12 steps to heaven
Gen. 28:10-22
I. Come and seek God De 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Mt 7:7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We must seek for God and come to him. God doesn’t seek us out.
Mat. 11:28-30
We must come to Jesus Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Joh 7:37 ¶ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
II. We must come to Christ and hear him. Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Isaiah 55:3 Hear God
Hear the truth. Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Hear about Jesus .... the truth about Jesus... do not be dull of hearing but rather understanding what the will of God is.
Rom. 10:17
III. Believe have faith in what was heard.
John 8:24 Heb. 11:6
Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. John 3:16
Should not perish because should obey him. Heb. 5:9
Obey him by taking the next step.
IV. Repent Turn from the world and turn to God
Acts 17:30 Luke 13:3 2 Peter 3:9
We must come to Christ with a repentant hart Come with Godly sorrow which worketh repentance. Acts 3:19
V. Confession Mat. 10:32-33 Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confession also tells those who hear us that we have repented and want to take the next step. Ac 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
VI. Baptism Mark 16:16 Gal. 3:27 1 Peter 3:21 Acts 2:37-38
Baptism is the step that shows the death of Christ.
Rom. 6:3-5 & 17-18 1Co 15:1-4 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Col. 2:12-13
Every example of conversion, when heard and believed were baptized.
VII. Walk in Newness of life 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 John 1:7 Gal. 6:7-8 Rom. 12:1-2
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
VIII. Attend or assemble Acts 20:7 1Co 16:1 ¶ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Heb. 2:12 Heb. 10:25-31 & 38-39 1Co 11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
IX. Forgive even as God for Christ sake has forgiven us.
Mat 18:22-35 Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
X. Grow spiritually 1Pe 2:1 ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 2 Tim. 2:15
God is not pleased if we do not grow.
Heb. 5:11-14 Re 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
XI. Add to our faith. 2 Peter 1:5-9
XII. Be faithful unto death. Re 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
