The 4 Steps to Salvation
We are all on a journey from earth to eternity. Where will you spend
eternity? There are only two possibilities, Heaven or Hell. Peter
wrote “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance ( 2 Peter
3:9).” Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:26)?” Be wise my friend, take time
to consider or ponder your future, your home going, or your eternal
destiny. It is God’s desire for all of us spend eternity with Him.
There are 4 simple steps to salvation, forgiveness, eternal life or
from earth to glory.
The first step is to admit that you are a sinner.
No person can be saved unless he or she realizes that he or she is
lost. We are all low down dirty sinners. We are poor Hell bound
sinners. We are lost and we need a Savior. Are you willing to admit
who you are? No matter how good your repetition may be in your
community, no matter how good you may think of yourself, you are
lost. Paul wrote, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no not
one: (Romans 3:10).” For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God: (Romans 3:23).” Salvation (freedom from the punishment
of sin) is our greatest need. We need it more than food, water, and
air. There is only a step or a second between us and death, the
graveyard, and Lake of Fire. Paul wrote again, “For the wages of sin
is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord (Romans 6:23).” Will you admit that you are a sinner and on
your way to a burning, everlasting Lake of Fire?
The second step is to abandon self effort to obtain salvation.
We must recognize that there is nothing that we can do to achieve,
earn, or merit salvation. Jeremiah said, “O Lord, I know that the
way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to
direct his steps (Jeremiah0 10:23).” Some things are in man and some
things are not in man. It is in man to build jet airplanes that can
fly in the sky. It is in man to build space shuttles that can fly
high in the sky. It is in man to build the sky scrappers of New York
and Chicago, but it is not in man to save his soul. Some things are
in man and some things are not in man. We cannot save ourselves.
Paul wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk
in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).” “Not of works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: (Titus 3:5).” Good
citizenship, good membership in a lodge or church, living a moral or
good life, philanthropy, and water baptism cannot save us. Will you
abandon all self effort to be saved?
The third step is to acknowledge Christ payment for the sins of
the world.
Jesus my Savior hung, bled, died, was buried, and rose again to pay
the penalty for the sins of the world. He is the one and only Savior
of the world and that is why we (believers) sing so many times, what
can wash away my sins what can make me whole again and the answer is
nothing, nothing, nothing, but the blood of Jesus. Paul wrote, “For
when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet
peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).” Jesus said, “Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John
15:13).” Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vain
conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot (1 Peter 1:18-19).” “For Christ also hath once suffered for
sins (expiation or propitiation), the just for the unjust
(substitution), that he might bring us to God (reconciliation),
being put to death in the flesh (crucifixion), but quickened by the
Spirit (resurrection): (1 Peter 3:18).” Salvation is the free gift
of God. We can’t pay for it; no amount of money can buy it; we can’t
earn it; no amount of good works can obtain it. We must acknowledge
that Jesus paid for our sin debt; He paid the penalty for our sins.
Jesus died on a Roman cross for the lost. Will you acknowledge
Christ payment for your sins?
The fourth step is to accept the finished work of Christ by
faith.
Salvation is not based on what we do for God, but on what God has
done for us. The only condition of salvation is faith in the
finished work of Christ. Will you believe or trust Him? “Jesus said
unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die, Believest thou this (John
11:25-26)?” Also, Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on me hath everlasting life (John 6:47).” “Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).” Luke wrote, “Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” Paul
wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third
day according to the scriptures: ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).” Will you
accept, believe, or trust in the finished work of the Savior today
and be saved?
If you have taken the 4 steps to salvation, if you have had a change
of mind about sin, self, and the Savior, if you have placed your
faith or trust completely in the work of the Savior, you are born
again. You have a new nature, a new capacity, a new desire, a new
attitude, a new position which is in Christ. Paul wrote, “Therefore,
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).” What
a wonderful and great transition. Welcome to the family of God. My
new brother or sister there are several things that you need to do
to be successful in your Christian journey, including but not
limited to the following: be water baptized, join a Bible believing
church, pray everyday (you talk to God), study the Bible everyday
(God talks to you), and witness for Christ everyday (you talk for
God) not in order to be saved, but because you are saved and God
will reward you richly for your service.
Please direct
your comments and questions to Gabriel B. Johnson at
gabejohnson@greatestlovestory.com .