Statement of Fundamental Beliefs -
SALVATION
Steps Toward Salvation:
Faith in Christ
The first important step toward salvation is coming to complete faith in God and in Christ's sacrifice
(Hebrews 6:1; 11:6). Peter said, "be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:36-38).
Repentance
A vital step toward salvation is repentance of sin-repentance of transgressing God's law (1 John 3:4). As the New
Testament Church began, Peter was inspired to command, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you..." (Acts 2:38). Since every
human being has sinned (Romans 3:23), and the penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23), each sinner must turn from breaking
God's law, and be willing to obey His Maker through Christ living within him (Galatians 2:20).
Baptism by immersion
After God calls us and brings us to repentance, and we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, the
next vital step to salvation is water baptism. One should be baptized (Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 9:1-18) as a sign of
total surrender to God and of a willingness to bury the old self (Romans 6:3-6).
Recieving God's grace
Salvation is the result of the application of both God's "law" and His "grace" (Greek charis). "For by
grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it [that faith] is the gift of
God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)! We are "justified by His [Christ's] blood" and
are reconciled to God through the death of His Son [but] we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:9-10).
At baptism, the Christian enters the "new covenant" with God (Matthew 26:28). That new covenant does not do away with the law of God. God writes His laws in our minds and hearts (Hebrews 8:8-10). When one is baptized, he or she makes a solemn covenant with God that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he will keep His commandments and live a godly life from that day onward! It is Christ who actually lives His obedient life within us through the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Paul was inspired to write, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20, KJV).
Receiving God's Holy Spirit
When we repent, accept Jesus and are baptized, God forgives our sins (Acts 2:38; cf. Psalm 103:3, 10-13). If we are
truly to overcome sin, we must receive God's "power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Through God's dynamic Spirit we can keep His
commandments. According to New Testament teaching, the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the hands of
Christ's Apostles, or elders (Acts 8:17; 9:17; 19:6; 2 Timothy 1:6).
Exercising "living" faith
According to the Word of God, faith is vital for salvation, being one of the foundational doctrines of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1).
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him) (Hebrews 11:6). But living faith involves doing what God says, obeying Him!
"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20).
Growing in the "grace and knowledge of God"
After repentance, acceptance of Christ, baptism and receipt of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands
(Acts 8:17-18), the recently baptized and newly begotten child of God must continue to "grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord" (2 Peter 3:18). "Glorification" - putting on immortality - is the final step in receiving salvation (1 Corinthians 15:53).
Ultimate salvation for mankind comes at glorification in His Kingdom. (Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 3:21; 2 Timothy 2:10).
If you would like to receive more information or have any questions please call our Canadian Regional Office toll free at 1-800-932-4264, or (905)814-1094 within Toronto, and ask to speak with a minister.