G r e e t i n g   I n   C h r i s t   (Luke 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. )

---

          Salvation
Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. He has made salvation freely available and freely offers it to those who come through Him. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6). Notice that Jesus says "No one comes to the Father except through me". Most people teach that "works" have nothing to do with salvation. They say that salvation is only achieved by faith alone. I would like to direct their attention and yours to John 6:29: "Jesus answered, ' The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" Jesus, Himself, says that belief is a work. The fact that belief is a work purely contradicts their statement that works have nothing to do with salvation ,yet we are saved by belief. They should also look at James 2:24 which plainly states in black and white that a person is not saved by faith alone. It is God that saves us, but it is up to us to come to Him so that he may do so. We are instructed in numerous places in numerous ways what it is we need to do to come to Him and become a Christian.
As you continue to read, you will see exactly what people did Biblical, to become followers of Jesus Christ.
First, let us take a look at what must be done to receive Salvation, and then we will look at some Biblical conversion.
HEAR (ROMANS 10:17) YOU MUST HEAR THE GOSPEL BEFORE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN
BELIEVE (JOHN 3:16/JOHN 6:29) YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD AND THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD
REPENT (ACTS 17:30/LUKE 13:3) YOU MUST TURN YOUR BACK ON SIN AND WANTS NOTHING MORE TO DO WITH IT
CONFESS (ROMANS 10:9,13/ MATTHEW 10:32) YOU MUST CONFESS JESUS AS LORD BEFORE MEN
BE BAPTIZED (1PETER 3:21/ROMANS 6:1-4/ACTS 2:38) YOU MUST BE IMMERSED IN WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS, TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO BE BURIED AND RISEN WITH CHRIST, AND TO GET INTO CHRIST
CONTINUE AND ABIDE IN THE WORD (2JOHN 9/MARK13:13) YOU MUST CONTINUE TO OBEY THE WORD OF GOD
IF A PERSON DO COMMIT SIN AFTER OBEYING THE GOSPEL, GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU.  (1JOHN1:9 SAYS "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.)  We must flee sin and not practice the evils of it.

Many people do not teach all of these things that the Bible says in black and white. They teach that one can obtain salvation through one--maybe two--of these things.

Many also teach that one can attain salvation through things that are not even found in scripture. They teach that one only has to "say a sinner's prayer" or "ask Jesus into their heart" or "accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior". You can look and see for yourself as we have, that none of these things were ever taught or practiced in the New Testament of Christ.
Now let us take a look at some Biblical Conversion.

1. The Samaritans in Acts 8 HEARD Philip preaching (Acts 8:5-6), BELIEVED what he preached concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12) and "were BAPTIZED, both men and women" (Acts 8:12b).
2. Later in the same chapter, an Ethiopian HEARD Philip preach Jesus (Acts 8:35), BELIEVED in Jesus, CONFESSED his belief, and was BAPTIZED in water (Acts 8:36-38).
3. The first convert from among the Gentiles, Cornelius, was told that he needed to HEAR Peter preach saving words (Acts 10:6; 11:14); he was told that if he BELIEVED the words he heard he would receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43), and he was BAPTIZED in water (Acts 10:47-48). Later, in Acts 11:18 we learn that these Gentiles had also REPENTED.
4. Lydia HEARD and was BAPTIZED (Acts 16:14-15).
5. The Philippian jailor HEARD, was told to BELIEVE, and was BAPTIZED (Acts 16:30-33).
6. "The Corinthians, HEARING, BELIEVED, and were BAPTIZED" (Acts 18:8).
7. "In Acts 2, on the day on Pentecost, the Jews Heard, the Word of God, because they asked, "...What Shall We Do? (Acts 2:37) Peter told them to "Repent, and be Baptized. (Acts 2:38) We see in Acts 2:41 ..."Those that gladly received his word was Baptized...

The illustration below gives us a close insight on exactly what happens when a Person has responded to the Gospel of Christ as he/she is been baptized for the remission of sins.

God's plan of salvation is simple. Man has added to it and taken away from it. If we, here at the Lord's Church in Durant can be of some help to you, please contact us, so we can help you to understand God's Plan Of Salvation and not some Man Made Doctrine.