FOLLOWING JESUS
To Salvation
THE BIBLICAL BASIS
• Jesus calls people to come to him (Matthew 11:28-30), trust in him (John 3:16-18), and follow him (Matthew 4:18-20) in order to have a relationship with God (John 14:6).
• A person who has accepted Jesus’ call and seeks to live in obedience to him is called a child of God and a Christian (John 1:12; Matthew 7:21; Acts 11:26).
THE PLAN
• Salvation is the Biblical term that describes both the process of faithfully responding to Jesus
and the spiritual result of doing so.
• The Bible presents the plan of salvation in many places. One is in the New Testament Book of
Romans. This collection of verses is often called “The Roman Road.” It explains “Following Jesus to Salvation” through a series of steps
STEPS TO SALVATION
First Step: Salvation is Possible
• “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
Second Step: Salvation is Necessary
• “... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
Third Step: Salvation is a Rescue from Death & Hell
• “For the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23a
Fourth Step: Salvation is God's Plan
• “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Fifth Step: Salvation is God's Gift
• “...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b
Sixth Step: Salvation is Received by Faith
• “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
Seventh Step: Salvation is God's Ultimate Blessing
• “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1
• “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
THE PROCESS
Accepting Jesus’ call and following him to salvation is a simple process.
• Admit that you have sinned against God and ask Him for forgiveness.
• Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for you on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord of all.
• Call upon Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord.
All of this can be expressed in a prayer such as this:
"God, I know that I have sinned against you. I know that I deserve the punishment of death. But I believe Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve. I believe that through faith in Him I can be
forgiven. Jesus, I place my trust in you for salvation. Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. Jesus, I ask you, right now, to be my Savior and Lord. God, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and a new life
in Christ through Him. God, thank you for Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen!”
NEXT STEPS
If you just prayed that prayer in your heart to God, you are a child of God, a Christian! Having begun “Following Jesus,” there are several things that you can do to further your new life in Christ.
• Share your decision with someone who will respect and appreciate your decision.
• Experience baptism as an outward sign of the salvation that God has brought to your life.
• Commit to grow spiritually by joining with other Christians for support and encouragement.
• Jesus calls people to come to him (Matthew 11:28-30), trust in him (John 3:16-18), and follow him (Matthew 4:18-20) in order to have a relationship with God (John 14:6).
• A person who has accepted Jesus’ call and seeks to live in obedience to him is called a child of God and a Christian (John 1:12; Matthew 7:21; Acts 11:26).
THE PLAN
• Salvation is the Biblical term that describes both the process of faithfully responding to Jesus
and the spiritual result of doing so.
• The Bible presents the plan of salvation in many places. One is in the New Testament Book of
Romans. This collection of verses is often called “The Roman Road.” It explains “Following Jesus to Salvation” through a series of steps
STEPS TO SALVATION
First Step: Salvation is Possible
• “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
Second Step: Salvation is Necessary
• “... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
Third Step: Salvation is a Rescue from Death & Hell
• “For the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23a
Fourth Step: Salvation is God's Plan
• “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Fifth Step: Salvation is God's Gift
• “...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b
Sixth Step: Salvation is Received by Faith
• “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
Seventh Step: Salvation is God's Ultimate Blessing
• “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1
• “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
THE PROCESS
Accepting Jesus’ call and following him to salvation is a simple process.
• Admit that you have sinned against God and ask Him for forgiveness.
• Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for you on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord of all.
• Call upon Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord.
All of this can be expressed in a prayer such as this:
"God, I know that I have sinned against you. I know that I deserve the punishment of death. But I believe Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve. I believe that through faith in Him I can be
forgiven. Jesus, I place my trust in you for salvation. Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. Jesus, I ask you, right now, to be my Savior and Lord. God, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and a new life
in Christ through Him. God, thank you for Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen!”
NEXT STEPS
If you just prayed that prayer in your heart to God, you are a child of God, a Christian! Having begun “Following Jesus,” there are several things that you can do to further your new life in Christ.
• Share your decision with someone who will respect and appreciate your decision.
• Experience baptism as an outward sign of the salvation that God has brought to your life.
• Commit to grow spiritually by joining with other Christians for support and encouragement.
Share your decision with us!
We want to celebrate your decision in following Jesus to salvation.
Fill out the form below so we can connect with you.
Following Jesus
Through Baptism
THE BIBLICAL BASIS
• In the New Testament, John the Baptist initiated baptism as a part of his God-given ministry (Matthew 3:1-12). Jesus was baptized by John (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus taught that his followers should be
baptized (Matthew 28:19-20). The New Testament records the practice of baptism by those who had placed faith in Jesus (Acts 2:41; 8:36-38).
• Baptism is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It also symbolizes the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to a new life in
Jesus (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12). Baptism is not for salvation, it is because of salvation.
THE PRACTICE
• Baptism, as explained in the Bible, is for those who have expressed their belief in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord (Acts 2:41).
• Furthermore, the Bible indicates that baptism is by immersion, literally to dip or plunge in water. Thus, the believer seeking baptism is fully immersed in water (Acts 8:36-38).
THE PROCESS
• You may indicate your desire to be baptized at First Baptist Church At The Villages by filling out the form below. You can also make your indication during a “Discover Class,” via the Church Membership and Decision Record, or by contacting the Church Office directly.
• Baptism services are scheduled periodically throughout the year. Once an individual requests baptism, they will be contacted to clarify the schedule and explain all the details of the process.
• In the New Testament, John the Baptist initiated baptism as a part of his God-given ministry (Matthew 3:1-12). Jesus was baptized by John (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus taught that his followers should be
baptized (Matthew 28:19-20). The New Testament records the practice of baptism by those who had placed faith in Jesus (Acts 2:41; 8:36-38).
• Baptism is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It also symbolizes the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to a new life in
Jesus (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12). Baptism is not for salvation, it is because of salvation.
THE PRACTICE
• Baptism, as explained in the Bible, is for those who have expressed their belief in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord (Acts 2:41).
• Furthermore, the Bible indicates that baptism is by immersion, literally to dip or plunge in water. Thus, the believer seeking baptism is fully immersed in water (Acts 8:36-38).
THE PROCESS
• You may indicate your desire to be baptized at First Baptist Church At The Villages by filling out the form below. You can also make your indication during a “Discover Class,” via the Church Membership and Decision Record, or by contacting the Church Office directly.
• Baptism services are scheduled periodically throughout the year. Once an individual requests baptism, they will be contacted to clarify the schedule and explain all the details of the process.