The first question that many ask when they come to understand the reality of God’s word is “what must I do to be saved?” There are also many who have believed in the Bible for a long time but still do not understand the basic requirements of what we must do to be accepted by God. The Bible gives us a clear picture of the practical steps to salvation: acceptance, repentance, confession, belief, baptism, and being born again into a life of obedience.
Acceptance
The first step in the process that leads to salvation is to accept that we are sinners in need of saving. In the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 we find the advancing lines of Christian experience. The first Beatitude states: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2-3). Poverty of spirit is when we have the sense of our total insufficiency, our unrighteousness and unworthiness before God. Those who have this experience have a keen sense of their own uncleanness and guilt. Seeing themselves condemned they cry out to God as did the publican when he stated, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Whenever the soul is confronted with the glory of God it will recognise its own depravity and feel the terror of appearing before the Searcher of hearts. Such a one sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with Heaven.
All who have a sense of their deep soul poverty, who feel that they have nothing good in themselves, may find righteousness and strength by looking to Jesus. He bids us, “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden” (Matthew 11:28). He bids you to exchange your poverty for the riches of His grace. We are not worthy of God’s love, but Christ, our surety, is worthy, and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto Him (Hebrews 7:25). Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness.
The promise to those who are poor in spirit is that theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus will by no means cast out those who come to Him (John 6:37).
Repentance
When we come to accept that we are sinners this will produce in us a spirit of repentance. It is God’s desire to lead us all to repentance, that we might not perish but find eternal life in Him (2 Peter 3:9). It is not anything in us, but the goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). As we behold the beauty of Christ, our hatred for sin will grow. As one is drawn to behold Jesus uplifted on the cross, he discerns the sinfulness of humanity. He sees that it is his own sin that scourged and crucified the Lord of glory. In recognising the role that he has played in crucifying our redeemer and piercing anew that heart of love, he will feel a deep heartfelt sorrow for his sin. Such ones are represented as “those who mourn”, however the promise is that “they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Christ lifts up the contrite heart and refines the mourning soul until it becomes His abode.
The definition of repentance is a ‘change of mind’. The Bible speaks of two types of repentance, that of the world, and godly repentance.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Godly repentance always leads to a change of life; it produces a complete turning away from past evil to walk in newness of life. On the other hand, worldly repentance is short-lived and comes as a response to the sorrow for the consequences of sin rather than the sin itself. The scriptures tell us that Pharaoh repented of defying the command of God to release the Israelites from slavery, however, this only occurred while he was being punished for his sin (Exodus 10:16-17). Once the affliction was removed, Pharaoh returned to his rebellious course, showing the superficiality of his repentance (vs 20). This is a clear example of worldly repentance, which comes only out of sorrow for the punishment that is received and not sorrow for the sin itself. Such repentance is not accepted by God. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, experienced godly repentance when he promised to restore all that he had taken by false accusation and give fourfold more (Luke 19:8). In this instance, Zacchaeus saw his sin and was sorrowful for it. This caused him to restore all that he had wrongfully taken to the point that he also willingly gave four times more. Zacchaeus’ heartfelt conversion produced a change of life so that he no longer stole from others by fraud. This is the repentance that God desires to see in His children.
From Zacchaeus’ example, we can also see that part of the process of repentance is to make right the wrong committed. If we have wronged others, we must go to them and make amends for the sin committed against them. If we have in any manner defrauded or injured our brother, we should make restitution. If we have unwittingly borne false witness, if we have misstated his words, if we have injured his influence in any way, we should go to the ones with whom we have conversed about him, and take back all our injurious misstatements. As a matter of fact, God expects us to make things right with them before we approach Him.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24
Repentance is a necessary step in salvation. Without sorrow for sin, so that we turn away from it, God cannot forgive us and accept us.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19
It is through the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that we feel remorse for sin (John 16:8). Many are concerned that they may have committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit and cannot be saved. The unpardonable sin is when we persistently refuse to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit so that over time we can no longer discern that still small voice leading us to repentance. This sin is unforgivable because without repentance we cannot have our sins blotted out. While you still feel remorse for sin and desire to turn away from it and find forgiveness in Christ, you have not blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
The first message that Jesus began preaching was for us to repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of God is at hand (Mark 1:15). How much more relevant is that for us now that Jesus second coming is imminent?
Confession
Repentance and confession essentially go hand in hand. When we feel remorse for our sin it should lead us to confess our sins to the only one who can pardon us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
If we have wronged another, it is important we make it right with them, but then we must also confess our sins to God.
