Are we "five steppers"?

I am sure if you have ever attended a service with folks from the churches of Christ you have heard the "five step plan of salvation" quoted at the end of our sermons. When I was a young boy just beginning to learn about preaching and teaching publicly I remember the preacher (Gus Eoff) emphasizing the plan of salvation in every sermon. His philosophy is why preach if you don't tell others how to be saved? Perhaps, we can look at Romans 10:14 and see this same message preached by Paul, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (NKJV)?" If we are going to bother to preach in the first place we need to teach people what they need in order to be saved. 

Recently, many brethren who are seeking something "new" or "change" from the "old patternists" are starting to poke fun at us "five steppers". From time to time you will hear individuals say, "if a church of Christ member cut off one of his fingers he couldn't remember the plan of salvation."  What exactly does it mean to be a "five stepper?"  The Bible teaches emphatically anyone seeking to be saved will go through a five step process of finding true salvation through Jesus Christ.  For instance, in John 3:16 we find out that the Jews along with anyone today (Gentiles) must believe in Jesus (which includes accepting all he taught) in order to have an opportunity at eternal salvation.  However, previous to this verse we find in John 3:5 in the same context one must be born of water and spirit in order to enter the Kingdom.  So which is it?  Believe or be born of water again and born of the spirit to be saved?  Both of course are required if we examine the Bible text for the pattern which is to be established.  

The Bible teaches us plainly that the only way to believe is to hear the word of God or to hear preaching (proclamation) of the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:17).  If one does not hear the word of God they by implication and logic would never know what to believe.  However, believe is a requirement of salvation as well (John 3:16 and Mark 16:16).  If you believe faithfully that Jesus is the Son of God and accept His teachings then you will want to change your life naturally.  This would bring about what the Bible calls repentance.  This is not just sorrow for what one did wrong, but a complete change of mind and action in ones life.  Check out Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19 for more information on repentance.  The change of ones life would lead them to a confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  A similar confession is made by the Eunuch in Acts 8:37 and is demanded of Jesus' followers in Matthew 10:32-33.  Of course, what good would confessing Jesus Christ the Son of God, as God Himself, be without immersion for the forgiveness of your sins?  If you did all of this then you would naturally want to obey Jesus (John 14:15) and be baptized or immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins.  This is the washing away of sins and puts you into Christ or the body of Christ (Gal. 3:27).  

All of that being said we find five distinct actions which are demanded of every person who wants to be a part of God's family.  Without these actions one does not have the ability to be in Christ.  Anyone who is baptized will have heard the gospel, believe Jesus, repent of a sinful life outside of Jesus and confess this Jesus as the Son of God.  For some brethren to make fun of this belief or to belittle this basic Bible teaching is very sad.  We need to implore and build each other up not tear down the foundation on which great Bible teachings have existed for years; those built upon Jesus Christ and His Word.

God bless,

RL3