What Must I Do to be Saved?

What Must I Do to be Saved?

The gift of God’s grace offering salvation to mankind through His son, Jesus Christ, is the greatest gift given to man.  Sin came into the world when Eve, and then Adam, heeded the serpent’s temptation by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3).  Paul wrote: 

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death

passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom 5:12).  Nothing good comes from sin.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

But there is a way of escape from the destruction of sin.  Jesus said:  “Enter ye in at the strait

gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be

which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it” (Mat 7:13-14).

Jesus provides a way to be redeemed of our sins and find the “strait gate.”  “Repent ye therefore,

and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from

the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  Repent means to turn our life around, to turn our back on

our former life as one living in sin.  Jesus told Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  

The first step is to accept and believe that the Word of God is true.  Paul wrote:  “All scripture is

given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all

good works” (II Tim. 3:16-17).  What we read and hear from God’s Word we need to hold as

being the absolute Truth.  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

(Romans 10:17).

This belief in the Word of God turns the sinner’s heart and want to change, or repent.  “Or

despiseth thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that

the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)  Peter preached to a multitude of

people after the death of Jesus:  “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in the heart and

said unto Peter, 'Men and brethren what shall we do?' Then Peter said unto them, repent and be

baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall

receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2: 36-38).

With belief in God’s Word leading the sinner to repent, a proclamation is made about our faith. 

A sinner should willingly express this newfound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is a

wonderful example of this from Acts 8:35-38:  “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the

same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a

certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  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.”  The

Ethopian eunuch confessed his belief in Jesus Christ.   It is important for us to confess our faith

in our Lord and Savior.  “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10: 9-10).

After the eunuch confessed his belief, he was baptized by Philip in water.  This is a necessary

step in the plan of salvation.  Romans 6:4 states:  “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism

into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we

also should walk in newness of life.”  It is clear that baptism is necessary to receive God’s

forgiveness of past sins. The man who became the Apostle Paul was told to “Arise and be

baptized and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22: 16).

Peter wrote that “baptism doth also now save us” (1 Peter 3: 21).

When a person hears God’s Word, believes it as Truth, repents of sin, confesses Christ, and is

baptized he is converted from serving sin and is now a servant of Jesus Christ.  With this, he is

added in the Lord’s body, the church (Acts 2:47). 

After conversion a person should live faithfully, grow in knowledge of God’s word, and increase

in righteousness.  Jesus states:  “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown

of life (Rev. 2:10).  We aren’t saved by anything that we have done, but by God’s gift of grace

through His son, Jesus Christ.  After we become a Christian we dedicate our entire being to Him. 

As Paul wrote:  “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and

godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the

great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from

all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

If you have not become a Christian, we encourage you to do so.  Questions?  Contact us at: 

heartlandcofc@gmail.com