BOKISSONTHRONE: 5 STEP TO SALVATION. (SEE GOD)

STEP 1

HEAR THE WORD (The Gospel)!

Loved ones, God approaches man through his ears and eyes, his understanding. Thus, the Bible was given to be read, studied, understood, and obeyed (Matt. 7:24-29).

In Acts chapter two, the Gospel was preached for the first time to the Jewish people who were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. At that time the apostles preached the Gospel, telling the people how Jesus had died for their sins, been buried and rose from the dead on the third day. The apostles told the people that God had made the man Jesus, whom the leaders had just crucified, both Lord and Christ. In Acts 2:37, the Bible says, “Now when they HEARD this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” This is one of the many verses in the Bible that shows the importance of HEARING the word of God.

Surely we recognize the importance of belief, for without it men cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). Likewise, repentance is necessary – for without it men will perish (Luke 13:3). Confession of faith in Christ must be made with the mouth unto salvation (Matt. 10:32-33). Baptism washes sins away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5), and puts one into Christ where salvation is found (Gal. 3:27; 2 Tim. 2:10), thus making that one a child of God. If however, there is not proper hearing of God’s word none of these things will ever come about.

Jesus is the author of salvation to the obedient (Heb. 5: 8-9), but to no one else. We cannot obey Him unless we learn His will, and we cannot learn His will outside of the Bible. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). Thus, no one can find God, the Savior, or the Holy Spirit, without HEARING the word of God.

To be saved one must “call upon the name of the Lord.” Before this can be done, one must believe, and in order to believe, he must HEAR (Rom. 10:13-14). The Holy Spirit says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6), so again the Bible teaches that HEARING is so very important.

We must hear the word of God discerningly. One should not be a gullible hearer. The noble Bereans searched the scriptures daily to see whether the things they HEARD were true (Acts 17:11). Like them, we must not accept or reject what is preached until we have examined it carefully in light of all the Bible teaches.

We must hear the word of God eagerly. The Bible says, “Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

We must hear the word of God with proper motives. Jesus taught, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…and everyone that heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand” (Matt. 7:24-26).

Please answer the three questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:

Why was the Word (the Bible) written?

2 Timothy 3:16… The Word was written and is profitable for our ______________, ________________,

______________, and ______________ in ________________.

Romans 15:4… The Word was written in the Old Testament for our ________________.

Romans 10:17… The Word was written so we will have ______________.

John 20:30-31… The Word was written so we will believe that Jesus Christ is the _____________ of ____________.

James 1:25… The Word was written because it’s the perfect _____________ of _____________.

John 17:17… The Word was written because it’s the ________________.

1 Thessalonians 2:13… The Word was written because it’s the ______________ of ______________.

What will the Word do for us?

Luke 11:28… The Word will ____________ us.

John 8:32… The Word will make us ______________.

2 Timothy 3:15… The Word will make us ____________ unto _______________.

James 1:21… The Word will save our ______________.

What will Judge us in the last day?

John 12:48… The _______________.

Go To: Step 2 - Believe

STEP 2

BELIEF or FAITH!

In approaching our study of FAITH, we are mindful of the lesson we just completed on HEARING the Word (Step 1). If there is no hearing, faith will not be present because hearing is the basis of faith: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). This tells us that real Bible faith (the only acceptable faith) must be based upon the Word of God. Since Jesus is the Word, Paul says, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Therefore, our faith must rest on Jesus Christ.

The Bible speaks of walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), keeping the faith (Rev. 14:12), building on faith (Jude 20), and a bearing of faith as part of the fruit of the Christian life (Gal. 5:22). Indeed, the entire response one makes to God is a process of faith. For this study, we will be thinking of faith as the second step in God’s Plan of Salvation. Faith is essential, vital, and necessary. Without it there can be no salvation. Repentance, confession of Christ, and water baptism (other steps in God’s plan) are all proceed by faith. Without faith they cannot take place!

What is faith? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Faith involves believing that God is – that He exists. Faith gives us the assurance that in seeking God there are rewards promised, and we expect to receive them. The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). This passage shows the need to please God. Therefore, faith is taking God at His word (Rom. 4:21).

Faith is NOT something merely felt or something imagined, and it is not something read or heard that is not the truth of the Bible. Many people can speak of having “faith” in this or that, but it may only be something imagined, something they desire to believe, or something they believe based on false information. None of these would be the faith spoken of and honored in the Word of God (compare Heb. 4:2).

Also, a faith that merely says, “I Believe,” but has no persuasion toward obeying, is not acceptable to God. James makes that point in reference to the devils: “Thou believest that there is on God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). Satan and his hosts indeed know that God exists, and that Jesus is the Son of God, but these do not act to obey God and Christ. The only acceptable faith in God is an active obedient faith – a faith that “works by love” (Gal. 5:6). A faith that does not obey is a dead faith (James 2:17, 24, 26).