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Psalms 32:5
Once we have repented from and confessed our sins, we must then forsake them.
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13
When we confess, our case is brought before the only true Mediator, our great High Priest, who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” and who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and is able to cleanse from every stain of sin (Hebrews 4:15). In Christ, we have one who understands the troubles and difficulties of life, one who has experienced and overcome temptation.
If we do not humble ourselves before God in acknowledging our guilt, we have not yet fulfilled the condition of acceptance with Him.
Belief
Once sin is accepted, repented from, and confessed, we must then believe that God can and will save us. Faith in His promises has always been the condition for us to receive them (Mark 11:24). It is a sad thing, but today many feel that their sins are too great for God to forgive. However, the Bible presents to us the wonderful promise that Jesus stands with arms outstretched to save to the uttermost all that come to Him by faith (Hebrews 7:25). Before He came to this sin-darkened world, Jesus was the glory of Heaven and the adoration of the angels. When mankind fell into sin, Jesus love for every one of us caused Him to immediately put into action the plan of redemption. He became the lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). His love for us caused Him to give up the riches of heaven and humble Himself to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He did not come to our world to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). It was for those who have been broken down and beaten by the difficulties of life that Jesus came to lift up. No person, no matter how evil their past, is beyond the careful watch of our Heavenly Father. To those who feel their guilt too great for God to love, these words of encouragement and promise are given:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
It is God’s joy to cleanse us from all sin. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). God has made full provision for every sin. As you see the enormity of sin, as you see yourself as you really are, do not give up to despair. It was sinners that Christ came to save. We have not to reconcile God to us, but – O wondrous love! – God in Christ is “reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). He is wooing by His tender love the hearts of His erring children.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults and mistakes of his children, as is God with those He seeks to save. No one could plead more tenderly with the transgressor. No human lips ever poured out more tender entreaties to the wanderer than does He. All His promises, His warnings, are but the breathing of unutterable love. Jesus asked Simon a question regarding two debtors. One owed his lord a small sum, and the other owed him a very large sum; but he forgave them both, and Christ asked Simon which debtor would love his lord most. Simon answered, “He to whom he forgave most” (Luke 7:43). We have been great sinners, but Christ died that we might be forgiven. The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf. Those to whom He has forgiven most will love Him most, and will stand nearest to His throne to praise Him for His great love and infinite sacrifice. It is when we most fully comprehend the love of God that we best realize the sinfulness of sin. When we see the length of the chain that was let down for us, when we understand something of the infinite sacrifice that Christ has made on our behalf, the heart is melted with tenderness and contrition.
Baptism
Baptism is the outward expression of an inward conversion. Although there is no saving merit in the act of baptism itself, those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will take up the privilege of participating in that which symbolises the death and resurrection of Christ. In His own perfect life, Jesus gave us the example of baptism. To us it represents dying to the old self and being raised to a new life in Christ.
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:3-6
This then leads us to our final point…
Obedience
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God, they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1 John 3:5-6
Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16
Righteousness is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai. That so-called faith in Christ that professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God is not faith, but presumption. “By grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). But “faith, if it hath not works, is dead” (James 2:17). Jesus said of Himself before He came to earth, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart” (Psalm 40:8). And just before He ascended again to heaven He declared, “I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” (John 15:10). When asked what one must do to enter life, Jesus plainly stated “keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). The Scripture says, “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.... He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.” (1 John 2:3-6). “Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21).
There are two errors which we must be careful to avoid. The first is looking to our own works and trusting in our own goodness, to bring us into harmony with God. Trying to become holy through our own works in keeping the law is an impossibility. All our righteousness without Christ is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.
The second is no less dangerous, it proposes that belief in Christ releases us from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption. This theory supposes that we can continue in a life of self-indulgence and sin and still be welcomed into the heavenly courts. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Love is the fulfiling of the law and is the great principle upon which it is based. The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. Our new covenant relationship with God is founded upon the promise that God will write His law in our hearts and minds (Hebrews 8:10). When this great law of love abides in our heart it becomes natural to us to express this love toward others. Instead of seeking to serve self primarily, it becomes our desire to serve others and our delight to do God’s will (Psalms 40:8).
The great purpose in the plan of redemption is not only to redeem us from the punishment of sin but to restore us to the image of God from which we have fallen. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image. It is our privilege to be called the children of God and to reflect the beauty of His love.