I am a member of the church of Christ...



What must I do to be saved?

The Bible teaches that sin is a transgression of God's law(1 John 3:4). All people who know thedifference between right and wrong have sinned (Romans 3:23). Our sins separate us from God (Isaiah59:1,2). The punishment for sin is death(Romans 6:23). This is "the seconddeath" which is "the lake of fire" (Revelation 21:8).

God loves us. He doesnot 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). Jesussuffered the punishment which we should have received for our sins (Isaiah53:4-6). He did not die for His ownsins, for He had none (2 Corinthians 5:21). He suffered for our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven (Romans5:6-8; 1 Peter 2:24).

In order for us to be forgiven of our sins, and thereforereceive eternal life, we must accept salvation according to the plan whichChrist has made possible. There are fivesteps which we must take to enter into the saved relationship with Christ.

Hear

First, we must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that "faith comes byhearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). One is not a Christian because his parentsare. Just as sin is not inherited,neither is faith (Ezekiel 18:20). Eachperson must believe in Jesus Christ for himself. Christianity is a religion of teaching(Matthew 28:19,20). Unless one has heardthe Gospel and learned that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, andarose from the dead, he cannot be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The apostle Paul wrote: "How shall theycall 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 apreacher" (Romans 10:14)? One mustfirst hear and understand the Gospel before he can believe it.

Believe

Second, one must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Sonof the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesussaid: "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for ifye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). The jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas,"Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt besaved, and thy house." (Acts 16:30,31). Jesus also said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). One comes to believe in Jesus Christ when hehears the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This is the reason it is so important that the Gospel be preached to thewhole 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 allnations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47). Repentance is a result of being sorry forone's sins (2 Corinthians 7:10). Whenthe Jews on Pentecost Day learned from Peter that they had crucified the Son ofGod, they "were pricked in their heart" (Acts 2:37). They wanted to be forgiven of their sins, sothey asked, "What shall we do?" They were told to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in thename of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the giftof the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:37,38). When one repents, he turns away from his sin (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 Sonof the living God (Matthew 16:16). Thisgreat 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 confessHim before men if we want Him to confess us before the Father (Matthew10:32,33). The apostle Paul wrote:"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thyheart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9. That if thou shaltconfess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart thatGod hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heartman believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made untosalvation." (Romans 10:8-10). WhenPhilip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch responded, "See,here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip told him he could be baptized if hebelieved. The eunuch then confessed,"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:35-38). We must make this important, yet simpleconfession also in order to be saved.

Be Baptized

Fifth, one must be baptized in order to be saved. Jesus said: "He that believeth and isbaptized shall be saved;" (Mark 16:16). Please note that baptism follows belief. One who does not believe that Gospel cannot be truly baptized. Therefore, babies cannot be baptized for theyare 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 nottruly repented.

Baptism is a burial in water (Romans 6:3,4; Colossians2:12). Therefore, sprinkling or pouringare not proper baptism. Baptism is inorder 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" (Acts2:38). Just as Jesus shed His blood forthe remission of sins (Matthew 26:28), so we are baptized in order to receivethe remission of sins. In baptism, thesinner's sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 22:16; Revelation1:5).



What does one have to do in order to be forgiven of hissins?



The Bible PLAINLY states that in order to be saved (become aChristian) one MUST:



1. Hear the gospel - "So then faith comes by hearing,and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)



2. Believe the gospel - "The time is fulfilled, and thekingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15)



3. Repent of your sins - "Truly, these times ofignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent"(Acts 17:30)



4. Confess Jesus as the Son of God - "For with theheart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is madeunto salvation." (Romans 10:10)



5. Be Baptized [IN water] FOR the remission of sins -"Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you bebaptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shallreceive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)



6. Remain faithful until you die - "...Be faithfuluntil death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)



Obey the gospel plan of salvation today! - "that theGentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promisein Christ through the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6)



When he does this, he is added by the Lord to His church(Acts 2:41,47). He is born again (John3:3-5; 2Corinthians 5:17). He is inChrist where all spiritual blessings are to be found (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians3:26,27). In short, he is a Christian(Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).

Are you saved from your sins? Have taken these simple steps tosalvation? If not, why not do so today?



If you want to obey the gospel of Christ in order to besaved then: Find the church of Christ near you http://www.churchzip.com/