We often sing the invitation song, "Only a Step." In fact, in becoming a Christian one takes five distinct steps. Then he finds that there are many more steps for him to take, for being a Christian involve a peculiar walk.

Some have derided the idea that there are steps in becoming a Christian that such encourages a "checklist" religion. In its lowest meaning, the notion of a checklist religion is that there is some list out there somewhere that someone has made up, and that we do each thing on the list, and having done them, we are finished. We are saved.

But that isn’t a fair picture of what we are saying. There are certain things that must be done, and if it takes making a list and checking off the items as they are done, then let’s do it. Going to heaven is more important than the derisive mind games that some play in order to make a point. And all that is commanded is necessary, therefore if God is the author of the list, who are we to refuse it.

I was in a discussion with a Baptist preacher one time. He had accused me of teaching "water regeneration." I asked what he meant by that term. If he meant that I thought that there was something in baptism that logically or naturally brought about forgiveness, then I don’t teach that. But if he meant that I teach that baptism in water, in the name of Christ, for the remission of sins is necessary to be saved, then I do teach that.

"But," he objected, "don’t you understand that we are saved by faith alone?"

I answered with a question, "Do you then believe in faith only salvation?"

"Yes," was his reply.

Then I asked, "Do you believe a man can go to heaven without repenting? After all, Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish’" (Luke 13:5).

He answered, "Of course not. The Bible is plain about that. If you are going to heaven, you must repent of your sins."

I asked again, "Do you believe a man can go to heaven and not confess the name of Jesus? Paul wrote, ‘For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10).

He said, "It would never happen. Of course you must confess your faith in Christ?"

Then I came back, "Repentance and confession are not the same thing as faith are they. Yet you can’t go to heaven without them. Why do you say that you believe in faith only salvation when believe that more than faith is necessary?"

My question was met with a thoughtful stare. I continued, "You believe that a man must hear the gospel, believe on Jesus, repent of his sins, and confess his name before men. That is not faith only."

"I suppose may be right about that," he said.

"Do you believe that you must be baptized to go to heaven?"

"Oh no," he quickly replied. "Everybody knows that salvation is by faith only."

The plain statement of the Scripture is that salvation is NOT by faith alone. "Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith" (Jas. 2:24).

In the Bible, it is Jesus that commands baptism. "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

But he is not the only one. There was not one case of conversion in the Book of Acts where the one brought to the Lord was not baptized. The first command of the gospel was "And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). But Peter didn’t let up. When he was at the house of Cornelius, and God demonstrated through the Spirit that the Gentiles were acceptable to God, it says of Peter, "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days" (Acts 10:48). The Samaritans (Acts 8:5, 12-13), the Eunuch (8:35-38), the Philippian jailor (16:32-33), and Paul (Acts 22:16) all were baptized upon hearing Jesus preached. There must be some connection between the gospel of Christ and the command to be baptized.

Luke tells us in Acts 2:41, "They then that received his word were baptized …" What does this verse tell us about those who were not baptized? They had not received the word.

There are many passages that tell us that baptism puts one into Christ. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Rom 6:3). This last passage tells us that we not only become one with Christ in baptism, but we participate with him in his death when we are immersed. "We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life … for he that hath died is justified from sin" (Rom. 6:4-7). We are justified when we die, but in the context, we die when we share with Jesus in his death. His death becomes our own. And when does that happen? It happens when we are baptized.

When one hears and believes the gospel, he repents and decides to follow Jesus, he confesses the good confession and submits to baptism for the remission of sins. If one has not done all of these things, he cannot go to heaven. Make a list a check these things off, but if any is left out, the consequences are dire.

We understand that these things are all done in a matter of process. And rather than just punching our ticket so that we can live as we like as we await the heavenly home, these things are the beginning of a life as God ordered in the Scriptures.