It is of utmost importance to the individual to be aware of what he must do to be saved. We often talk of the five steps of salvation. Some have labeled such an approach as a "check-list religion," perhaps in attempt to discredit the notion that God has placed conditions upon our salvation. However we might look at it, there are certain thing that we must do in order to be saved, all must be done, and all must be done in order. While it is understood that there is a lot more to conversion than just checking items on a list when we have accomplished them, such a negative view of the steps that are so clearly spelled out in the scriptures does a disservice to the scriptures in which they are found and God who gave them to us.

The five steps that we speak of are these.

1. Hear.

2. Believe.

3. Repent.

4. Confess.

5. Be Baptized.

Is there anything in this list that we can be saved without?

God has chosen to communicate his will to us through the gospel. Not only what he intends for us to do, but the plan by which he provided us justification from sin.

Paul wrote in Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:16-17). Paul says that the power of the gospel is in the fact that "therein is revealed a righteousness of God. The power is in the information in imparts to the hearer. He may then use that power to obtain salvation, or he may leave it alone.

The information found in the gospel that is so vital to us has to do with the mission of the Christ. Jesus’ work is summed up in this passage: "Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, … that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-5).

Man can’t figure out all that God had done on his own. God planned it that way. "For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). Literally, in the original language, the phrase "of the preaching" should be "of the thing preached." What would that be? It is the gospel, the word of the cross (vs. 18). So we must hear in order to know that God has any will for us.

As Peter began the first sermon of this dispensation, he said, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words …" From this point, he told them about Jesus, how they had crucified him in spite of God’s approval, and how that God had raised him to glory and magnified him in the miracles of that day. But they would know nothing of the Christ without hearing Peter’s words.

Cornelius told Peter that an angel had told him to send for Peter "who shall speak unto the words, whereby thou shalt be saved" (Acts 11:14) And we are told to "receive with meekness the implanted word whereby we might be saved" (James 1:21).

Not only does the gospel contain the only information we have about God’s plan and what Jesus did that we have, but it contains the proof of that information. John wrote, "Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). Indeed, faith is produced when we consider the evidence that we hear, and weigh it in our minds. "So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17). But we have to hear or read that word in order to have faith.

The gospel provides a standard by which we may measure our lives, and by which we will be eventually judged. Paul said, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ" (Rom. 2:16). Jesus warns us against rejecting this standard in John 12:48: "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day."

The gospel contains instruction for the conduct of our lives. It is God’s plan that is imposed, therefore it is filled with his love (sometimes "tough love") and wisdom. But we must hear what he has to say. If we close our ears to his instruction, it will not go away, but judge us in the last day.

We can have confidence that his gospel contains sufficient information to save. In Titus Paul says, "For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). God’s grace through the gospel teaches us how not to live, and is rather specific. It identifies sin and those things which tend to send. It also informs of the consequence of sin. It reveals God’s plan for our lives as well. There it is also specific with reference to matters of character and what we must do to obtain the wonderful gift of salvation. "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Nothing is left out. There is no activity or attitude of heart that is required of us that is not covered at least in principle. When we hear, we can understand the desires of the Lord.

My mother used to stand over me and give me instruction. At the end, nearly always, she would ask, "Do you hear me?" Of course I heard her. She was standing right there. But I knew then that she meant more than just being aware of the sound and the words. She meant, "Are you paying attention?"

In Romans 10:16 Paul says, "But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" In the King James Version, it reads "but they have not all obeyed the gospel," which is closer to the original meaning. But it tells us that hearing is more than hearing. It is paying attention and then doing what we are told. We must hear that way, too. We must hearken. Hearing must be joined with obedience.

Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me" (John 6:44-45). How does God draw us to his Son? Through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14) when we hear and learn.

Let us hear what the Lord says to us.