This lesson has the snappy title, “One, two, three.” That's because it talks about one giant problem, which only two can solve, when three immediate steps are taken.

One, Two, Three

1 One Giant Problem

There is one giant problem that is common to all mankind. "Behold the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save, nor is his ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your sins have made a separation between you and your God" (Isa 59:1-2). That shows us not only what the giant problem is, but also whose fault it is.

The result of this separation from God is that our souls are cut off from the light and life of God. When you are alienated from God's fellowship, you become "dead in your trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1)

2 Two Who Alone Can Solve It

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should have eternal life" (Jhn 3:16).

God made a plan to solve the problem, and he ordained the two persons who could solve the problem for any given sinner.

• The first is Jesus. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me" (Jhn 14:6).
• The second is you, a sinner yet a believer. You could not solve the problem by yourself, but neither can Jesus solve the problem for you without your believing in him and following him.

3 Three Immediate Steps to Take

We have seen that we must believe in Jesus, knowing that only together with him can anyone solve the giant problem and be reconciled nto God. Following through with that faith, there are three immediate steps to take. These steps are...

• Repentance from sin — "Repent and return [to God's way] so that your sins may be wiped away" (Acts 3:19).
• Confession of faith — "With the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses [his belief] unto salvation" (Rom 10:9-10).
• Baptism into Christ — "Don't you know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death?" (Rom 6:3-4).