The Inland Valley Church of Christ is a Christian family of diverse individuals from every walk of life. Saved by His grace, we are committed disciples of Jesus Christ, following His greatest commandment (Matt 22:37-40). Our mission is to spread the gospel (Good News) throughout our community and the world.

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

1. You Must Understand That You Are Lost Without Jesus Christ: The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

2. You Must Have Faith in God: You must have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

3. You Must Repent of Your Sins: You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called 'Sinner's Prayer' that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the 'Sinner's Prayer' to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, it will not save you either. You must obey the gospel.

4. You Must Confess that Jesus is Lord: You must confess that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 10:9-10) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just 'accept Jesus as your personal savior.' We must confess that Jesus is Lord, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

5. You Must be Baptized for the Forgiveness of Your Sins: Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is Lord, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16). It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

6. You Must Continue to Live Faithfully: Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)