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The
Bible teaches that sin is a
transgression of Gods law (1
John 3:4). All people who know
the difference between right and
wrong have sinned (Romans
3:23). Our sins separate us
from God (Isaiah 59:1,2). The
punishment for sin is death
(Romans 6:23). This is the
second death which is the
lake of fire
(Revelation 21:8).
God loves us. He does not
want us to be punished for our
sins. Therefore, He has
provided a way for us to be
forgiven (John 3:16). God sent
His only begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, to die for our sins (1
John 4:10). Jesus suffered the
punishment which we should have
received for our sins (Isaiah
53:4-6). He did not die for His
own sins, for He had none (2
Corinthians 5:21). He suffered
for our sins on the cross so
that we can be forgiven (Romans
5: 6-8; 1 Peter 2:24). In order
for us to be forgiven of our
sins, and therefore receive
eternal life, we must accept the
salvation which Christ has made
possible. There are five steps
which we must take to receive
this salvation.
Hear
First, we must hear the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. The
Bible teaches that faith
comes by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God (Romans
10:17). One is not a Christian
because his parents are. Faith
cannot be inherited (Ezekiel
18:20). Each person must
believe in Jesus Christ for
himself. Christianity is a
religion of teaching (Matthew
28:19,20). Unless one has heard
the Gospel and learned that
Jesus Christ died for his sins,
was buried, and arose from the
dead, he cannot be saved (1
Corinthians 15:1-4). The
apostle Paul wrote: How
then shall they call on Him in
whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher(Romans
10:14)? One must first hear the
Gospel before he can believe it.
Believe
Second, one must
believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living
God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus
said: ...if you do not
believe that I am He, you will
die in your sins (John
8:24). The jailor at Philippi
asked Paul and Silas, Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?
They told him to Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
you will be saved, you and your
household (Acts
16:30,31). Jesus also said: He
who believes and is baptized
will be saved, but he who does
not believe will be condemned
(Mark 16:16). One comes to
believe in Jesus Christ when he
hears the Gospel taught. Faith
comes only by hearing the Word
of God (Romans 10:17). This is
the reason it is so important
that the Gospel be preached to
the whole world (Mark 16:15).
Repent
Third, one must
repent of his sins in order to
be saved (Acts 17:30,31). Jesus
commanded that repentance
and remission of sins should be
preached in His name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem
(Luke 24:47). Repentance is a
result of being sorry for ones
sins (2 Corinthians 7:10). When
the Jews on Pentecost Day
learned from Peter that they had
crucified the Son of God, they were
cut to the heart ( Acts
2:37). They wanted to be
forgiven of their sins, so they
asked, What shall we do?
They were told to Repent,
and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of
sins... (Acts
2:37,38). When one repents, he
turns away from his sins (1
Thessalonians 1:9). He shows he
has repented by doing good works
(Matthew 3:8).
Confess
Fourth, one must
confess that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living
God (Matthew 16:16). This great
truth is the very foundation
upon which the church of Christ
is built (Matthew 16:18; Acts
4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 3:11).
Jesus said that we must be
willing to confess Him before
men if we want Him to confess us
before the Father (Matthew
10:32,33). The apostle Paul
wrote: But what does it
say? The word is near you, in
your mouth and in your heart
(that is, the word of faith
which we preach): that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved. For
with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto
salvation (Romans
10:8-10). When Philip preached
Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch,
the eunuch asked, What
hinders me from being baptized?
Philip told him he could be
baptized if he believed. The
eunuch then confessed, I
believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God (Acts
8:35-38). We must make this
important, yet simple confession
also in order to be saved.
Be Baptized
Fifth, one must be
baptized in order to be saved.
Jesus said: He who
believes and is baptized will be
saved (Mark 16:16).
Please note that baptism follows
belief. One who does not
believe the Gospel cannot be
truly baptized. Therefore,
babies cannot be baptized for
they are too young to (1) have
sin, (2) hear the Gospel, (3)
repent of sins, and (4) confess
that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God. Baptism also follows
repentance. On Pentecost Day,
Peter told those who asked what
to do to be saved to Repent,
and let every one of you be
baptized... (Acts
2:38). One cannot be truly
baptized who has not truly
repented.
Baptism is a burial in
water (Romans 6:3,4; Colossians
2:12). Therefore, sprinkling
and pouring are not proper
baptism. Baptism is in order to
be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter
3:21). One is not saved before
he is baptized! Baptism is for
the remission
(forgiveness) of sins
(Acts 2:38). Just as Jesus shed
His blood for the remission of
sins (Matthew 26:28), so we are
baptized in order to receive the
remission of sins. In baptism,
the sinners sins are washed
away by the blood of Jesus (Acts
22:16).
What does one have to do
in order to be forgiven of his
sins? He must
(1) Hear the Gospel of
Christ;
(2) Believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God;
(3) Repent of all his past
sins;
(4) Confess that Christ is
Gods Son;
(5) Be baptized for the
remission of sins.
When he does this, he is added
by the Lord to His church (Acts
2:41,47). He is born again
(John 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians
5:17). He is in Christ where
all spiritual blessings are to
be found. (Ephesians 1:3;
Galatians 3:26,27). In short,
he is a Christian (Acts 11:26;
26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
Are you saved from
your sins? Have you taken these
simple steps to salvation? If
not, why not do so today? |
