Salvation is the most important thing in life. Just like salvation, the steps that take one to salvation is also very important. Having gone through these steps before to my salvation, I would like to share my experience.
1. Hearing the word of God
According to Romans 10:17, faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ. This verse of scripture is as true as they come. The gospel has been the vehicle by which many are transported to the saving grace of Christ each year and I am no exception. I was born into Christianity and had my early church experience in Sunday school. All along, I loved and believed in Jesus as the son of God, God, Savior, etc. because that was what I was taught from childhood. In my first year in senior high school, regarding myself as a Christian, I did not hesitate to join Scripture Union which was then the largest Christian fellowship in there. One Saturday, at a program organized by Scripture Union, a man of God preached a powerful message that turned my life around. He preached about Jesus but started with man’s problem of sin and the damnation thereof, and about Jesus Christ who is God’s chosen means of salvation for mankind. It was when I heard his message that a sequence of positive things began to happen within me, leading to my salvation. Hence my salvation story began with hearing the gospel.
The unbeliever, naturally, does not see the need for the word of God and hence would not want to listen to it. Naturally, he would not bypass hip-pop, reggae, RNB, etc. to turn his radio or television to a Christian program to listen to or watch. So how do you get an unbeliever to listen to the gospel that can lead him to salvation?
One man of God who shared his experience said that, before he came to Christ, he used to be a drug addict and a pimp and wallowed in all manner of immorality. Along the line, his world turned upside down: he went broke and his health was crumbling. In such a hard time, he met an old friend who invited him to church, convincing him that he would find help at the hands of God. And he followed her to church. It was there that he heard the word of God and upon hearing the word of God, a sequence of events leading to his salvation began.
For a Christian to successfully lead an unbeliever to salvation, he needs to get the unbeliever to listen to the gospel – that is the first step. But who is to speak the word of God to the unbeliever? Any Christian who is willing may preach to the unbeliever. It is only when the unbeliever hears the word that he may repent. Other Christians do invite the unbeliever to church and through that, they get to hear the word of God that can lead them to faith and salvation.
— So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ (Romans 10:17 NLT).
2. Admitting your sins
Continuing my story, at the Scripture Union program, while the man of God was preaching, it was there that I understood for the first time what I was and what I had done. I was a sinner – a sinner by birth and a sinner in my own right. I had insulted, stolen, hurt people, lied, etc. Then I admitted it within my heart that, indeed, I have sinned and I am a sinner worthy of damnation. This was followed by a godly fear that if I were to die in my sins, I would perish; hence the need for repentance.
A very successful salvation story should involve the point where the unbelieve admits that he has sinned and he is a sinner worthy of punishment. What happens behind the scenes is that upon hearing the gospel of our Lord, the Holy Spirit begins to convict the unbeliever of his sins. And if the unbeliever humbles himself and accepts his wrongdoings, then he is on the path to salvation. The unbeliever will only see the need for a savior after he has admitted that he is a sinner deserving punishment.
— 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
3. Repentance
Continuing my story of salvation, while still listening to the man of God preach, I did not only admit that I was a sinner, but I also regretted whatever I had done wrong and was hopeful that when given a second chance, I would not continue sinning. Simply put, I was sorry for my sins and was willing to change for the better – that is repentance. Repentance is such that, not only are you sorry for your sins, but if given a second chance, you will not continue to do what you had been going wrong – that was what I was feeling.
Many people are wrong and they know it, but they are not willing to change for the better or accept to follow the way of righteousness. Such people can never genuinely repent and accept Jesus for their salvation.
— and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15).”
4. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
After having heard the word and having admitted I am a sinner and having gone through repentance, my heart was ready to accept Christ. And when the altar call was made, I willingly came forth and stood in front among others, then raised my hands, and said the sinner’s prayer in the sight of all. Though I had been in the church since childhood, it was at that point that I had a personal encounter with Jesus leading to my salvation.
After hearing the word and going through conviction and repentance, the ultimate thing is accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is necessary that before any church service ends, the minister in charge should make an altar call because there may be first-time visitors who were invited in and upon hearing the word of God, may be willing to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Hence it is necessary to do altar calls before every church service ends.
— 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved (Romans 10:9-10).