Word. The good news is, the moment true repentance is done, that humble submission to God combined with godly sorrow, moves us closer to God again and in proper alignment with our Lord and Savior.
5 Aspects of True Repentance:
1. Agreement with God.
When we go to God in repentance, a good place to start is to begin by admitting that we did wrong and we’re in agreement with God that our wrongdoing is a sin. Let’s not beat around the bush. Let’s come right out and say that we sinned and make no excuses by blaming others for example. 1 John 1:9,10; Proverbs 28:13
2. Godly Sorrow and a Contrite Spirit.
Genuine contrition bears the fruit of true repentance. There are different levels and experiences to contrition. This can get very deep, so we’ll get to that in a future Blog. See Psalm 51:2 to 5; Ephesians 4:29 to 32.
Contrite defined: “In the Bible, the term "contrite" refers to a heart that is deeply remorseful and repentant for sin. It signifies a genuine sorrow for wrongdoing, recognizing the weight of one's rebellion against God, and is characterized by humility and a sincere desire for forgiveness. A contrite heart is not merely about feeling regret; it involves an inward posture of acknowledging God's holiness and one's personal failings.” (TheBibleChristian.com, 2026)
3. Ask for Forgiveness.
The Bible says, we have not because we ask not. See James 4:2. When you ask God to forgive you, remember to accept His forgiveness. And to also forgive yourself. Psalm 32:5; Jeremiah 33:8.
Ask and it shall be given…
4. Create Boundaries and Accountability.
The talks about bearing the fruit of repentance in Matthew 3:6, 8. There is usually some sort of adjustment in the character, attitude and lifestyle of the person who has truly repented. Associate with people who are strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Serving in the upbuilding of God’s Kingdom is a fantastic way to be actively engaged in the cause of Christ and be accountable to the people you serve with. If not a fellow servant in the Gospel, you can be accountable to a prayer partner, a godly friend who is mature and walking in holiness as examples. See 1 John 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Titus 2:14.
5. Strengthen walk with God.
Pray for a desire to walk so closely with God that your connection is rooted in the fear of the Lord and the love of God. The fear of the Lord is to reverence, honor and obey Him. Mark 12:30; John 15:4 to 5.
Summary.
True repentance means we realize we have done wrong and we go back to God, the Sovereign Ruler, our King, our Lord and the One who set up Redemption’s Plan. He is in charge. Either He is Lord of all of our whole being or He’s not Lord at all. The Bible teaches us that we must obey Him if we are to be his true disciples and that means admitting when we’ve done wrong and then making the necessary adjustments to get back in proper alignment with God.
The Bible says in John 10:5 and again in verse 26, in summary, My sheep hear my voice and a stranger’s voice, they will not follow. That means we’ll discern the voice of Jesus Christ if we follow closely to Him and obey His Word.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. John 10:4, 5 KJV
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:26, 27 KJV
This is the key to getting saved and remaining in God’s will and His commandments. This is the way to hear Him say, well done thou good and faithful servant, when we reach the end of our journey on earth.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21 KJV
Remember that God loves you deeply and always has your best interest in mind. Obeying Him is for our protection on earth and eternal rewards in heaven.
Blessings,
Tanda
10/31/2026
Prayer of Repentance
Lord God Almighty,
I would like a closer walk with You. You are so very worthy of my praise and worship. Give me the understanding I need to live according to your will. Enable me to make better choices. Show me your way.
I realize I was wrong. I repent concerning _____________. Your Word says, if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Consecrate me to do your will. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Create in me a clean heart and renew the right spirit within me. Make me a vessel of honor. I want to do what’s right. Help me to do your will.
Your Word says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” I trust Your sovereign plan will be done in my life. I thank You in advance that You will guide me concerning ___________ and You’ll reveal yourself to me through the scriptures. Speak to me every day about each area of my life that I may know your will and know how to make adjustments. Show me your purpose and bring clarity and revelation about the calling you have placed on my life. Talk to me through visions, dreams and the gifts of the Spirit. Use whoever you choose to speak into my life so I can walk the path you have chosen for me. I believe you have heard this prayer and have already begun to answer.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
James 1:5, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 12:31, Psalm 32:5, Psalm 51:10-11, I John 1:9
References:
Thompson, T., 2020. Definition of Repentance, Walking Out Salvation’s Plan eBook; Chapter 11: True Repentance. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736323105?lv=shuf&channelId=510&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Thompson, T., 2020. Prayer of Repentance, Walking Out Salvation’s Plan paperback; Chapter 11: True Repentance. Retrieved from:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736323105?lv=shuf&channelId=510&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Thompson, T., 2024. A Book of Prayers; Prayer 20: A Prayer of Repentance Chapter. Obtained on 9/22/2026. Retrieved from: https://payhip.com/b/AKaFG
William, L. 2026. What Does Contrite Mean in the Bible (Definition)? TheBibleChristian.com. Obtained on 9/27/2026. Retrieved from: https://thebiblechristian.com/what-does-contrite-mean-in-the-bible/
Attribution:
Cover Image: Photo by Nude Nahum from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/whiskey-bottles-display-with-empty-glasses-outdoors-28720732/
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