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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?
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