Fourth, you must believe in man's fallenness and culpability. This follows from the gospel message. Frankly, the issue of salvation is that you get forgiven because you've sinned. Man is guilty. He may not even feel guilty of certain things, but guilt is not a feeling.
Guilt is a judicial reality.
If we say that we have not sinned, then the truth is not in us and we call God a liar. Because of the gospel message, if you don't acknowledge the bad news, you can't make use of the good news. The bad news is that we have sinned and are guilty before God. Fifth, salvation is by grace through faith. You must believe in the substitutionary atonement.