The Key Steps to Becoming a Christian part 3. Believe – Ongoing Faith

Lower Earley Baptist Church 2016
3. Believe – Ongoing Faith

In addressing the subject of being born again, becoming a Christian, and entering the kingdom, David Pawson highlights a less frequently used name for Jesus, “Saviour”, stating, “that is what he came to do. He came to save people”. Specifically, “Jesus saves us from our sins”.

David guides us through the first four steps on the way of salvation from the New Testament: REPENT, BELIEVE, BE BAPTISED and RECEIVE, seeing the involvement of the Trinity in them: REPENT towards God the Father; BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus; BE BAPTISED in water, and RECEIVE the Holy Spirit.

David teaches that repentance (which is ongoing) involves asking forgiveness for specific sins; it also requires proof (being sorry enough to stop). We are being “salvaged” and “made useful to God again” in “a process that takes time”, in the three stages: justification, sanctification, and glorification.

David explores the theological debate regarding salvation, addressing relevant passages in the New Testament. In tackling questions such as “Why isn’t everybody saved?”, “Why doesn’t everybody go through these four steps?”, and “Who is in charge of our salvation?”, he examines the contrasting views of prominent figures in church history — particularly the Protestant Reformers. Offering his personal view, he states that “without grace I cannot be saved” but we have the freedom to either accept or refuse this grace.

Explaining the importance of baptism, both in water and in the Holy Spirit, David covers the infant (baby) baptism debate and argues for adult baptism. He also gives his testimony about how he came to know the Holy Spirit, who gives a believer the gift of assurance about their salvation: “as long as you are walking in the Spirit you will be sure you are going to heaven”. However, in addressing often neglected areas such as Jesus’ teaching on hell he cautions that there are 80 passages in scripture that warn against losing our salvation. “If you depart from that and get off the way of salvation the first thing to go will be your assurance”. As he states: “it is not the faith you start with, it is the faith you finish with that saves you”.

A free to download PDF booklet that accompanies this video can be downloaded from www.explainingbiblicaltruth.global

Free resources and a library of Davids teachings are available from www.davidpawson.org

©️David Pawson Ministry CIO 2016