The "Five Steps"

[Bocephus]

Of course not.  That's like saying someone calling 911 saved themselves from their heart attack.

Depends on what CofC you are talking about.  Anyways, I really wanted to work a little Led Zepellin in.

[James.]

I could tell.

[zoonance]

Hey hey mama say the way you move, gonna make me sweat, gonna make me groove ....   
(It all depends on how you interpret movement - could very well be a pentecostal mother's sharing her testimony with her son)

[Imabear]

Of course not.  That's like saying someone calling 911 saved themselves from their heart attack.

Depends on what CofC you are talking about.  Anyways, I really wanted to work a little Led Zepellin in.

Just don't listen to it backwards. ;)

[Barabbas]

Hey hey mama say the way you move, gonna make me sweat, gonna make me groove ....   
(It all depends on how you interpret movement - could very well be a pentecostal mother's sharing her testimony with her son)

It's ALL in the interpretation...

6 How beautiful you are and how pleasing,
       O love, with your delights!

 7 Your stature is like that of the palm,
       and your breasts like clusters of fruit.

 8 I said, "I will climb the palm tree;
       I will take hold of its fruit."
       May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine,
       the fragrance of your breath like apples,

 9 and your mouth like the best wine.

Song of Solomon 7:6-9

I think Led Zeppelin might have took a page out of the Bible. 

[marc]

The Battle of Evermore is being fought on another thread right now.

Or maybe it's just that Dancing Days are here again.

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

You may not find them listed specially as "five steps," but I would say that you'll find each of those five mentioned at one time or another in scripture. 

hearing the gospel?  yep it's in there.
believing?  yes... it's there
repenting?  yep... there again
confessing?  it's there.
baptism?  it's there

Odd.  In my book believing = repenting = confessing = John's Baptism

I'd call it a 2-step plan.

1. Hear
2. Believe

[Bocephus]

You may not find them listed specially as "five steps," but I would say that you'll find each of those five mentioned at one time or another in scripture. 

hearing the gospel?  yep it's in there.
believing?  yes... it's there
repenting?  yep... there again
confessing?  it's there.
baptism?  it's there

Odd.  In my book believing = repenting = confessing = John's Baptism

I'd call it a 2-step plan.

1. Hear
2. Believe

I refer to it as one step:  Faith.  As much as I like the Stairway to Heaven, it isn't a theological song.

[James Rondon]

I agree that you can't find the Sinner's Prayer.

What about Luke 18:10-14?

[marc]

...but the tax collector or whatever he was (I should look it up, but I'm tired) was already in a covenant relatinship with God so all he needed to do was pray for forgiveness.  After he walked down the aisle during the 17th verso of Just As I Am, of course.

(being facetious on all counts here)

[DCR]

You may not find them listed specially as "five steps," but I would say that you'll find each of those five mentioned at one time or another in scripture. 

hearing the gospel?  yep it's in there.
believing?  yes... it's there
repenting?  yep... there again
confessing?  it's there.
baptism?  it's there

Odd.  In my book believing = repenting = confessing = John's Baptism

I'd call it a 2-step plan.

1. Hear
2. Believe

I refer to it as one step:  Faith.  As much as I like the Stairway to Heaven, it isn't a theological song.

If you'll pardon the pun... I think we're getting tripped up by the "steps."

I don't personally use the term "steps" (which is why I'm putting the word in quotes).  The originator of this construct (or at least the original version of the five-finger exercise) didn't appear to use the term "steps" either.  Maybe, we should say that these are "facets" or simply bullet points instead of talking about "steps."  I have no problem putting it all under the category of faith either.  But, perhaps, we could say that the individual points are simply a exposition of what the faith response entails.

[James Rondon]

...but the tax collector or whatever he was (I should look it up, but I'm tired) was already in a covenant relatinship with God so all he needed to do was pray for forgiveness.

Yet, John called those already in a covenant relationship with God to repent, and then baptized them in water. Also, Jesus told this story after John had been baptizing, and after His own disciples had been baptizing. Furthermore, he told this story after having said "except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".

After he walked down the aisle during the 17th verso of Just As I Am, of course.

I wrote a few extra verses to that song a few years ago, but even if I were to add them to the original version, I think I would still be well short of 17...

(being facetious on all counts here)

Understood, yet the first part of your post was what many have said, and would say in response to Luke 18:10-14 and "the Sinner's Prayer".

[DCR]

...but the tax collector or whatever he was (I should look it up, but I'm tired) was already in a covenant relatinship with God so all he needed to do was pray for forgiveness.

Yet, John called those already in a covenant relationship with God to repent, and then baptized them in water. Also, Jesus told this story after John had been baptizing, and after His own disciples had been baptizing. Furthermore, he told this story after having said "except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".

Well, John seemed to be inviting his audience to become a part of something that was new...

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

He was a prophet that was sent to "prepare the way of the Lord."  While the Jews were in a covenant relationship already, this was during the time when the coming of the new covenant was imminent.  This new covenant seemed to involve the "kingdom" that John refers to here.  Even though the Jews were already in a covenant relationship, it was necessary for them to enter into the new covenant relationship... which was through Christ.  Whether John's ministry here, even John's baptism, served as some sort of a "precursor" to this or even an early admittance into the new covenant is up for discussion though, I suppose.

[Bocephus]

Isn't there a song by Lynyrd Skynyrd called "Gimme Five Steps?"

[James Rondon]

...but the tax collector or whatever he was (I should look it up, but I'm tired) was already in a covenant relatinship with God so all he needed to do was pray for forgiveness.

Yet, John called those already in a covenant relationship with God to repent, and then baptized them in water. Also, Jesus told this story after John had been baptizing, and after His own disciples had been baptizing. Furthermore, he told this story after having said "except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".

Well, John seemed to be inviting his audience to become a part of something that was new...

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

He was a prophet that was sent to "prepare the way of the Lord."  While the Jews were in a covenant relationship already, this was during the time when the coming of the new covenant was imminent.  This new covenant seemed to involve the "kingdom" that John refers to here.  Even though the Jews were already in a covenant relationship, it was necessary for them to enter into the new covenant relationship... which was through Christ.  Whether John's ministry here, even John's baptism, served as some sort of a "precursor" to this or even an early admittance into the new covenant is up for discussion though, I suppose.

Even so, what about Luke 18:10-14?