If we believe in God does that mean that we are saved?

Answer 1

No, absolutely not. The Devil "believes" in God a lot more than you do - and it does him no good, he is still in hell for all eternity. Every single person in hell believes in God and they are most obviously not saved.

The problem that you have to confront is that when Protestant "Christians" use the word saved they are actually talking about three different things:

1) Redemption - every single person who ever lived has been redeemed by Our Blessed Lord's sacrifice of Himself on the cross.

2) Justification - this is what we are in the process of during our entire lives. Justification involves applying the redemption that Our Blessed Lord has accomplished and becoming perfect. We are all called to be perfect by the time we die. If we fail in this, but are still in a state of grace when we die, then there is a state where people are purified in order to enter heaven.

3) Salvation - this happens ONLY after you have died and are judged. It is an instantaneous thing, the instant you die you stand before the Almighty and realize if you actually loved God enough in this life to follow Him or not; and you cast yourself into hell, purgatory, or heaven, depending on how you lived your life. The final state (heaven and hell are both final states, purgatory is just that cleansing for those who died imperfect but in the love of God; the final state of heaven {or purgatory if you are not yet perfect}) is salvation; its alternative is damnation.

We know that salvation is not accomplished in this life because The Bible explains this, and the Church teaches it: justification is a process that occupies our entire lives, then comes judgment and THEN comes salvation or damnation. People who believe that they are "saved" here in this life are either talking about redemption or they are sinning fatally and eternally through the sin of presumption- which is the sin which says that you can know what your final destination is.

You may only have a firm hope - as the Bible explains - but you must "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) and never presumptuously believe that you are already saved.

Answer 2

The words of Jesus at Matthew 7:21 (NIV) - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Jesus went on to explain that many people would believe in him, but he added that only the person who is "doing the will of his father" will be saved, or enter into the Kingdom.

The will of God explained at 1 Timothy 2:3,4 (NIV) - "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Jesus, while he was on Earth, practiced his father's will by teaching others about him, and proclaiming the Kingdom. So, while it does start with belief in God, there is more to do than just have faith. We are told to exercise that faith by teaching others in the same manner that Jesus did.

James 2:18-20 (NIV) - "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?"

James makes a logical point that even the demons, who were angels that rebelled against God, believe in God, but yet, that does not make them saved.

The words of Jesus at Matthew 24:13 (NIV) - "but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

The words of Jesus at John 3:16 (NIV) - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The Greek word rendered "believes" at John 3:16 carries a strong indication of commitment to having faith. The lesson is to follow Christ's example in all things. Jesus did not just believe in his father, he lived his life in accordance to his father's will. This would include living to the moral standards set out in the Bible, but it also involves the two greatest commandments, which are to love God and to love your fellow man.

Jesus showed this love by helping others, being self-sacrificing, and most importantly, teaching others the way to salvation. The same course should be true for anyone that would call themselves a Christian. The thought of "standing firm" or "enduring" carries the notion that it would not be easy, just as the life of Christ was not easy.

Answer 3

To be saved, you must follow the Christian ABC's:

A. Accept Jesus Christ as your savior

B. Believe that he came and died for you

C. Confess that He is Lord.