Steps to Christ

1. God's Love is the Foundation of Salvation

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son.”

Unconditional Love. God's love for humanity is the driving force behind the entire plan of salvation. It wasn't something earned or created by Christ's sacrifice, but rather the reason for it. This love is evident in nature, in the gift of His Son, and in His constant pursuit of humanity.

Love in Action. God's love isn't passive; it's active and sacrificial. He didn't just feel love; He demonstrated it by giving His most precious possession, His Son, to redeem us. This act reveals the depth of His commitment to our salvation.

Transformative Power. Understanding the magnitude of God's love should lead us to a profound sense of gratitude and a desire to reflect that love in our own lives. It's a love that seeks to uplift us from the degradation of sin and restore us to a state of holiness and joy.

2. Recognizing Our Deep Need for Christ

“It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken.”

Inherent Sinfulness. Humanity's fallen nature makes it impossible to overcome sin through our own efforts. Education, culture, and willpower have their place, but they cannot change the heart or purify the springs of life.

Christ as the Only Solution. Christ is the only power capable of transforming us from sin to holiness. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul and draw us to God. We need a new life from above, a new heart, new desires, and new motives.

Yearning for Deliverance. The cry for deliverance from the bondage of sin is universal. Like Paul, we recognize our inability to attain purity and righteousness on our own. The answer is always the same: behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

3. Repentance: A Gift and a Turning Point

“It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ, that leads to genuine repentance.”

More Than Sorrow. True repentance involves more than just feeling sorry for our sins. It includes a turning away from sin and a change of heart. It's a recognition of the sinfulness of sin and a desire to be cleansed and restored to communion with Heaven.

Christ Initiates Repentance. Repentance is not something we can manufacture on our own. It is a gift from Christ, who ascended on high and gives gifts to men. He is the source of every right impulse and the only one who can implant in the heart enmity against sin.

The Cross Leads to Repentance. As we behold the Lamb of God upon the cross of Calvary, the mystery of redemption begins to unfold to our minds, and the goodness of God leads us to repentance. It is Christ's love that softens the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition in the soul.

4. Confession: Cleansing the Soul

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Conditions for Mercy. God's conditions for obtaining mercy are simple, just, and reasonable. We are not required to perform grievous acts, but to confess and forsake our sins. This is the path to healing and restoration.

Specific and Heartfelt. True confession is always specific and acknowledges particular sins. It should be heartfelt and freely expressed, not urged or made in a flippant way. It may be made to God alone, to individuals we have wronged, or publicly, depending on the nature of the sin.

Repentance and Reformation. Confession is not acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life, and everything offensive to God must be put away. This is the result of genuine sorrow for sin.

5. Consecration: Yielding to God's Will

“The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness.”

Total Surrender. To be restored to God's likeness, we must yield our whole heart to Him. By nature, we are alienated from God, held captive by Satan. God desires to heal us and set us free, but this requires an entire transformation.

Not Blind Submission. The government of God is not based on blind submission, but appeals to the intellect and conscience. God does not force the will of His creatures, but desires an homage that is willingly and intelligently given.

Choosing God Above All. In giving ourselves to God, we must give up all that separates us from Him. This may include material possessions, worldly honor, or selfish ease. We cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's; we must be entirely His children.

6. Faith and Acceptance: Claiming God's Promises

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

God's Gift of Forgiveness. God offers forgiveness and a new heart as a gift, without money and without price. It is ours if we will but reach out our hand and grasp it. We must believe that He does this because He has promised.

Acting on Faith. Just as the paralytic at Bethesda acted on Christ's word and willed to walk, we must act on God's promises and believe that we are forgiven and cleansed. God supplies the fact when we believe the promise.

Living in Christ. Having given ourselves to Jesus, we must not draw back, but day by day affirm, "I am Christ's; I have given myself to Him." We must ask Him to give us His Spirit and keep us by His grace, living in Him as we received Him at first.

7. Discipleship: A Life Transformed

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Evidence of Conversion. While we may not be able to pinpoint the exact time or place of our conversion, the life will bear witness to the fact if the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God. A change will be seen in the character, habits, and pursuits.

Fruits of the Spirit. Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. They will no longer fashion themselves according to their former lusts.

Obedience as Love. Obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very nature, and if our hearts are renewed in His likeness, the law of God will be carried out in our lives.

8. Growing in Christ: A Continuous Journey

“As the flower turns to the sun, that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the Sun of Righteousness.”

Dependent on Christ. Spiritual growth is not achieved through our own efforts, but by receiving from Christ, just as a plant receives from its surroundings. We are as dependent upon Christ for holy living as a branch is upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness.

Abiding in Christ. Our growth in grace, our joy, and our usefulness all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily and hourly, that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author but the Finisher of our faith.

A Life of Restfulness. A life in Christ is a life of restfulness, not necessarily with ecstasy of feeling, but with an abiding, peaceful trust. We are not to look to ourselves, but to Christ, dwelling upon His love, beauty, and perfection.

9. The Christian's Work: Love in Action

“Our Saviour’s joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men.”

Blessing Others. Wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing. Like Christ, we should find joy in the uplifting and redemption of fallen humanity.

Sacrificial Service. Those who partake of Christ's grace will be ready to make any sacrifice so that others may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sure outgrowth of a truly converted soul.

Blessings in Giving. The effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. God has granted us the privilege of becoming partakers of the divine nature and, in turn, of diffusing blessings to our fellow men.

10. Knowing God: Through Nature, Word, and Spirit

“The listening ear can hear and understand the communications of God through the things of nature.”

Nature's Testimony. God seeks to make Himself known to us through nature, revelation, providence, and the influence of His Spirit. The open heart will be impressed with the love and glory of God as revealed through the works of His hands.

Scripture's Revelation. God speaks to us in His word, where we have a clearer revelation of His character, His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. The whole Bible tells of Christ, from creation to the promise of His return.

Spirit's Illumination. We can attain an understanding of God's word only through the illumination of the Spirit by which the word was given. The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies the Saviour, presenting Christ, the purity of His righteousness, and the great salvation we have through Him.

Last updated: February 5, 2025