First,
we must hear the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God (Romans 10:17, KJV). One is not a Christian because his parents
are. Faith cannot be inherited (Ezekiel 18:20).
Each person must believe in Jesus Christ for himself. Christianity is a religion
of teaching (Matthew 28:19-20). Unless one has heard the Gospel and learned
that Jesus Christ died for his sins, was buried, and arose from the dead, he
cannot be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The apostle Paul wrote: How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in
him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)
One must first hear the
Gospel before he can believe it.
Believe
Second, one must believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of
the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said: ...except ye believe 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? They told him to Believe on the Lord Jesus, and
thou shalt be saved, thou 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 he hears the Gospel taught. Faith
comes only by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
This is the reason it is so important that the Gospel be preached to the whole
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 unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).
Repentance is a result of being sorry for one’s sins (2 Corinthians 7:10).
When the Jews on Pentecost
Day learned from Peter that they had crucified the Son of God, they were cut to
the heart (Acts 2:37).
They wanted to be forgiven of their sins, so they asked, What shall we do?
They were told Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ unto the remission of your sins... (Acts 2:37-38).
When one repents, he turns away from his sins (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 Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
This great 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 confess Him before men if we want Him to
confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33).
The apostle Paul wrote: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth,
and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: because if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that
God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. (Romans 10:8-10). When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian
eunuch, the eunuch asked, what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip told him
he could be baptized if he believed. The eunuch then confessed, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:35-38).
We must make this important, yet simple confession also in order to be saved.
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