Thank you for reaching out with these questions. I hope to help clear up any misunderstanding so that you are clear about salvation. It might help if you remember that all of the things we're talking (i.e. faith, belief, calling, etc.) are about a relationship with God. The question of salvation is ultimately a question of how do I reconcile with God. We understand from the Bible that this relationship needs repaired because of our sin. In order for God to be both just and the justifier (Savior) of sinners, Jesus Christ had to come into this world to pay the penalty of sin and to fulfill the obedience and righteousness that was required. The proof that God accepted this offering is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Here is where faith, belief and calling come in. God promised salvation to all those who accept Christ's atonement on their behalf. This is faith (also called belief or trust). In order for a person to accept Christ as his Savior, he must realize that he needs a Savior (understanding that he is sinful and that without an adequate atonement, he will remain separated from God). He must also accept the Bible truth that Christ's atonement is God's appointed and acceptable atonement (there is nothing we can do to atone for our sins that is acceptable to God). This is what is meant by the saying that baptism cannot save, religious activities cannot save, keeping of laws or commandments or sacraments cannot save. Anyone who approaches God trusting in these types of things will be rejected. If we turn from these other means of atonement and believe that Christ made the only acceptable sacrifice for sin - that is faith, belief and trust. "With the heart man believeth." The calling is the relational aspect of this salvation. After all, your interest in this is all about restoring your relationship with God. Calling out to God through Jesus is faith. This is not a religious ritual (something done as to merit God's grace) but the simple reconciling of two people who were enemies but are now both friends and family. The Bible uses the term peace with God. So to summarize, we are enemies with God because of our sin and rebellion. God wanted the relationship restored and people to be saved so He sent Christ to do what was necessary in order to save sinners. Jesus tasted death for every man and then God raised Him from the dead as the proof that God accepted this atonement for sin. The promise of salvation is made to sinners. If you want to reconcile with God then you can come to Him through Jesus. There is no other way. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. If you believe in your heart that you're in need of a Savior and that Jesus died for your sins and rose again for your justification then you need to cry (call) out to God in reconciliation, ask Him to save you on the merits of Christ's atoning work and thou shalt be saved.

​@@gospellightbaptistchurch1572 I've got a couple more questions regarding the calling out to God to save you. 1. Where in the bible can I see an example of someone hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, and then performing the saving action of calling upon the name of the Lord? 2. What name do I call out to? 3. What was the saving name in the old testament? 4. How did Abel get saved, seeing he died before men started calling upon the name of the Lord? 5. If someone says "I'm going to heaven because I've called upon the name of the Lord" does this person trust on Jesus for his salvation, or does he trust in his own work of performing the action of calling upon the name of the Lord? 6. Is it possible to have called upon the name of the Lord the wrong way, and thus remain unsaved, while thinking you got saved? 7. Does a person have to believe in the call upon the name of the lord doctrine to get saved? Or can you also get saved by repeating a prayer with a soulwinner while believing salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone without having to ask to get saved? 8. Where in the bible does it say that a person that believes the gospel, but does not ask to get saved goes to hell? 9. If you have to use your voice to get saved, does this mean mute people are condemned to hell? 10. Why does God need you to ask for the gift of eternal life? Does He not know who believes? 11. Why does the bible say: And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Should this not be changed to: And whosoever will, let him ask for the water of life to get saved? 12. If God wants all men to get saved, why does He make salvation so vague, and hides the only way to get saved in a few verses in Romans 10, while every other bible verse talking about salvation does not mention having to call upon the name of the Lord? 13. Is preaching a gospel of faith alone in Christ alone for salvation from the penalty of sin, without the call upon the name of the Lord clause tucked in at the end, a sin? 14. How much time can there be between hearing and believing the gospel, and calling upon the name of the lord? 15. Seeing Abraham called upon the name of the Lord multiple times before he got saved, does this mean you can also call first and then believe? Or do you always need to ask for salvation after hearing and believing the gospel?

Maybe I'll stop by in the next few weeks and sit in for 1.

@@frankanthony7305This was a call to worship so I’m not the regular speaker but you’re more than welcome to come.