Remember: man is justified (or made right) by faith (Rom. 5:1), but we must again hasten to point out that man is not justified by “faith only” (James 2:24). Always, the faith that pleases God is that which is obedient to the will of God. Jesus is the author of salvation only to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). The only people who will make heaven their eternal home are the ones who do the will of God (Matt. 7:21).

Please answer the three questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:

What must we believe?

Mark 1:15… We must believe the _______________.

John 2:22… We must believe the _______________.

John 14:1… We must believe in ______________ and in _____________.

John 12:36… We must believe in the _______________.

John 17:1, 21… We must believe God sent _________________.

John 14:26… We must believe God sent the ______________ ________________.

John 6:69… We must believe Jesus is the ______________ of the ______________ _______________.

James 2:19… We must believe there is (ONLY) _______________ God.

Acts 10:39… We must believe Jesus was put to death on the ________________.

1 Thessalonians 4:14… We must believe Jesus died and ______________ ______________.

1 John 1:7… We must believe Jesus’ blood cleanses us from _____________ _____________.

What will happen if we believe?

John 20:29… If we believe we will be ______________.

Mark 9:23… If we believe all things will be ______________.

What will happen if we do not believe?

Mark 16:16b… If we don’t believe we will be _____________.

John 8:24… If we don’t believe we will die in our _______________.

Go To: Step 3 - Repent

STEP 3

REPENT of SINS!

“Freewill” is a natural part of man’s being. God made man with the attribute of “freewill” and he, therefore, is fully capable of choosing to serve either God or Satan (cf. Joshua 24:15). Being that all accountable persons have exercised their freewill in choosing to sin, it is equally true that the freewill of sinful man is necessarily involved in his choice to return to God (Rom. 3:23).

The Lord, our only Savior, requires repentance of taught believers. He did not come to call the righteous, "but sinners to repentance" (Matt. 9:13). Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Luke's account of His last words tell us that Jesus required "Repentance and remission of sins (to) be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47).

What is involved in the mind and life of one when he or she repents? This question must be answered, because if one would be saved by Christ that one must repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Repentance is a simple word. Its most basic meaning is "to think differently." Repentance is about changing direction. It also signifies "to change one's mind or purpose." It always involves a change for the better. One makes a change in direction from a lifestyle that was separated from and rebellious against God and turns to Him. Isaiah summed it up: "Cease to do evil; learn to do well” (Isaiah 1:16-17).

Repentance is the way we get ready and prepared for the coming of salvation. There is no salvation where there is no repentance. What is required is not that we try to escape from predicaments and crises, but a repentance wherein one sincerely turns to and walks with God.

What produces repentance? The Bible says, “GODLY SORROW produces REPENTANCE” (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Repentance then results in a REFORMATION OF LIFE (Luke 3:8). Therefore, repentance is both an effect and a cause. It is the effect of godly sorrow and the cause of a reformation of life.

God uses His word in two ways to bring mankind to repentance: First, from the word of God we are caused to see the fearful and eternal consequences of a life lived in sin (Matt. 11:20-24). Second, from the same word we also see that the goodness of God leads us to repent (Rom. 2:4-5). If these two ways do not cause a person to repent, such a person will never be brought to repentance!

Our time in this life is limited. Indeed, God has set the time of the end. The time when He is calling out for repentance will not go on forever. Consequently, the apostle Paul said in the epistle addressed to the church at Corinth: “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

We should not take lightly God's forgiveness of those who come to Him repenting, and God's abundant loving kindness, forbearance, and endurance which allows us to live in a righteous relationship with Him.

Remember: repentance means to turn away from sin (change your mind about sin) and turn to God.

Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:

Who commands us to repent?

Matthew 4:17… We are commanded to repent by _______________.

Acts 17:30… We are commanded to repent by ________________.

Of what should we repent?

Acts 8:22… We should repent of our _______________.

What will happen if we repent?

Luke 15:7… If we repent there will be ________________ in ______________.

What will happen if we do not repent?

Luke 13:3… If we don’t repent we will ______________.

Go To: Step 4 - Confess Christ

STEP 4

CONFESS CHRIST!

The central theme that runs through the Bible is the salvation of man through Jesus Christ to the glory of God. Genesis through Malachi says, “Christ is coming.” Matthew through John says, “Christ has come.” Acts through Revelation says, “Christ is coming again.” Since God now speaks to us through His Son (Heb. 1:1; cf. Deuteronomy 18:18-19), to obey God is to obey Christ. To obey Christ is to confess Christ.

“Confession” means to declare openly by way of speaking out freely. Such confession is the effect of a deep conviction of facts. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33). In Romans 10:10 Paul said, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Since Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and since there is no salvation in any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12), the confession made “unto salvation” has to do with the deep convictions of an individual believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This belief is based on the facts and evidences that are presented in the Word of God (John 20:30-31). But more than that, faith in Jesus also conveys the obedient response which must be rendered throughout life by the one who confesses Christ by the lip.

