What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Author: Caleb Bates
The greatest and most important question that can be asked is, "What must I do to… be saved?". What do we, as humans, need to do in order for our sins to be washed away? Jesus Christ died a cruel death for the sins of the world, and Jesus' blood is what cleanses us from sin (Matthew 26:28). What do we have to do in order to access the saving blood of Jesus? 2 Thessalonians 1:8 says, "…in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not OBEY the gospel of our Lord Jesus." There is something that we must do in order to be saved. The gospel must be OBEYED in order for Christ's blood to cleanse us. Those gathered in Jerusalem asked Peter and the other apostles this same question in Acts 2:37 - "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the only reason it is possible for us to be forgiven of sins. However, God has set conditions that we must meet in order to be saved, and they are listed below.
1. Hear the word of God
Romans 10:13-14, 17 says, "For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him of whom they have never heard...17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." The first step to become a Christian (saved) is to hear the truth (the word of Christ). John 8:32 says, "...and the truth will set you free." We need to first hear the truth of the gospel in order to know what to do in order to be set free from sin.
2. Believe the gospel
One must believe the truth of the gospel that was just heard. Mark 16:15-16 says, "And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." So, what exactly does one need to believe? One must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. One must believe that Jesus himself is deity, that He is God as is God the Father and God the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7). John 8:24 says, "for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." One must also believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 says, "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,..." One must also believe in the body of Christ or the church of Christ. After all, Jesus saves His body. What is His body? Colossians 1:18 says, "And he is the head of the body, the church." The body of Christ is the church of Christ. How many churches are there? Ephesians 4:4 tells us that there is only one body or one church. Ephesians 5:23 tells us that Jesus is the Savior of His body or His church. Those who become Christians are added to the church of Christ according to Acts 2:47. This verse says, "...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Therefore, one must believe in the one church that Jesus died for, the church that Jesus is the Savior of. In conclusion, one must believe that Jesus is deity, that He died, was buried, and was resurrected, and that Jesus is the Savior of the one true church that He established.
3. Repent of sins
In Acts 2:37-38, the people gathered there, asked Peter and the other apostles what they needed to do in order to be saved. Peter's response was, "...Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." A good definition of repentance is: a change of mind which involves godly sorrow that results in a change of life. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation..." If one has godly sorrow, that sorrow will cause a change of mind. A person will change their mind about sin. Once a person has changed their mind, that person will change their life. That person will begin to serve God and turn away from the sins of the world.
4. Confess faith in Christ the Savior
One must confess Christ before men (Matthew 10:32). Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." An example of confession is found in Acts 8:36-38, which says, "...See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized? And he replied, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God..." We see that the good confession was made by the eunuch. It is the confession of one’s faith in Christ as the Son of God and man’s Savior as revealed in the gospel.
5. Be baptized for the remission of sins
Sins cannot be washed away without being baptized. In Acts 22:16 Ananias told Paul, " And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Mark 16:16 says, Whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Again, in Acts 2:38 the Bible says, "...Repent and be baptized for the FORGIVENESS of your SINS, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." These passages show that in order for sins to be washed away one must first be baptized. One cannot be saved before baptism. After one has been immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins is when their sins have been washed away. 1 Peter 3:21 says, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you..." There are many other passages that show baptism is necessary in order for sins to be washed away.
Conclusion
In order to be set free from the bondage of sin and be saved by the blood of Christ, there are conditions that we must meet. There are things that we must do to receive the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus. We must hear the gospel of Christ, believe it, repent of our sins, confess Christ before men, be baptized for the remission of sins, and live faithfully until death (Revelation 2:10).