SALVATION
" Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
The name spoken of here by the apostle Peter is the name of Jesus Christ. Salvation can only come through faith in Him. Faith in the fact that he was God incarnate. Born unto a virgin. Perfect and sinless in thought, word and deed. Faith in the fact that he laid his own life down on the cross as the perfect sacrifice and atonement for the sins of mankind. Faith in the fact that he rose again three days later for death could not hold him. Faith in the fact that some forty days later he ascended to the right hand of the Father where he currently resides being mediator between God and man. Faith in the fact that all who truly call upon Him and put their life in His hands shall be saved.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)
There is nothing we can do to be saved accept trust in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. No amount of good we can do will ever be enough to get anyone into heaven. No amount of niceness, no amount of works no amount of giving or caring will ever make up for the sin we are born into from Adam or the sins we have selfishly committed while in rebellion to the commandments of God. The only coarse of action a person has is to throw themselves at the feet of Jesus Christ and by faith beg Him for mercy and grace, which, he is ready and willing to grant to all who seek it.
The Steps Of Salvation
Before one can be saved that person must recognize their current standing before God. They must first recognize that they where born into a fleshly sin nature which came from the first man "Adam". He committed the first sin against God and brought death upon all mankind.
" Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: " (Romans 5:12)
Then they must also realize that because of this nature they too have committed many grevious sins against God. That no matter how good or bad of a person they think themselves to be they have fallen short of God's standards.
" For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
Also they must realize that since they where born into this sinful fleshly nature the only way out is to have born in them a new nature. One that is spiritual, divine and given from God. (i.e. Born Again)
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3-6)
In order to be born again one must put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal savior. When you do God bares in you a new spirit. A spirit that is of a divine nature and excepted in heaven. Unlike the fleshly and worldly nature we are naturally born into.