How does one become a member of the Church?

6 Steps to Heaven

Hear:
Romans 10:14-17; Matthew 7:24-27, 17:5; John 8:32, 20:30-31; Acts 2:37, 4:4, 8:35, 19:5;

Believe:
Mark 16:16; John 3:16-18, 8:24, 11:25-26, 14:1, 17:20-21, 20:30-31; Acts 8:34-38, 10:1ff, 18:8; Romans 1:15-16, 10:9-14; Hebrews 11:6;

Confess:
Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:10; Philippians 2:11;

Repent:
Luke 13:3, 5; 24:47-49; Acts 2:38, 17:30-31, 26:19-20; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9

Be Baptized for the Forgiveness of Your Sins:
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:38, 10:47, 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 3:21;

Continue Faithfully until Death:
Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:23; 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 3:14-17; Hebrews 10:23-25, 12:1-2, 13:7-9; 2 Peter 1:1-11; Revelation 2:10

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

The Great Question
The great question that we must all ask ourselves is found in Acts 16:30, "What must I do to be saved?"  This is the question that the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas in the depths of a Roman jail.  In order for us to be sure that we are pleasing to God when we leave this life, we have to ask this question: What must I do to be saved?

Why is it Important?
It is important because all have rebelled against God (Romans 3:23).  We will all be judged for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:10), and that the wages of sins are death, or spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23).  "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement" (Hebrews 9:27).  Since we all have sinned and will be held accountable for our sins, then we must again ask the question, "What must I do to be saved?"

No One Can Earn Their Salvation
No one can do enough good works to deserve salvation from God.  The Bible tells us that we are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:7-9) and not by our own good works.  Paul says that we are saved, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5).  No one can live "good enough" to be pleasing to God when we die.

Salvation - God's Part
God has provided a part of our salvation that we could never provide.  Jesus came to this earth to pay the penalty for our sins.  Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2).  Isaiah, in prophesying of Jesus declared, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).  Jesus could make this sacrifice on the cross because he was suffering for the sins of others, not his own sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Salvation - Man's Part
While we cannot do anything to deserve salvation, the Bible teaches us that we must obey God's commands for us concerning salvation.  Concerning Jesus, the Hebrew writer tells us, "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:8-9).  We must "obey from the heart that form of doctrine" (Romans 6:17).  What are the commands we are to obey?  We are required to have faith that Jesus is God's Son (John 8:24; Romans 10:9-10).  We are required to sorrow over and turn away from our sins - that's repentance (Luke 13:3; Luke 24:47).  We must confess our faith before others - that's what the Bible calls confession (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37).  Finally, we must die to sin, being buried with Christ in baptism (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).  When we come out of the waters of baptism, we start a new life (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-4).  After our baptism, we are to remain faithful Christians all our lives and we will inherit a crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

Are you prepared for death?  Remember that some day a minister will be preaching your funeral.  Then, all that will matter will be whether you died saved from your sins.