Baha’is do not believe that salvation is a free gift of God. Salvation is seen as a collaboration between God and man. This collaboration is seen as being initiated by God, but it is one that man must participate in. Salvation is
Baha’is do not believe that salvation is a free gift of God. Salvation is seen as a collaboration between God and man. This collaboration is seen as being initiated by God, but it is one that man must participate in. Salvation is not seen as a one-time event, but it is seen as a process that involves both the actions of God and the individual.
The first thing that we must do is define salvation. Salvation is defined as: “being saved from righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.” We must also understand that we do not work for our salvation at all, it is a free gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-10 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” As Christians we believe that we are not saved by our good works, but that we are saved in order to do good works. Our good works come after our salvation.
How is someone saved? We first must understand that all of us are sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities (sin) have made a separation between you and your God. And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.” When one has a job and works, they have a wage that they are paid. Our wage for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In order to be saved from your sins, you must put your trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your salvation. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” We must also understand that we cannot be saved outside of faith in Jesus Christ. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father; but through Me.’” Acts 4:12 says, "And there is no salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”