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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? |
