The Way to Salvation

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The Way to Salvation

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (NIV Ro. 10:9-10).

The only way to be saved is not from ourselves or from good-behavior, as no one can behave well enough and sin-free enough to earn one’s way to salvation. The way is through the mediator and Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is between the Father and us. The Bible has the division of the Old Testament and a New Testament. People living before Christ were under a system of saved by law. The commandments were there for guidance and as a model for holy living for the nation of Israel. Christ tore down the division, brought grace to the world, and ended pursuing the Law as a way of righteousness,

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (NIV Ro. 10:4).

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we became conscious of our sin (NIV Ro. 3:20).

The apostles assessed the redemptive work of Christ and were clear that we are not under law anymore, but under grace,

…you are not under the law, but under grace (NIV Ro. 6:14).

Keeping the commandments perfectly is how we can show our love for Him (Jn. 14:21), however no amount of commandment keeping or deed-doing will make a person righteous and save him or her (to find out what our commandments are, please see The Old and New Covenants). We are saved by grace and not by what we have done,

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (NIV Eph. 2:8-9).

Justification by grace alone apart from the works of the law was a teaching Paul shared, and has continued to be an aspect of basic Christianity,

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law (NIV Ro. 3:28).

In Paul’s time the Jews were disbelieving and hindering of the spread of Christianity. Paul drew comparison between the Jews and stumbling because they were continuing to pursue righteousness not by faith in Christ, but by works. They kept the Jewish biblical laws without faith in the Messiah, whereas the non-Jews who believed obtained righteousness purely by their faith,

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame” (NIV Ro. 9:30-33).

While salvation is by grace through faith, Christians have commandments and instructions that they cannot neglect. To briefly explain, the commands of Jesus are the culmination and fulfillment of all the Law. This concept will be explained in later chapters.

Works Should Not Be Neglected

Works are a vital part of a Christian’s journey. It is how one can put one’s faith in action, and furthers the cause of faith. Faith alone without good deeds demonstrates a lack of progression,

…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (NIV Jas. 2:17).

A deed does not have the ability in and of itself to save a person, but is the fruit of salvation. Repentance is demonstrated by one’s deeds and should be done with love as a motivating factor, and not as a way to boast one’s righteousness,

…I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds (NIV Ac. 26:20).

Thankfully deeds do tie in heavily with faith, because repentant acts are exchanged for forgiveness which leads one to salvation,

…and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (NIV Lk. 24:47).

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (NIV 2Co. 7:10).

Christ cautioned that those who do not repent will perish,

But unless you repent, you too will all perish (NIV Lk. 13:5).

One should be aware that in the end of times Christ will judge according to the good and bad works that we have done. Everyone should thus have good works so that they may not be condemned in judgment,

…and I will repay each of you according to your deeds (NIV Rev. 2:23).

The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books (NIV Rev. 20:12).

Who Is Salvation For?

Jesus warned that it is a difficult path to enter life for anyone because of the ways of the world,

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (NIV Mt. 7:13-14).

Salvation was for the nation of Israel prior to the first Advent, but Christ demolished the distinction between classes of people. So long as a person believes in Him, all are one in Christ. Narrow is the road that leads to life, but all who believe will be saved! Jesus calls and saves even sinners,

For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (NIV Mt. 9:13).

Jesus declared that both Jew and Gentile should be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, and that the Gospel should be valiantly declared to both types of people. A “Gentile” is a Jewish term that was used to denote people who were not part of God’s community and who were considered heathen and pagan, and excluded by the Jews,

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (NIV Gal. 3:28-29).

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (NIV Ro. 3:22-24).

The Lord does not exclude anyone from conversion and salvation, and the evidence of this is in that Christ gave the Gentiles the same promise as the Jews, the Holy Spirit (see the chapters The Holy Spirit and The Old and New Covenants).

Born Again

Every person who becomes a religious Christian knows that they have faith to achieve and repentant deeds to perform. They may not fully be aware of the regenerate process that they will eventually experience for the better. It is far greater than one can achieve alone without the aid of the Spirit. Being a Christian is to be renewed and changed. The measurement to keep in mind is, while I am doing well outwardly, what is the condition of my heart? Have I grown spiritually and changed my mentality and desires? Am I hanging on to a hindering practice? Do I know improvements that I am guided to, yet have hesitated and resisted? Resisting the transformation process is a common problem for those just shy of surrender. Those who are resisting, are resisting the Spirit of God. In the transformation process the old person is put-off and a new person comes forth, hence the difficulty in surrendering. The transformation starts before baptism, finds solidity and commitment in baptism, and continues as long as one keeps one’s hand on the plow. In the transformation and renewal a person is “born again.” Being born again and baptized in Christ are requirements to enter the kingdom of God,

Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (NIV Jn. 3:3).

