03/12/2023
THE FIVE STEPS TO SALVATION
THE QUESTION:
"Brethren, what must I do to be saved?
FIRST OF ALL, IS FAITH:
You must believe in the Good News (Mk. 1:15). The Good News is Jesus Christ (Mk. 1:1) who died, was buried, and rose again for sinners, because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Because anyone who prays to God must believe in His existence and He will only reward those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6). The good news of Jesus Christ will not be useful in your life until you accept it by faith (Rm. 1:16) Because the good news is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Therefore, the Lord strengthened His command to the whole creation; he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but those who do not believe will be judged (Mk. 16:15-16).
I believe that you don't want punishment and eternal condemnation, so why don't you accept Him to be your Savior?
THE SECOND IS REPENTANCE:
The Lord is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but that all may come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Therefore, the Lord says: I tell you, no; but, unless you repent, you will all die in the same way (Lk. 13:3) in short, you die in your sinfulness (Jn. 8:24). Paul said: The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Because man has sinned since Adam and Eve and lost the glory of God (Rm. 3:23) and that in His name (Jesus Christ) repentance and forgiveness of sin must be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47). Repentance is not just confessing sin, but leaving all your vices, bad deeds, words that are lewd or evil before God. And all that is against the law and commandment of God, which is sin, you will no longer do, this is the true repentance (Prov. 28:13). And you will walk in a newness of life in Christ. Old things have passed away (2 Cor. 5:17) you must always worship and praise God together with Christian people. Because bad company destroys good behavior (1 Cor. 15:33).
THE THIRD IS WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST:
The Lord Jesus commanded His disciple saying; Go into all the world and preach the Good News to the whole creation. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved, but those who do not believe will be condemned (Mk. 16:15-16).
The word baptism in the Greek language "Baptizo", English "Immersion", means: dip, immerse, bury. So, the Lord Jesus walked one hundred and five kilometers (105km) just to be baptize by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
Why is it in the river? Is there no water in their house or in their Home Congregation? Or even a glass of water? - There is! However, because the word baptism must be dipped or submerged, and be removed from the water just like Jesus when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Mt. 3:13-16). Jesus said: To fulfill all the righteousness of man I set an example so that you all do the same (Jn. 13:15). So, with the baptism that was baptized in Me you will be baptized (Mk. 10:39).
If Jesus was baptized without sin just to set an example, you must also be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, according to Acts 2:38.
Why the name of Jesus Christ?
Because there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12) only in the name of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47; 1 Jn. 2:12) And it will only work if through baptism according to (Acts 2:38; Rm. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:21). Baptism saves you not by removing your filthiness but in giving you a knowledge about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A person should be baptized first in the name of Jesus before he will be called a true Christian, because you are forgiven from your sins and already clothed with Christ according to Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38.
So now, what are you waiting for? Stand up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name (Acts 22:16).
THE FOURTH IS RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT:
And behold, I am sending you the promise of My Father but wait in the city until you are clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Because John, to be sure, baptized with water but soon you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). And when the day of Pentecost arrived, the day of the fulfillment of the promise, one hundred and twenty (120) believers gathered waiting for the promise. And there appeared to them what looked like fire, one by one laying on them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues according to the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4). This is the first to receive the Holy Spirit, there is a sign - speaking in other tongues. The second one happened in the house of Cornelius. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the word. And the circumcised believers were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. Because they heard Gentiles speaking in other tongues and praying to God (Acts. 10:43-48). The third is the disciple of John the Baptist whom Saint Paul met and he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No". We did not even hear that there was a Holy Spirit to be received. And Paul baptized them all again and laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:1-6).
We read that all who received the Holy Spirit according to the Bible were able to speak in other tongues. A sign of faith is to speak a other tongues (Mk. 16:17-18) and this is God's promise to you and your children, and to those who are far away, and to everyone who will be called by our Lord God (Acts 2:39). Because there is no difference between us and them in giving the Holy Spirit. Since He cleanses our heart through faith (Acts 15:8-9).
So, the question is this;
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed and spoke in tongues as it happened according to the Bible?" (Revelation 19:1-6).
If not, why don't you ask? Because God will give the Holy Spirit to all who ask (Luke 11:13).
Remember that you cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless you are born of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:5). Because this is your seal for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).
THE FIFTH IS ENDURANCE IN SERVICE:
According to the letter of St. Paul, join us in the race by faith to heaven. So, he said: "run" (1 Cor. 9:24) and on the other hand he said: Not that I have reached it, or that I have been perfected; rather I pursue it to be myself, since Christ Jesus has already made me His own. Brothers, one thing I do is this: I forget the past and I rush towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12-14). Jesus said: "he who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt. 24:13).
The perseverance of the Christian is to obey the commandment of God and His laws such as worshiping with the people of God, praying, enduring all the hardships of being a Christian, until your death or the return of Christ. Remember that Jesus is about to return and you must face His judgment to judge your actions whether good or bad. Therefore, you must prepare for your salvation, and only in these ways will you be prepared.
By: Pastor Ricardo Onda
