One of the clearest statements about salvation is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10.   The New International Version says, "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the  gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you." So, in order to become a Christian, a person must "know God" and "obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."  Knowing God and obeying the gospel are integral to salvation--necessary parts. 

In Scripture, what does it mean to "know God"?  There is a lot to knowing God, but consider the following thoughts as a beginning place.  It means more than making a claim.  Titus 1:16 says, "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."  It means that our attitude and actions reflect God's love.  1 John 4:8 relates, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 

It requires a belief and a seeking of God.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."  A faith that enables us to know God must come out of knowledge of His word.  Romans 10:17 states, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

In Scripture, what does it mean to "obey the Gospel"?  This brings two questions: what is the gospel and how does one obey the gospel?

First, what is the gospel? 

2 Timothy 2:8-9 says, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained."   Peter says in 1 Peter 4:17-18, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"  Obviously, obedience to the gospel is essential! 

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 relates ,"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain."  Now listen carefully to the next three verses, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve."  The foundation of the gospel is this:  Christ died, He was buried, He was raised, and He appeared.  Christ died--how do we obey this?  He was buried--how do we obey this?  He was raised--how do we obey this?  He appeared--and how do we obey this?

Paul uses similar statements about the necessity of obedience in opening and closing the book of Romans.  Romans 1:5 states, "Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith."  This epistle concludes with a similar statement Romans 16:25-27,  " Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him -- 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ!  Amen."  Paul is actually telling us how everyone who has ever been saved has been saved -- the obedience of faith.  Of course, this is talking only about man's part.  God's part comes by His grace -- all the way from a plan designed before the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:9) to the culmination of His plan for us today in Jesus (Ephesians 3:10-11).  Those saved under the Law of Moses were saved by God's grace through the obedience of faith.   Of course, the obedience of faith for Abraham would mean following what God told him.  For Moses, the obedience of faith would be obeying what God told him.  For us today, the obedience of faith is tied solidly to obedience to the gospel -- something neither Adam, Abraham, nor Moses had.

Second, how does one "obey the gospel"?

The answer is found in six progressive steps that relate fully to each other.

Hear God's Word.  That's the beginning place.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."  In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul writes that Scripture contains everything we need to guide us to a saved life in Christ: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Believe in God, Jesus, and His message.  As we progress and listen to Scripture, we begin to develop faith based upon God's word.  Paul tells us this in Romans 10:17, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."   Remember, it is the obedience of faith that responds to God's grace that saves. The absolute necessity of this faith is described in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."  Concerning Himself, Jesus said in John 8:24, "I told you that you would die in your sins;if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

Repent of Our Sins.  We continue to study and learn (hearing God's word) and grow in faith (Believe in God, Jesus and His message).  As we do, we learn that there is a right way to turn to and a wrong way to live.  Repentance is the decision to turn from living the wrong way and living the right way.   Our growing faith produces repentance which demands that we change our life and conform to the will of God  Jesus said in Luke 13:3 to a group of people who thought they were right, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."  God wants everyone, everywhere to repent!  Listen to 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."   We become sorrowful for not living God's way.  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."   We make the decision to turn away from sin and turn to God, following His will in our lives.

Confess Our Faith.  We still are studying and learning.  Our faith is growing.  Our repentance is causing us to turn to God.  Now, we are ready and willing to confess our faith in Jesus before men.  Concerning this, Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."  It is not our sins that we confess, but our faith!  Paul calls this the "good confession" in 1 Timothy 6:12-13.   The question, "Do you believe that Jesus is the son of God?" brings about the good confession.

Share in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus.  We have heard God's word.  Our faith has been developed through a study of the Word.   Our conscience is touched and we decide to change our life and live God's way.  Our mouth confesses our faith in Jesus as the Son of God.   Now, and only now, are we ready to obey the gospel.  Remember?   Death!  Burial!  Resurrection!  Appearances!  Paul paints an absolutely beautiful picture of his and other Christians' obedience to the gospel in Romans 6:3-4.  Listen:  "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."  There it is--baptism in water.  Did you catch it?  Let's look again.  "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"  (Obedience to His death). 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death (Obedience to His burial) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Obedience to His Resurrection).   By the grace of God, baptism in water is God's way for us to obey the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  Paul's next verse, Romans 6:5, puts it simply:  "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."

Live for Jesus.  We heard.  We believed.  We repented.  We confessed.  We were baptized -- immersed in water -- and at that time we obeyed the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and our sins were washed away.   But -- what about the appearance part of the gospel?  What did Jesus do during His time between His resurrection and His ascension back to heaven?  God gives us the answer in Acts 1:3, "After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God."  We, too, are to show those around us that we are alive in Christ.  Listen to Romans 6:13,  "Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."   And, we, too, are to talk about the kingdom of God to those in our world.  In fact, that's marching orders for a Christian:  Matthew 28:19-20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

So, in a brief few paragraphs, here is how a person may become a Christian in the full meaning of the word -- know God and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.