Jesus likened those born of the Spirit, which flesh cannot compare, to the wind. No one can tell what great heights those born of the Spirit will blow though they hear the sound of them blowing,

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (NIV Jn. 3:5-8).

What must a person do to be born again? Sin is the root of the problem and friction between God and the people of earth. Those who want to be born again, which all people of earth have the option to respond to when they are called, must not continue to sin,

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them (NIV 1Jn. 5:18).

The next few pages will center on what entails being born again.

Love

The essence of a changed heart is the turning from hate toward love. A person who becomes born again must have great love for God and for others. Is anything more important than one’s relationship with Jesus, the bearer of our salvation?

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me (NIV Mt. 10:37-38).

The same love we have for God and Jesus is what we should model for our neighbor. We are to love God as much as possible, and to love our neighbor the same as ourselves. Imagine the peace if everyone would treat each other how they treated themselves! It should come to no surprise that Jesus chose love as the greatest of the commandments,

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (NIV Mt. 22:37-40).

Once again, in everything we do we should treat others how we expect to be treated ourselves,

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (NIV Mt. 7:12).

Understand that what this author intends to communicate here regarding love is not an analysis of love from the perspective of the covenants (as will be explicated in a subsequent chapter), but simply that love is the key to salvation. Love can do no harm, and does happen to be the fulfillment of the O.T. law,

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (NIV Ro. 13:10).

The Flesh Crucified

During the transformation process increasingly so the flesh that seeks nothing but evil will be crucified. The difficulty of the thorny path of righteousness is truly putting the will of God first. The body symbolically dies in the process so that the soul may be saved. Paul was a proponent of pitting the flesh in adversity to the Spirit. Living “according to the flesh” brings death,

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live (NIV Ro. 8:13).

Whether the corporeal skin, bones, and body is intrinsically evil since falling is not verifiable, considering everything God created is “good.” However, the flesh does have a tendency to seek short-sighted instant gratification at the expense of the spiritual. The body can be used to commit and harbor sin. Those living by the flesh allow their body to be controlled by sin, and the Spirit is quenched and true life is not within the carnal sinner. For instance, consider the epitome of living by the flesh; prostitutes, gang members, and drug addicts are choice examples. The prostitute does not have a mind that can please God because it is ruled by the flesh. A gang member lacks the ability to love, and does not respond to God. Drug addicts do not have Christ as a coping mechanism and treat the flesh with chemicals instead of having spirituality. In all these cases the body is used as an instrument for sin. The Holy Spirit should be in control of the body, which should be used as an offering for God,

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness (NIV Ro. 6:11-13).

Godly Sacrifice

Sacrifice has importance for a true Christian. Often a Christian will have to sacrifice something for Christ to survive. Understand that Christ rejected through improvisation the traditional burnt offerings, animal sacrifice, and grain offering and that He taught Christians a better way to please God when He reiterated Hosea 6:6, a time when He humbly ate with tax collectors and sinners saying that He desired mercy above sacrifice (Mt. 9:9-13). This example models what kind of sacrifice everyone is to make. Jews would not be seen eating with heathen, yet how would Christ reach and enlighten sinners if He avoided them altogether? He sacrificed his reputation to reach the lost sheep. That form of sacrifice has greater worth than a slaughtered goat or a bundle to be burned as an offering. Interestingly, Jesus did not stop Martha from dousing His feet with expensive perfume and wiping His feet with her hair as an offering. Judas questioned that she could have spent money generated from selling the perfume on the poor, which was worth about a year’s wages (Jn. 12:4-6). Faith is between a person and Christ. Martha felt compelled to sacrifice the perfume to worship the Lord. The idea behind sacrifice will never be rejected by Christ if it is pure. Whoever humbles themselves will be exalted, and whoever loses their life for Christ will find it,

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (NIV Mt. 23:12).

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it (NIV Mt. 10:39).

