Finding Your Way Home: The Journey into God's Family
- Ray Reynolds, Ph.D.
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Have you ever wondered what it truly means to become a part of the church? It’s more than just joining a club or attending a weekend service; it’s about a beautiful, life-changing journey guided by God Himself. When we look to the Bible, we see a clear and encouraging pattern of how we can enter into a relationship with Him and find our place in His family. While these are often called the "steps to salvation," they are really milestones of a growing heart, reflecting the same path of conversion we see in the book of Acts. Let’s walk through this journey together.
The Path To Conversion
Becoming part of the church is a holistic transformation where we listen, believe, and act on God's incredible love. According to Scripture, those who are added to the church follow this path:
Hearing the Gospel: It all starts with opening our ears and hearts to the good news of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:5, Acts 2:15-36, 8:12, 37, 9:5, 8, 18, 20, 10:43, 15:7, 16:14-15, 32, 18:18, 19:2-4, 22:16, Romans 10:17). Hearing the gospel message is the first step toward eternal life. We must be receptive to the good news. By listening to the Word, we begin to understand the depth of God's love and the hope found in His promises. This essential first step creates the spark of faith that guides us toward a life-changing relationship with our Creator.
Believing in Jesus: We come to trust in Jesus as the Son of God, the foundation of our faith (Mark 16:16, John 3:16, John 8:24, 37, Acts 2:36-37, 4:12, 8:16, 10:43, 48, 16:15, 31, 34, 18:8, 19:2, 5, Hebrews 11:6). Faith is essential to salvation, but faith must be in action. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17-26). This belief is more than just intellectual agreement; it is a deep-seated confidence that He is the answer to our soul's greatest needs. As we lean into this trust, we find the strength to step forward into the purpose He has designed for us.
Repenting of Sins: With a sincere heart, we turn away from our past mistakes and toward God's light (Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:12, 16, 24, 34-36, 9:9, 11, 11:18, 16:15, 33, 40, 17:30, 18:6, 8, 19:5). Repentance is a refreshing change of mind and direction that frees us from the weight of our old ways. It opens the door for God’s grace to transform our lives and lead us into a future filled with peace. This reveals our determination to fully surrender to the plan God has laid before us for salvation.
Confessing The Deity of Christ: We boldly and joyfully declare that Jesus is Lord (Matthew 10:32, Acts 2:36-37, 8:16, 37, 9:5, 20, 10:43, 16:14-15, 32, 18:8, 19:2, 5, 22:16, Romans 10:9-10). We boldly and joyfully declare that Jesus is Lord. Sharing this truth with others confirms our commitment and solidifies our identity as part of His family. This public acknowledgment is a powerful testament to the work God is doing within our hearts. Personally, I ask people to declare this just a few moments before we move to the next step, which is baptism.
Being Baptized Into Christ: We are immersed into Christ for the remission of our sins, joining Him in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 16, 38, 10:48, 16:15, 33, 18:8, 19:5, 22:16, Colossians 2:11, Galatians 3:24, I Peter 3:21). When we are immersed into Christ we are added to His Church. This sacred act serves as a beautiful washing away of the past, marking our official entrance into the body of Christ. It is a moment of profound spiritual connection where we are united with Him in a new and everlasting covenant. This is the rebirth allows us to walk in Christ, free from our past.
Walking in Newness of Life: We begin a fresh, daily walk characterized by rejoicing, eternal life, and the support of a loving community (Acts 2:40-47, 8:8, 24, 39, 9:19 -20, 10:43, 11:18, 16:31, 34, 40, 18:9, 19:6, Romans 6:3-7, Ephesians 1:7, II Timothy 4:6-8, Revelation 2:10). You get a clean slate! Jesus called this being “born again” (John 3:3-5). Every step we take is now guided by the Holy Spirit, allowing us to grow in grace and share His love with the world. Even when the path is narrow, we find joy in knowing that we are never walking alone.
The Beauty of Baptism
You might notice that when I write I often emphasize baptism. That’s because it’s such a powerful moment! It's really the most important part of conversion. Through baptism, we are spiritually united with Jesus’ own journey (Romans 6:1-6), allowing us to access the wonderful blessings and grace God offers to His children. It is the doorway through which we are officially joined to His body, the church.
The journey doesn't end at the water's edge. Becoming a part of the church is just the beginning of a lifelong adventure of learning about Christ and walking the "straight and narrow way" together (Matthew 7:13-14). There is so much more to discover, and we are so excited to walk this path with you. Have a truly great week!
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds
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