There Is Only One Way: The Plan of Salvation
- Ray Reynolds
- 33 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Have you ever wondered what it truly means to become a part of the church? It’s more than just joining a club or attending a weekend service; it’s about a beautiful, life-changing journey guided by God Himself. When we look to the Bible, we see a clear and encouraging pattern of how we can enter into a relationship with Him and find our place in His family. While these are often called the "steps to salvation," they are really milestones of a growing heart, reflecting the same path of conversion we see in the book of Acts.
Let’s walk through this journey together. Becoming part of the church is a holistic transformation where we listen, believe, and act on God's incredible love. According to Scripture, these are the steps on the path to Heaven:
Hearing the Gospel: It all starts with opening our ears and hearts to the good news of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:5, Acts 2:15-36, 8:12, 37, 9:5, 8, 18, 20, 10:43, 15:7, 16:14-15, 32, 18:18, 19:2-4, 22:16, Romans 10:17). Hearing the gospel message is the first step toward eternal life. We must be receptive to the good news.
Believing in Jesus: We come to trust in Jesus as the Son of God, the foundation of our faith (Mark 16:16, John 3:16, John 8:24, 37, Acts 2:36-37, 4:12, 8:16, 10:43, 48, 16:15, 31, 34, 18:8, 19:2, 5, Hebrews 11:6). Faith is essential to salvation, but faith must be in action. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17-26).
Repenting of Sins: With a sincere heart, we turn away from our past mistakes and toward God's light (Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:12, 16, 24, 34-36, 9:9, 11, 11:18, 16:15, 33, 40, 17:30, 18:6, 8, 19:5). Repentance is a refreshing change of mind and direction that frees us from the weight of our old ways. It opens the door for God’s grace to transform us.
Confessing The Deity of Christ: We boldly and joyfully declare that Jesus is Lord (Matthew 10:32, Acts 2:36-37, 8:16, 37, 9:5, 20, 10:43, 16:14-15, 32, 18:8, 19:2, 5, 22:16, Romans 10:9-10). We boldly and joyfully declare that Jesus is Lord. Sharing this truth with others confirms our commitment and solidifies our identity as part of His family.
Being Baptized Into Christ: We are immersed into Christ for the remission of our sins, joining Him in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 16, 38, 10:48, 16:15, 33, 18:8, 19:5, 22:16, Colossians 2:11, Galatians 3:24, I Peter 3:21). When we are immersed into Christ we are added to His Church.
Walking in Newness of Life: We begin a fresh, daily walk characterized by rejoicing, eternal life, and the support of a loving community (Acts 2:40-47, 8:8, 24, 39, 9:19 -20, 10:43, 11:18, 16:31, 34, 40, 18:9, 19:6, Romans 6:3-7, Ephesians 1:7, II Timothy 4:6-8, Revelation 2:10). You get a clean slate! Jesus called this being “born again” (John 3:3-5).
Every one of these steps is a vital part of the whole, ensuring we follow the pattern God has laid out for us in His Word. We must put God's kingdom first in our lives, trusting that as we seek His righteousness, He will provide everything we truly need. This journey isn't just a checklist, but a transformative process that aligns our spirit with the will of God. By embracing each milestone, we open our lives to a deeper level of peace and purpose that only Christ can provide. If you haven’t taken these steps, please contact me for a free Bible study!
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds
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