WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
The question, “What must I do to be saved?” is the most important question ever asked. It was first asked on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Others in the book of Acts asked the same question “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). All were given the same answer.
In the question “What must I do to be Saved?” there are two necessary parts for the salvation of our souls.
First, God has a part in our salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The love God has for man caused Him to send Christ into the world to redeem us (John 3:16).
Yet we also have a part in our salvation if we want to reach heaven. We must comply with the conditions of pardon which the Lord has commanded through His Word. The New Testament commands five requirements to become a Christian, and all of them are necessary. Man’s part is clearly set forth in the following steps:
Hear the Word. Faith comes through hearing, and hearing comes through the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Until we hear and understand God’s Word, we are incapable of obeying it.
Believe the Word. We must believe that Jesus is the Savior and the Son of God (John 20:31, Acts 16:31, Mark 16:16).
Repent of one’s sins. ‘Repent’ involves a change of one’s mind that leads to a change in one’s actions. Repentance is when we change our mind about what is important in life and submit ourselves to Jesus and His Word. Repentance is a necessity of salvation (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38).
Confess the name of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. We must confess Him as our Lord before others. If we won’t confess Jesus before men, He won’t confess us before God (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10).
Be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus for remission of our sins. Baptism is the final requirement to become a Christian (Acts 2:37-38, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:41). There is not a single example in the New Testament of someone becoming a Christian without being baptized for the remission of sins. Baptism is just as necessary as the other four requirements. Baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is when someone goes from being in a lost condition to a saved condition. In baptism one is buried and resurrected with Christ (Romans 6:4-5). Baptism places one in Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). A man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians recognized the necessity of baptism and said to Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Philip baptized the eunuch. “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:37-39).
The eunuch could rejoice only after he was baptized. Notice as well that the eunuch was immersed or buried into the water in order to be saved from his sins.Christ then adds one who has compiled with His terms of salvation to His church (Acts 2:47). What makes one a Christian also makes one a member of His church.
Being now a Christian, one continues to grow in knowledge and practice of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) and worships God in spirit and in Truth (John 4:24). A Christian follows God’s Word (1 John 1:7) and lives a holy life (Romans 12:1-2). One must Be faithful unto death which means even if one must give their life for the Lord to go to Heaven (Revelation 2:10).
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