Next Steps...
Have you ever wondered if you can know for sure that you are going to heaven when you die? What does it take to get to heaven? These are some of life's most important questions, and the Bible answers them for us very clearly.
SALVATION
God
Because God is absolutely holy and just, His standard to enter into His presence is absolute perfection. His character will not allow Him to be polluted by sin. He has given His commandments as the standard for human behavior. God's only just response to sin is to punish it and cast it out of His holy presence.
Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor. Habakkuk 1:13a The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Nahum 1:3a
Man
We have all failed to fulfill God's purpose for our lives because of our sin. Each one of us has chosen to disobey God and has broken God's commandments. Our sin choice has caused us to fall short of God's glory. Our sin leads to spiritual death and eternal separation from God.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.. Romans 6:23
Christ
God is merciful and desires to pour out His grace upon us. He has made a way for us to be restored to a right relationship with Him. Because He loves us, God sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a man. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved so that we do not have to die for our own sins. Jesus' resurrection form the dead proved His power over death and sealed for us the gift of eternal life.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 For Christ also died for sins once and for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
RESPONSE
We must personally repent (turn away) from our sins and place our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. We must agree with God that we have broken His commands and TURN AWAY FROM every known sin in our lives. We must also transfer our trust from religion, good works, or anything else to TRUST JESUS CHRIST ALONE to save us from our sins. Through prayer we must call upon the name of Jesus and confess Him as our Lord (ruler) and Savior.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 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. Titus 3:5 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 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; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. I believe you died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay for my sins. Right now, the best I know how, I turn away from the wrong things that I have been doing a place my trust in You alone for my salvation. This is the first step in my new life with You, and I want to follow You in obedience from this day forward. Thank you for giving me eternal life according to Your word! Amen." Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
If God is drawing you to turn away from your sins and to commit your life to Him right now, pray something like this to Him:
A true conversion experience affects every area of our lives from that moment forward. Your first step should be public identification with Christ and His church through baptism. Your daily life will be characterized by obedience to Christ. You will also maintain a vital relationship with God in prayer and Bible study, and you will be willing to endure hardship and suffering because of your commitment to Christ.
BAPTISM
Baptism shows the world what Jesus has done and is an outward step of obedience that proclaims what Christ has accomplished in your life. While baptism does not save, it declares something profound: your identity in Jesus. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, symbolizing faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, death to sin, the burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. As a church ordinance, baptism is also a prerequisite for the privileges of church membership.
MEMBERSHIP
The process of becoming a member at Barton FBC is simple:
1. Declare Your Intention
Membership begins when you express your desire to join Barton FBC. This allows us to walk alongside you as you consider membership. You can share your intention by meeting with the pastor during invitation at the end of a service or by scheduling an appointment through the church office.
2. Pastoral Conversation
Next, you'll have a scheduled meeting with the pastor. This is your opportunity to share your personal testimony - how you came to know Jesus, how your faith has shaped your life, and how you are seeking to join the church, whether through baptism, a statement of faith, or a transfer from another church. You'll also learn more about what we believe, discover our ministries, and discuss practical ways to get connected. In short, this is a conversation to give you the opportunity to get to know the church.
3. Presentation to the Church
The final step is a public expression of your desire to join during a worship service. After prayerful consideration and commitment to be an active member, you'll be presented to the church, and the congregation will affirm your membership.
The Church is a local family of believers united by the Gospel. It is more than a gathering of like-minded people; it is a community living under Christ's lordship. The Christian life is meant to be lived together in love and service, meeting one another's needs and using our spiritual gifts to strengthen each other. Our love and sacrificial care testify to the world that we belong to Christ. Church membership, then, is not optional or casual. Christians are called to commit to the local church, not forsaking its gatherings but actively contributing to its health and mission. Therefore, we are here for your spiritual formation and to spur one another on toward Jesus.
If you have questions or want more information, please contact the church office at 256-370-7574 or bfbchurch@aol.com