For many years Alcoholics Anonymous has used a "Twelve-Step Program" to help its members overcome their addiction to alcohol. The program has been extremely effective. The discerning student of the Scriptures will discover that God also has a "Twelve-Step Program."
Last week I told you something about Marshall Keeble. He was a powerful and effective evangelist who led thousands to Christ during his sixty-five year ministry. One of his favorite sermons was titled "Five Steps To Church And Seven To Heaven." Simple math reveals that brother Keeble had discovered God's twelve-step program. What did Keeble emphasize in this simple yet powerful sermon?
First, a word about the word "church" and what is meant by the word. According to the New Testament, the church is the body of people who have been redeemed from their sins by the blood of Christ. The Lord adds to the church those who are being saved (Acts 2:47). Thus, when brother Keeble talked about their being five steps to church he was saying that there are five steps to being saved from sin and added to the spiritual body of Christ. What are those five steps?
1. Hear. To be saved one must hear the gospel, the good news of Christ's death for the sins of mankind. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
2. Believe. Having heard the gospel of Christ, one must believe it. Paul declared that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…." (Romans 1:16).
3. Repent. Jesus said, "I tell you . . . but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5).
4. Confess. This is a confession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10).
5. Be Baptized. Baptism is in order to the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and to have sins washed away (Acts 22:16). At the point of baptism one is saved and added to the church. (Acts 2:47).
Then what? The spiritual journey has not ended. In fact, it has only begun. From the watery grave of baptism, one is raised to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). The apostle Peter lays out seven wonderful Christian graces/qualities that Christians must add to their faith. These are named in II Peter 1:5-7 and consist of the following:
1. Virtue. Simply defined, this is moral excellence.
2. Knowledge. This is an understanding of God's will as revealed in His word. All Christians are to grow in such (II Peter.3:18).
3. Self-control. This has to do with bridling our attitudes and actions.
4. Perseverance. This relates to patiently persisting in the doing of what is right. The Christian is to stay with the job of following Christ.
5. Godliness. Simply put, this is godlikeness—the child of God coming to look more and more like his Heavenly Father.
6. Brotherly-kindness. Paul wrote, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
7. Love. This is the queen of all the Christian graces (I Corinthians 13:13).
If one will take the five steps to church and then follow up with the practice of the seven Christian graces, Peter assures his readers (including us today) that "an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:10-11). Are you following God's "Twelve-Step Program"?
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