What Must I Do to be Saved?

There was a jailer in the town of Philippi who asked a most important question. He asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) This is the most important question that anyone could ever ask. After all, what is more important than where one will spend eternity? This Philippian jailer was not the only one who asked this question in the Bible. 3,000 men asked it of Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37), Saul (Paul) asked it of Christ in Acts 9:6. The answer to these questions was all the same. To obtain salvation, one must obey the commands of God. Christ said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) What then is the answer to this most important question? The Word of God says that one must:

HEAR. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17). It is important to understand that the first step in salvation is to hear the words of God. They testify of Christ and give us eternal life. (John 5:39) We cannot have an obedient faith in God, without first hearing his word, which is recorded for us in the Bible (2 Tim 3:16)

We must then BELIEVE. We must believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and that what is says about Jesus the Christ is true. We must believe that Jesus is the son of God. (John 3:16) John says that, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31) We may have life through our belief in Christ and adherence to His teachings. What then, does Jesus command regarding salvation?

That we REPENT of our sins. Christ states in Luke 13:3-5 that unless we repent, we “shall likewise perish.” Paul told the Romans, concerning this very thing, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom 6:1-2) Paul is not saying that Christians cant’ sin, but that, if we have dedicated ourselves to Jesus, how could we continue to go against His word? It is God’s will “that all men (mankind) cometh unto repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Then we must CONFESS. Jesus was very clear in this, in fact he said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 10:32) Unless we are willing to confess the good name of Christ among men, we are not worthy to be called Christians. Neither are we worthy of the salvation that Jesus offers. What was the answer then to all these questions and others like them?

Be BAPTIZED for the remission of sins. That is what Peter told the crowd in Acts 2:38. That is what Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:34-39. That is what Paul told the jailer in Acts 16:31-33. In fact that is the answer that the Lord provided to Saul in Acts 9:6 when he was told to, “go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Three days after this event, Ananias came and told him, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16) To make the issue even more clear Peter states in 1 Peter 3:21, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

This is how the Bible answers the question of “What must I do to be saved?” God has given us His word and all things that pertain to life and godliness through knowledge. (2 Peter 1:3) It is my prayer that you do as the Bible commands, follow the steps that lead to salvation, and know for sure where you will spend eternity. (2 Peter 1:10) Then remain faithful unto death and receive that crown of life. (Rev 2:10)

--Josh Robinson