Plan of Salvation

The first step to becoming a christian is hearing the Word of God. Rom. 10:17- "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." One could hear the gospel from a preacher, but take never take one's word for it. Look it up in the Bible for yourself. That is the only sure source. There are many many false teachers out there. 1 Timothy 1:6,7- "For some men, straying from these things have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions." There is only one way to be sure of who are and who aren't false teachers. And that is by going straight to God's Word.
One must also believe what the Bible says and have a desire to obey it. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. He who believes not shall be condemned." Also, John 6:47, John 3:16, and John 3:36. Clearly believing is necessary to become saved.
Repentance is the next step necessary to be pleasing to God. Luke 13:3 says "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Also in Mark 1:15, it says "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel." Repenting is feeling sorry for having done wrong and seeking forgiveness according to the New World Dictionary. It is turning away from sin and striving to sin no more. It is impossible to never sin, but we should always try to avoid it as much as possible.
Also, we need to confess Christ before men according to Matt. 10:32 "Therefore, everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess before my Faher who is in heaven." Not just in deed, but with our mouths. Rom. 10:9 says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." It says to confess "with your mouth". So confession before men is needed.
Baptism is also a step in being saved. Many preach that it is not, but they are decieving themselves. Everywhere in the New Testament where someone was baptized, they were saved. Acts 2:38 says "Peter said to them 'Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Some take John 3:16 and say that if you believe you are saved. But that is like me taking 1 Pet. 3:21 which says "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you- not the removal of filth from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" by itself, and saying that all you have to do is be baptized to be saved and nothing else. That would be contrary to God's Word. We must take all scripture into consideration. If one scripture says to believe to be saved and another says to repent to be saved and another says be baptized, you don't simply choose one, you must do them all. Some say that because no one is saved by works (Titus 3:5) baptism does nothing. "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." The washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit corresponds with being born of the water and of the Spirit in John 3:5. We were saved by grace alone. Without it, we would be lost. We don't earn our salvation. But we must obtain it. We MUST obey God's will. If we confess, is that not a deed or an act? The Bible says we must confess. "You believe that God is one; you do well; the demons also believe, and shudder."(James 2:19) Does this mean that even the demons are saved since they believe? The only place in the new testament where 'faith' and 'only' are mentioned together is in James 2:24 "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone." So faith alone cannot justify anyone. Rom 6:3-9 talks about baptism as a burial which is a full immersion. Being buried is being completely covered. That is why sprinkling and pouring are not acceptable means.
Go to Common Misconceptions to find more details on baptism.

Remaining faithful is needed to remain saved according to Rev. 2:10 and Heb. 10:26,27. "For if we go on sinning willfully after recieving the knoweledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgement and the fury of the fire which will consume the adversaries." That clearly states that one can fall away from grace.
Go to Common Misconceptions for more details on falling from grace.

Thank you for taking time to read this. I believe that spreading the truth is extremely important. I pray that many will better understand the Truth. I hope you seriously consider the Bible says. Remember, don't just take other people's word for it, look it up for yourself in the scriptures.