10 Basic Steps to Understand Christianity 
and the Concept of Salvation

1) The reality of God is evident in the beauty, design, and complexity of nature.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  (Gen 1:1) 

 The heavens declare the glory of God; (Psalm 19:1) 

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  (Rom 1:20) 

2)  Humans are born with a sinful nature, and therefore every human commits sins.
 

 
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Rom 3:23) 

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  (1 Cor 15:22) 

3)  Jesus, who is God in human flesh, changes our destiny.  

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23) 

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.   (John 1:12) 

4)  Jesus is the only solution to sin and being trapped in sinful ways. 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  (John 14:6) 

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12) 

5)  Our punishment was taken for us by Jesus on the cross. 

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Cor 5:21) 

6)  No one can earn God’s forgiveness for it is a free gift, requiring only our belief. 

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. 
 (John 10:10) 

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
(John 3:16) 

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  (Eph 3:8-9) 

7) Upon sincere belief, God changes us instantly by his Holy Spirit. 

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.*  (John 3:3)     
* Born again of the Spirt as seen in John 3:3-8 

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done …, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.  (Titus 3:5) 

8)  Your status with God changes. 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Rom 5:1) 

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  (Psalm 103:12) 

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.   (John 1:12) 

9)  God also changes us over time.  

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  (Phil 1:6)
 
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  (1 Cor 15:52) 

10)  God offers us abundant life, constant care, and a wonderful future for all eternity.
 

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”   (John 10:10) 

“I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 
(John 14:2b-3)