Forgiveness

A born again believer will be quick to forgive, making no threats to anyone, using Jesus as an example and model. Jesus even forgives those who speak out against Him (Mt. 12:32), and is the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world (Isa. 59:20-21, 27:9; Jer. 31:34; Jn. 1:29; Ro. 11:26-27; Col. 2:13-14; 1Jn. 2:12). One should live ready to be ever-forgiving,

If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven (NIV Jn. 20:23).

The beautiful part of forgiveness is that the anger in one’s heart will disappear, but blessedly this is not all that happens. The Father will also mercifully forgive those who forgive. In a way only God could have designed, truthfully forgiving someone else brings multiple rewards for the forgiver,

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (NIV Mt. 6:14).

Confession is an initial repentant act that is a way to humbly come before God for forgiveness. A born again Christian will probably spend quite a bit of effort confessing wrong doing and sin to the Lord. Confession is the stepping-stone to righteous change, and God lends his ear and judicious mercy to anyone who would come to Him for purification,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all righteousness (NIV 1Jn. 1:9).

Christians may find themselves facing a situation where they must forgive repeatedly, yet are sinned against as often. How often are we to forgive? There should not be a limited number of times that one forgives another. Yet, anyone who sins against and who does not repent should be avoided, although they must always be forgiven. It is the only way to live in peace,

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (NIV Mt. 18:21-22—see Lk. 17:3-4).

The Ultimate Sign: Living as Jesus Did

To summarize the essence of being born again, a believer will undergo a change and new birth by means of the Spirit starting with confession, repentance and baptism, evolving to maturity and prolonged faithfulness in ministry, and ending in salvation. During this time a person will have come to know the commands and requirements, and will learn to abide in them. He or she will not be perfect, but will pursue perfection by correcting the inevitable back-sliding that often occurs. The person will make the choice not to sin anymore. If one were to self-measure how well one is born again, although faith is exhibited differently for everyone and can’t be measured, it can be assessed by examining “how hard do I strive to keep God’s commandments?” This is, after all, how we show our love for Him and truly “know Him” (once again, to find out what our commandments are, see the chapter The Old and New Covenants),

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did (NIV 1Jn. 2:3-6).

Baptism

Moving on from defining what it means to be born again, once a believer is ready and committed he or she should be baptized in the Spirit. Baptism is the gateway to experience the rebirth of the Spirit, and to receive the power of the Spirit. It is the washing away of the sin that condemns us. This act is for the forgiveness of sins (Ac. 2:38) and to receive the Holy Spirit, as one is baptized into the Spirit (Jn. 3:5) and the death of Christ (Ro. 6:3-4). To summarize, when a believer is baptized he or she:

Receives the Holy Spirit.
Is joined to Christ.
Receives miraculous powers for ministry.
Receives the forgiveness of sins.

The symbolic aspect of baptism is being lowered/baptized into the death of Christ, and raised to “live a new life,”

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (NIV Ro. 6:3-4).

This new life is one that is “clothed in Christ,”

…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (NIV Gal. 3:27).

Those baptized in Christ sometimes have dramatic manifest powers. These powers vary, but the author of First Corinthians (probably Paul) did not want converts to believe that some had received one kind of spirit, and another a different spirit responsible for the various powers. Christians are baptized into one Spirit. One baptism, one body of Christ, one Spirit,

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (NIV 1Co. 12:13).

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (NIV Eph. 4:4-6).

When Should a Person Be Baptized?

Baptism in the Spirit should be performed around the time of conversion. Repentance should come before baptism (Ac. 2:38), but any sincere believer can be baptized and should not be turned down or made to wait very long. Baptism is necessary in normal circumstance to participate in the new covenant, and seems to be the prerequisite to receive the Spirit (more about this topic momentarily).

Who Can Baptize?

While people probably would prefer to seek a pastor for baptism, any Christian is fully equipped to baptize another. We are all commissioned by Jesus to make disciples and to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This exemplifies the extension of Christ’s authority personally to us,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (NIV Mt. 28:18-20).

Consider closely the baptism of Jesus. Was God Himself the only one fit to baptize Jesus? Jesus wanted to ensure the proper example and to fulfill righteousness for all people after Him. He humbly set an example by asking John the Baptist to baptize Him in the Jordan. John was hesitant because of Jesus’ higher greatness, but he conceded,

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (NIV Mt. 3:13-17).

