What Must I Do?
—The “Six Steps” chart
This series of lessons is called "What Must I Do?" We are talking about what we need to do in order to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We show the six steps any sinner must take in order to have eternal life.
There would be absolutely nothing we could do to save ourselves, had God not done his own wonderful work for our salvation. He did what we could not possibly do, and without him we could do nothing.
Because God sent his Son Jesus Christ to teach us and to become the only possible sacrifice for us, therefore we can, with the help of God, do what Jesus commands us. Let's be glad that God in his grace and mercy has given us the opportunity to take these steps, and let us gladly do them.
The scriptures are very clear not only about what God has done for us in order for us to be saved, but also about what we must do to the same end. None of these steps is optional. Each is essential.
Please study the chart carefully and read the scriptures cited. Then, for a fuller study, read the individual lessons.
What We Must Do
Hear Christ’s word
¶“7So then, everyone who hears these words of mine, and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24).
¶“17Faith comes from hearing, and hearing [comes] by the word of Christ [being preached]” (Romans 10:17).
Believe the gospel
¶“16For God so loved the world, that he gave his one unique Son —so that whoever believes on him should not perish, but instead have eternal life” (John 3:16 ).
¶“16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'” (Romans 1:16-17).
Repent of sin
¶“31And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick need one. 32I came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.'” (Luke 5:31-32).
¶“4Do you take for granted the riches of God’s kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But, because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself when the day of wrath comes, and God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:4-5).
Confess Christ
¶“32Whoever acknowledges [or confesses] me in the presence of other people, I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
¶“8What does scripture say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart'. That refers to the very word of faith that we preach: 9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For with your heart you believe to be made righteous, and with your mouth you confess to be saved.” (Romans 10:8-10).
Be baptised into Christ’s death
¶“15Jesus then said to his disciples, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16Anyone who believes and is immersed shall be saved. Anyone who does not so believe will be condemned'” (Mark 16:15-16).
¶“3Aren't you aware that all of us who were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into his death? 4Thus we were buried with him by immersion into death. And consequently, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too are able to walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4).
Ongoing commitment
¶“61Another said to Jesus, 'I will follow you, Lord —but first let me go back to bid my family goodbye.' 62Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'” (Luke 9:61-62).
¶“11Do not slacken in your zeal. Rather, be fervent in spirit as you serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:11-12).