The Plan of Salvation - How does one become a Christian?

The Plan of Salvation 

John 14:6; Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me..."

If you ask the religious world how to become a Christian or be saved, you will hear a wide variety of answers.  However, we must remember that God's Word is our standard.  Therefore, it would be most beneficial to us to study what the Bible has to say on this all-important matter.

Hear the Word
Luke 11:28, Acts, 18:8, Romans 10:17
Obviously, we cannot claim faith in something without first having been exposed to it.  We begin our walk with Christ by hearing what He has to say.

Believe
John 12:46, Acts 2:36, Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16:16
Next, we must take the leap of faith and truly believe in God's Word as Truth.

Repent
Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30, Romans 3:23-24
Repentance is very important.  We must turn away from sin and commit ourselves to actively avoiding temptation and future sin.

Confess
Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 4:15
We must make an admission of our faith and confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Be Baptized
Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16
The final step in becoming a Christian is a point of contention among various denominations.  However, in studying the Scriptures, we cannot deny that Jesus and His disciples commanded that baptism is necessary.  Additionally, the type of baptism matters as well.  Baptism by immersion appears to be the mode of baptism that is acceptable.  There is no mention of sprinkling, dunking, or any other form of baptism in the Scriptures. Additionally, we must understand that baptism is not for church membership, but instead for the remission of sins.    

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Following the above steps, we are now a "new creation" and are free from the bondage and condemnation of sin.  We can now "walk in newness of life" (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Baptism is not the end of our spiritual journey, but the beginning...  

Live Faithfully
Romans 6:1-4, Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:22-25, Revelation 2:10
Just because God has forgiven us of our previous sins, this does not give us to ability or right to just live however we choose from this point forward.  In becoming a Christian we have committed our life to God. 

If We Stumble; Repent and Pray
Acts 8:22
As Christians we are, indeed, a "new creation", but while we are still on Earth in our fleshly bodies, we are still very much capable of being tempted and sinning.  If we stumble as Christians, we must repent and pray for forgiveness.   

Matthew 7:7-8; Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened...

2 Corinthians 6:2; Behold, now is the accepted time; Behold now is the day of salvation.

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