Step 1: We must HEAR God's Word. Without first hearing the Word of God we would never know that we are sinners and that the "wages of sin" is death Romans 3.23; Romans 6.23. Without hearing, we wouldn't know of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins and our need for him. Reading or hearing God's Word is also where our faith comes into being and grows Romans 10.17! Further, we should only listen to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Matthew 17.5; Hebrews 1.1-2; Matthew 28.18.
Step 2: We must BELIEVE what we have heard and read in God's Word. Merely hearing the Word of God doesn't save. We must believe what we hear. Believing involves obeying God's commands. In John 8.24, Jesus says, "...if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." Yet, belief is not enough James 2.24, we must "do" what God commands Matthew 7.21!
Step 3: We must REPENT of our sins. Sin is what separates us from God Isaiah 59.2. Therefore, if we intend to seek God's forgiveness, we must be willing to repent of our sins. Repentence means "turning away from sin" and making the effort to sin no more 1 Corinthains 6.9-11. If we aren't willing to repent of our sins, then we cannot be saved Acts 3.19; Acts 17.30-31.
Step 4: We must CONFESS our faith. Those that wish to be saved must confess or profess their faith in Jesus Romans 10.9-10. It was Jesus Christ Himself who said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" Matthew 10.32.
Step 5: We must be BAPTIZED. Note what the Scriptures say baptism does:
- Baptism shows a good conscience toward God / The Apostle Peter clearly confirms, "baptism doth also now save us" 1 Peter 3.21.
- Baptism washes away sins Acts 22.16
- Baptism gives entry "into" Christ Romans 6.3; Galatians 3.27.
- Jesus, our authority, made baptism necessary when he gave the command in Mark 16.16. In other words, our sins are not washed away, and we are not "in Christ" until we are baptized.
- Since baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2.38), we are still in our sins (and lost) until we are baptized.
- We should also realize that baptism is a burial or immersion--not sprinkling Romans 6.3-4 and baptism is for believers, not infants Mark 16.16.
- Many folks say "we aren't saved by works!" Yet, is baptism a work? It is a work of God Colossians 2.12. Jesus says belief is a work too John 6.29. James says we must have faith plus works James 2.14-26, note verse 24. We are saved by the mercy and grace of God, but He demands that we be baptized or immersed to wash away our sins. He does the work through His Son's blood if we follow His instructions.
Step 6: We must remain FAITHFUL. While baptism puts us into Christ and His blood washes away our sins, we must still be obedient and faithful to God, otherwise, we will lose our souls. The Bible tells us "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" Revelation 2.10.
Please feel free to contact us should you have questions about being saved by the blood of Jesus.
50th Street Church of Christ