Your Salvation Journey

Here is a breakdown of the four biblical steps to accepting Christ and being saved, with each step including a New Testament verse, an Old Testament foundational verse, the action the believer needs to take, the biblical context, relevant scriptures, and guidance on how to take each step.

• Action: Recognize and admit your sinful nature and need for God's mercy.
• Context: Humanity's sinful nature separates us from God. Acknowledging this truth is the first step toward salvation because it shows an understanding of our limitations and the need for divine grace.
• Old Testament Verse: Isaiah 64:6 – "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away."
• New Testament Verse: Romans 3:23 – "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
• How to Do This Step: Pray to God, asking Him to help you see your sins clearly. Humbly admit your wrongs and express a genuine desire for change. This step is essential for understanding why we need salvation and acknowledging the weight of separation from God without Christ.

• Action: Repentance means turning away from sin and choosing to follow God's path.
• Context: Repentance is more than feeling remorseful; it involves a commitment to change direction. It is foundational to salvation as it marks a turning away from old ways and the beginning of a life led by God's will.
• Old Testament Verse: Ezekiel 18:30 – "Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall."
• New Testament Verse: Acts 3:19 – "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
• How to Do This Step: Confess your sins to God and ask for His forgiveness, acknowledging the specific areas where you have gone astray. Commit to making changes in your life that align with God's teachings, relying on His guidance through prayer and studying the Bible.

• Action: Place your faith in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose again.
• Context: Belief in Jesus Christ is central to salvation. It is through faith in His sacrifice and resurrection that we receive forgiveness and are justified before God.
• Old Testament Verse: Isaiah 53:5 – "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."
• New Testament Verse: John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
• How to Do This Step: Affirm your belief in Jesus and His sacrifice. This can be done through prayer, speaking directly to God about your faith in Jesus as the Savior. Ask for a deeper understanding of His love and sacrifice, and regularly remind yourself of His central role in your salvation.

• Action: Dedicate your life to following Jesus and openly confess your faith in Him.
• Context: A public confession and a lifestyle that reflects Christ's teachings demonstrate a commitment to living out your faith. Jesus calls His followers to be "light" in the world, which includes sharing the gospel and living in obedience.
• Old Testament Verse: Joshua 24:15 – "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
• New Testament Verse: Romans 10:9-10 – "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
• How to Do This Step: Declare your faith in Jesus publicly and privately, in prayer and conversation. Seek fellowship with other believers, commit to studying God's Word, and actively look for ways to serve God in your life. This includes baptism, which represents the commitment of following Christ's example.

Each step is a progression in the journey of accepting Christ, from realizing our need for salvation, to actively turning away from sin, to establishing a personal relationship with Jesus, and ultimately, to living a life that reflects that faith.