Where and How Should Someone Be Baptized?

In times of persecution, a baptism may be done in private with few people present, but preferably a baptism is a community event although the Bible does not specify. Any pool of water may be used to baptize, or in circumstance where enough water to immerse someone is not available, some baptizer’s sprinkle water on the head. The Greek word used for baptism in the Bible is baptisma, which means to immerse and not to sprinkle. Sprinkling was not encouraged, however in circumstance sprinkling may be the only option and those sprinkled on at birth can still receive the Holy Spirit later in life without being rebaptized with immersion later on. This author has personal experience with this scenario. What happened is that after having been sprinkled on at birth, the Holy Spirit was received later in life upon conversion. Those sprinkled on at birth can consider rebaptism. Most of the Bible record of people being baptized is via immersion, however the Bible said that men (Acts 2:41; 8:35), women (Acts 16:14-15), and entire households were baptized (Acts 10:24,47-48; 16:14-15; 16:30-33; 1 Co. 1:16). None of the writers specified if children were excluded from baptism, instead the promise was said to be for an entire family, children and all,

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call (NIV Ac. 2:38-39).

Infant Baptism

Infant baptism led to the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement of rebaptizing as an adult, “ana” meaning “again.” Anabaptists did not believe infants should be baptized until they were of age and able to come to accept Christ on their own. They called infant baptism, “baptism before understanding.” Those sprinkled on at birth should give thought to immersion later in life.

The Lord’s Supper

An activity that Christians participate in that is a necessity as will be explained, but that does not determine salvation, is the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion). The Lord’s Supper was ministered to the disciples at Jesus Christ’s last supper before being betrayed, arrested, and crucified,

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (NIV Mt. 26:26-28).

The blood of Christ is the new covenant (Lk. 22:20), and we are to symbolically do this in remembrance of Christ (Lk. 22:19). The reason the Lord’s Supper is a necessity is because it embodies our continual participation in the new covenant. Whoever eats the bread, the flesh of Christ, will live forever (Jn. 6:51). Unless one eats the flesh of Christ and drinks His blood, one has no life in him or her (Jn. 6:53). How strict the adherence is to having to consume actual bread and juice/wine in exchange for life is trivial. Persecution can cut-off one’s supply to bread and wine, and even water for baptism. Christians need to live by faith knowing that Christ will not turn away those who have made every attempt to follow suit.

Christians in a church organization have a service biweekly or monthly to partake in the eating of the body of Christ, and the drinking of the blood of Christ to remember the Lord’s Covenant. Those who are pariahs and outcasts by persecution from within the church may partake on their own by eating divided bread and drinking grape juice. Not all churches meet every month for the Lord’s Supper, and the Bible does not specify the frequency with which one must repeat the Lord’s Supper. The majority of churches consider the Lord’s Supper a sacrament, a rite and oath. The Catholic Church believes that the bread and wine is turned into the actual body and blood of Christ Himself by a priest. The Catholic doctrine of the turning of regular bread and wine into Christ’s physical body and blood is named the “transubstantiation” doctrine.

Final Remarks

Unfortunately for the sake of brevity this chapter just introduced righteous qualities and the process that leads to salvation. Salvation is ultimately by Jesus, through mercy and grace, and is for all people whom the Lord will call. Further time could have been spent studying Paul’s writings about salvation, and also topics such as the preordination/preselection of the saints, faith at work in a saint, and suffering before glory. In lieu, this entire manual is a testimony of the way to salvation. Be careful to read the Bible and formulate one’s own opinion. People seem to hear the Way from others, but do not notice when the Way is perverted because they have not read Scripture to compare it to. Ultimately, God wants anyone who believes to know that they are welcome to heaven and are a member of the Kingdom. Those who stand firm to the end are saved (Mt. 10:22), and a believer can consider oneself saved. Come to Jesus!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (NIV Mt. 11:28-30).

