JUST FIVE STEPS

by

Oswald J. Smith, Litt. D.

Do you really want to be saved? Would you like to know the Way? Then let me tell you.

1. RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER

You would not want to be saved unless you were lost. You would not want a doctor unless you were sick. You would not want a rescuer unless you thought you were drowning. You cannot realize your need for a Saviour until you know that you are a sinner.

The Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). If all have sinned, then you are included. Again it says, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). If there are none righteous, then you are not righteous and if you are not righteous, then you are a sinner.

God says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). All means all. Therefore, you have gone astray and you are a sinner.

An apple tree is not an apple tree because it bears apples. It bears apples because it is an apple tree. You are not a sinner because you sin. You sin because you are a sinner.

Are you ready now to recognize that you are a sinner?

2. ADMIT THAT YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF

You cannot save yourself by being baptized or confirmed, nor by being religious, joining a church and taking communion. You cannot save yourself by living a good life, by obeying the golden rule or keeping the commandments. You cannot save yourself by performing deeds of merit or doing the best you can. Your own good works can never save you.

You might as well try to lift yourself by your own boot straps as to be your own saviour. Self-salvation is impossible. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5), is what God says, "Not of works" (Ephesians 2:3).

"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8) is the way the Bible states it.

If you could save yourself, then the death of the Lord Jesus was the greatest atrocity in history. You would not need Jesus Christ if you could save yourself.

Will you then admit that you cannot save yourself?

3. REALIZE THAT YOUR SINS WERE LAID ON JESUS

"The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). That happened nearly 2,000 years ago on Calvary's cross. "Who His own self bear our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). The penalty for sin is death. "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus died. God had to tear down the barrier of sin before He could deal with man in grace. He now offers you salvation without money and without price. Do you realize it?

4. BELIEVE THAT CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE CAN SAVE YOU

"Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save" (Matthew 1:21). You are saved by a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). No other name -- Mohammed, Confucius, Buddha, Moses. No other religion -- Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Coptic, Greek Orthodox. No other man, minister, priest, pope. No other. Systems and doctrines, rites and ceremonies, pilgrimages and deed of merit are all inadequate. Christ and Christ alone can save.

"I am the Way: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). The Bible makes it perfectly clear, you see, that no one else can save you. But, praise God, Jesus Christ, the living, resurrected Christ, God's Son, can. Do you believe it?

5. RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAVIOUR

"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). How do you become God's child? By receiving Jesus Christ.

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). You see, you must come to Him.

"If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:20). If then He is to come into your heart, you must open the door.

No matter how much food you have, it will not save you from starvation unless you eat it. If you are dying of thirst, you must drink the water that is offered to you. If you have been bitten by a snake and you are dying of poison, you must take the remedy for the poison. That is why the Word of God says, "Come, take, receive." There must be action. You will have to make a decision.

Well then, will you do it? Will you receive Him? And will you receive Him now? God says, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). If you will be saved. Oh then, come, receive Him and receive Him -- NOW.

Oswald J. Smith was the founder of The Peoples Church in Toronto and was a great missionary statesman. Dr. Smith had a great impact on the life of Billy Graham when he was first starting out and started what is probably the greatest missionary church in the world, and is Sensei Neil’s Great Uncle.