1. Accepting Christ as your personal Savior
2. Believing on Him to be saved
3. Saying rehearsed prayers as practiced by the Catholic religion
4. Using man-made idols like crucifictions, paintings of Jesus or the mother Mary, to help identify God
5. Water baptism
All of these are dangerous teachings created by man to make sure he/she is saved by God. Our nature is to be sure that we are 100% saved at our own time. We don't want to depend on anyone or anything else to be saved (yes that includes depending on God even if we weren't aware of it). We want to act upon our own salvation. Yes, we even try to make things seem so holy, as if it's coming from God. But Satan comes as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.)
The Biblical truth is, God chose the Elect from before the foundation of the world that He plans to save. These true believers are known as the "elect" and were predestinated to be saved by God. Before we are saved, we are spiritually dead. We are likened as those found in the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37). We have no ability whatsoever to get saved based on our own actions.
Lastly, I would like to further talk about why "accepting Christ" is altogether wrong Biblically. Let me start by painting a picture:
Let's say you are a high school student aspiring to attend one of the most prestigious, finest colleges in the world such as Harvard, Yale or Stanford. No other college would satisfy you. A couple months into your senior year in high school, you sent in your application to Yale hoping to attend this world-renowned college. Months later, you receive a letter from Yale's admissions department and your palms start to sweat. Ask yourself this: why would your palms start to sweat? Most likely, it is because you want to get "accepted" by Yale, one of the few universities of your choice. You are the one who is hoping to be accepted. You are the one who relies on another party (Yale) to be able to attend this school. You need all kinds of assistance to be "accepted".
The point here is, God is not the one in need of help. He is the only perfect Being we all know that exists. As you are aware, we are not perfect. Why would He have to wait until we "accept Him" to have a personal relationship and be saved? God is not the one in eternal trouble at all. We are. God is not in eternal jeopardy. We are. So it is He that accepts us, not the other way around. Sure we can "accept Him" all we want but we are making ourselves higher than God. And yes, this is pride that God RESISTS. And if you contend "But all I'm doing is finishing the salvation process by accepting Him as the gift, there's nothing wrong with that." Again, this is impossible because we are dead in our sins. So how can a spiritually dead man act to be saved?
Back to the college admission example. The will to be "accepted" by Yale initiates the admission process. But does that guarantee admission? No, because Yale still has to review your qualifications. Similarly, our "will" by accepting Christ to be saved does not guarantee God will save us. It does not fulfill the process of salvation. It is God that does ALL the work because "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans 3:10). Our wanting to be saved by accepting Christ (free-will) does not guarantee nor complete the process of our salvation (John 1:13).
All throughout the Bible, God speaks about how He does all the work to save an individual. In Ezekiel 36, for instance, you'll notice all the "I will" statements. The next chapter (Ezekiel 37) also talks about the Valley of Dry Bones.
How, then can you know if you are saved? God sees the heart of the individual. You'll read verses that say God loves the person with a humble and contrite spirit, those who wait upon Him, and those who obey Him:
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 25:3
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
and verse 5:
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Lamentations 3:25-26
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Obviously, there are many more verses in the Bible that describe those who are hopeful in God's salvation.
May we all continue to beg God for mercy that He may save us and see Biblical truth and not come up with man-made doctrines.