Chapter Summary

If one professes Christ as Lord and believes in one’s heart that God resurrected Christ from the dead, one will be saved.
The way to be saved is not from what one does, but is through mediation of Christ and the grace of God.
Christians are not under the O.T. system of saved by law.
Christ was the end of righteousness by law.
The apostles’ assessment was that through Christ we are under grace and not law.
Salvation is by grace through faith, not works.
Justification by grace alone is one of Paul’s teachings.
The Jews were paralleled with stumbling because they continued to pursue righteousness not by faith in Christ, but by works.
While salvation is by grace through faith, Christians have commandments and instructions that they cannot neglect. The commands of Jesus are the culmination and fulfillment of the Law.
Faith alone without good deeds demonstrates a lack of progression.
Repentance is demonstrated by one’s deeds and should be done with love as a motivating factor.
Deeds do tie in heavily with faith because repentant acts are exchanged for forgiveness which lead one to salvation.
Those who do not repent will perish.
In the end of times Christ will judge according to the good and bad works that we have done.
It is a difficult path to enter life for anyone, and salvation was for the nation of Israel prior to the first Advent, but Christ demolished the distinction between classes of people. So long as a person believes in Him, all are one in Christ.
Jesus calls and saves even sinners.
Jesus declared that both Jew and Gentile should be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, and that the Gospel should be valiantly declared to both types of people.
The Lord does not exclude anyone from conversion and salvation, and the evidence of this is in that Christ gave the Gentiles the same promise as the Jews, the Holy Spirit.
Christians will experience a regenerate process in which they are “born again.”
Resisting the transformation process is a common problem for those just shy of surrender. Those who are resisting, are resisting the Spirit of God.
Being born again and baptized in Christ by the Spirit are requirements to enter the kingdom of God.
Those born again by water and the Spirit must not continue to sin.
The essence of a changed heart is the turning from hate toward love.
We are to love God as much as possible, and to love our neighbor the same as ourselves.
During the transformation process the body symbolically dies so that the soul may be saved.
Living “according to the flesh” brings death.
The Holy Spirit should be in control of the body, which should be used as an offering for God.
Sacrifice has importance for a true Christian. Jesus modeled godly sacrifice, although He desires mercy and not sacrifice.
The idea behind sacrifice will never be rejected by Christ if it is pure. Whoever humbles themselves will be exalted, and whoever loses their life for Christ will find it.
A born again believer will be quick to forgive, making no threats to anyone, using Jesus as an example and model.
The Father will mercifully forgive those who forgive.
Confession is an initial repentant act that is a way to humbly come before God for forgiveness.
There should not be a limited number of times that one forgives another.
To summarize the essence of being born again, a believer will undergo a change and new birth by means of the Spirit starting with confession, repentance, and baptism, evolving to maturity and prolonged faithfulness in ministry, and ending in salvation.
Baptism is the gateway to experience the rebirth of the Spirit, and to receive the power of the Spirit.
When a believer is baptized he or she:

a. Receives the Holy Spirit.

b. Is joined to Christ.

c. Receives miraculous powers for ministry.

d. Receives the forgiveness of sins.
Christians are baptized into one Spirit. One baptism, one body of Christ, one Spirit.
Repentance should come before baptism, but any sincere believer can be baptized and should not be turned down or made to wait very long and should be baptized around the time of conversion.
Baptism is necessary in normal circumstance to participate in the new covenant, and seems to be the prerequisite to receive the Spirit.
We are all commissioned by Jesus to make disciples and to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus humbly set an example by asking John the Baptist to baptize Him in the Jordan as an example for all.
A baptism may be done during persecution in private, but preferably is a community event.
Any pool of water may be used to baptize, or in circumstance where enough water to immerse someone is not available, some baptizer’s sprinkle water on the head.
The Greek word used for baptism in the Bible is baptisma, which means to immerse and not to sprinkle.
In circumstance sprinkling may be the only option and those sprinkled on at birth can still receive the Holy Spirit later in life without being rebaptized with immersion later on.
Many believe children should not be baptized, although according to the Bible the promise is for you and your household.
Infant baptism led to the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement of rebaptizing as an adult, “ana” meaning “again.” They called infant baptism, “baptism before understanding.”
The Lord’s Supper was ministered to the disciples at Jesus Christ’s last supper before being betrayed, arrested, and crucified.
The blood of Christ is the new covenant (Lk. 22:20), and we are to symbolically do this in remembrance of Christ (Lk. 22:19).
Whoever eats the bread, the flesh of Christ, will live forever (Jn. 6:51).
The majority of churches consider the Lord’s Supper a sacrament, a rite and oath.
The Catholic Church believes that the bread and wine is turned into the actual body and blood of Christ Himself by a priest.
Those who stand firm to the end are saved (Mt. 10:22), and a believer can consider oneself saved.

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