Christians have the most important job and opportunity on earth: to share the gospel and God’s plan of salvation with others. I think it is important for Christians to be prepared to talk to friends and family about salvation and heaven. God’s plan of salvation is simple. It is not hard to follow or to understand. There are five basic steps one must follow to become a Christian: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and Be Baptized.
Hear
First one must hear the Word of God. One must realize that he has sin in his life and that sin separates him from God and an eternal home with God. Romans 3:23 states: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How can someone become a Christian without having heard the message of the God whose name they claim to wear? In Romans 10:17 the Bible states: “So the faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Other passages to consider: Acts 10:33; James 1:21; Luke 8:4-18
Believe
One must believe that Christ is the Son of God. As stated above faith (or a belief that obeys) is developed by hearing the Word of God. After hearing the message of Jesus and His life, His death, and His resurrection one can either choose to have a faith in God or not. In Hebrews 11:6 the Bible states: “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.”
Other passages to consider: Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10, 17; John 3:16
Repent
Next one must repent of his sins. Paul, in Acts 17:30 says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Repentance can be very difficult at times. Repentance is more than being sorry for one’s sins; it is a change in the way one lives his life. Repentance involves a 180 degree turn from the sinful ways of the world. In Acts 2:38 on the day of Pentecost Peter, in reply to people there who were cut to the heart because of their sins, stated, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Other passages to consider: Luke 13:3; 2nd Corinthians 7:10
Confess
The fourth step in becoming a Christian is confession. One must confess that Jesus is the Son of God. In Acts 8:37 the Ethiopian eunuch confesses Christ before he is baptized.
Other passages to consider: Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:17
Be Baptized
The final step in becoming a Christian is baptism. As mentioned earlier Acts 2:38 states that one must be baptized to receive remission of sins. In Mark 16:16 Jesus says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Romans 6:3-5 states: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Other passages to consider: 1st Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 22:16
Finally it is very important to note that after one becomes a Christian he must remain faithful to God. My next blog will focus on the importance of continuing to lead a faithful life.