What are the steps to salvation?

Answer

Many individuals seek guidance on the path to salvation. The concept of a structured approach with clear steps leading to salvation is appealing to many. For instance, Islam outlines the Five Pillars as essential for salvation. According to Islam, adherence to these pillars ensures salvation. Due to the attractiveness of a systematic process for salvation, some within the Christian community mistakenly present salvation as achievable through a series of steps. Roman Catholicism emphasizes seven sacraments, while other Christian denominations include additional steps like baptism, public confession, repentance from sin, speaking in tongues, among others. However, the Bible simplifies salvation to one step. When the Philippian jailer inquired of Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s response was clear: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).

Faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior stands as the sole “step” to salvation. The message of the Bible is unequivocal. We have all transgressed against God “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”, (Romans 3:23). Our sins warrant eternal separation from God “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”, (Romans 6:23). Out of His love for us “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”, (John 3:16), God took on human form and died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God promises forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven to all who receive, by grace through faith, Jesus Christ as Savior (John 1:12; John 3:16; John 5:24; Acts 16:31).

Salvation is not about specific steps we must follow to earn salvation. Yes, Christians should be baptized. Yes, Christians should publicly confess Christ as Savior. Yes, Christians should turn from sin. Yes, Christians should commit their lives to obeying God. However, these are not steps to salvation. They are outcomes of salvation. Due to our sin, we cannot in any way earn salvation. We could follow 1000 steps, and it would not suffice. That is why Jesus had to die in our place. We are entirely incapable of paying our sin debt to God or cleansing ourselves from sin. Only God could achieve our salvation, and so He did. God Himself completed the “steps” and thereby offers salvation to anyone who will receive it from Him.

Salvation and forgiveness of sins is not about following steps. It is about accepting Christ as Savior and acknowledging that He has done all of the work for us. God requires one step from us—receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin and fully trusting in Him alone as the way of salvation. That is what sets the Christian faith apart from all other world religions, each of which has a set of steps that must be followed for salvation to be received. The Christian faith acknowledges that God has already completed the steps and simply calls on the repentant to receive Him in faith.