There are two ways to confess Christ. First, there must be the confession of the Christ on the part of one as he places himself under the obligation to accept the terms of salvation which have been set forth by the Christ. Part of one’s obedience to the Gospel is the public acknowledgement of his belief in Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 10:32).

When we reflect back to the time of our Lord’s ministry, those who were going to follow Him had to acknowledge (had to confess) that He was the Christ, the Son of God. Obviously they had to indicate their belief in Jesus in some way. This is why it was said (to the shame of some) in John 12:42-43, that even among the chief rulers there were “…many who believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Likewise today, when one comes to be a disciple there must be a willingness to abide in the teaching of Christ and a confessing of Jesus as the Christ. This confession cannot be a secretive or hidden kind of confession. In fact, how can anyone be assisted in their obedience to Christ unless a confession of Jesus takes place? How else can we know their desire? It would be impossible to know unless we find out from them! (cf. Acts 8:26-40).

Second, the one who has made the initial confession with the mouth – that “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” and has rendered obedience to the Gospel of Christ, must also add to that initial confession another kind of confession; i.e. – the confession that they belong to Jesus. This confession is made by the way one lives, and will be made as long as they live.

Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:

What must we confess?

Matthew 16:15-16… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of ____________.

John 11:27… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the __________ of ______________.

1 John 4:15… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, __________ ___________ of ___________.

How must we confess Jesus?

Matthew 10:32… We must confess Him before ___________.

Romans 10:9-10… We must confess Him with our ____________.

What will happen if we confess Jesus?

Matthew 10:32… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ____________ us before His Father in Heaven.

Luke 12:8… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ______________ us before the angels of God.

What will happen if we deny (do not confess) Jesus?

Matthew 10:33… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before His Father in Heaven.

Luke 12:9… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before the angels of God.

2 Timothy 2:12… If we deny Jesus, Christ will ______________ us.

1 John 2:23… If we deny Jesus, we will not have the _____________.

Go To: Step 5 - Be Baptized

STEP 5

BE BAPTIZED (Immersed in Water)!

One cannot preach the Gospel of Christ without preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16). In fact, water baptism is always a part of preaching Christ (Acts 8:5, 12, 35-39). Jesus began his personal ministry by being baptized (Matt. 3:13-17), and He ended His earthly stay by commanding baptism (Matt. 28:18-20).

The death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus for our sins are the facts of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4). These facts must be believed and obeyed if a soul is to be saved (cf. Rom. 6:3-4, 17). If we do not obey the Gospel, we will be eternally lost (2 Thess. 1:7-9). The command to be baptized was a part of the first Gospel sermon (Acts 2:37-38), because water baptism beautifully portrays the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 6:1-4).

How many baptisms does the Bible demand? "There is…One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).

What is the action? “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12).

What is the one baptism for? Baptism washes away our sins by the blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38). Baptism brings us into Christ (Gal. 3:27) where all spiritual blessings are found (Eph. 1:3). These Spiritual blessing include but are not limited to forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7), salvation (2 Tim. 2:10), the indwelling Spirit of God as an earnest and intercessor (Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:26), and eternal life (1 John 5:11).

The only scriptural candidate for water baptism is a taught penitent believer. If one does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or has not decided to turn from his sins (repented), he is not a scriptural candidate for baptism. The one being baptized must know about the shed blood of Jesus, where it is to be contacted, and what it does. If one does not realize that by being baptized into the death of Jesus (Rom. 6:3) his sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28), and is thus added to the church of Christ by the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13), he is not a scriptural candidate for baptism.

Concerning denominational baptism, if a person was baptized, but was ignorant of the significance of baptism to his salvation, he was not baptized scripturally. He needs to be taught right and baptized again (cf. Acts 19:1-5). Since baptism is a burial in water (Rom 6:4), a person who simply had a little water sprinkled or poured over his head or body was not scripturally baptized. So if a person has not been immersed in water with the proper understanding of its significance (cf. Romans 6:17), he has not been baptized scripturally and needs to go back under the water again.

Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:

Why are we baptized?

Acts 22:16… We are baptized to wash away our _____________.

Revelation 1:5b… We are baptized to wash away our sins by the _____________ of Jesus.

Romans 6:4… We are baptized to walk in newness of ______________.

John 3:3, 5… We are baptized to be ____________ again.

1 Peter 3:21… We are baptized to be ____________.

Acts 2:41, 47… We are baptized to be added to the _______________.

How are we baptized?

Acts 8:38-39… We are baptized by going down into the _____________ and coming back up out of the ____________.

Colossians 2:12… We are baptized by being _____________ in the water.

Into what are we baptized?