This is not to undermine grace; we can't work our way into Heaven. Nothing we could do would be sufficient to make us worthy of God's gifts. However, He does want us to obey Him. Fortunately the Bible plainly discusses what God requires. It's not terribly complicated, and it isn't difficult to do.
There will be complications along the way. There will be times that what is asked of us is not easy, but isn't God worth it?
Here are the steps to salvation. Scriptures are referenced after each step. The verses are included in order below. (NKJV version)
Here are the steps to salvation. Scriptures are referenced after each step. The verses are included in order below. (NKJV version)
1. Hear. There's no way to follow something you don't know about. The first step is to learn what God says. Romans 10:17
2. Believe. If you don't agree with something, then why would you follow it? One of the fundamentals of Christianity is the knowledge and acceptance that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Hebrews 11:6
3. Repent. Everyone messes up. Computers have backspace, pencils have erasers, and people have God's forgiveness. Wherever we have been, we can turn from it and toward God. Acts 17:30
4. Confess. God wants us to publicly acknowledge our belief in Jesus as His Son. Romans 10:9
5. Be Baptized. Baptism, immersion in water, is the way that we meet the blood of Christ. The beautiful symbolism represents the old version of a person being buried and a new version arising. I Peter 3:21
6. Live Faithfully. Why start a journey if you don't finish? While it is true that we can't earn salvation by works, God does expect us to work for it. Romans 12:1
Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Acts 17:30 - Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent...
Romans 10:9 - ...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.
1 Peter 3:21 - There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
May God bless you in your journey!
3. Repent. Everyone messes up. Computers have backspace, pencils have erasers, and people have God's forgiveness. Wherever we have been, we can turn from it and toward God. Acts 17:30
4. Confess. God wants us to publicly acknowledge our belief in Jesus as His Son. Romans 10:9
5. Be Baptized. Baptism, immersion in water, is the way that we meet the blood of Christ. The beautiful symbolism represents the old version of a person being buried and a new version arising. I Peter 3:21
6. Live Faithfully. Why start a journey if you don't finish? While it is true that we can't earn salvation by works, God does expect us to work for it. Romans 12:1
Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Acts 17:30 - Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent...
Romans 10:9 - ...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.
1 Peter 3:21 - There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
May God bless you in your journey!
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