“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

Jesus, as the Son of God and Savior of man, stands at the door and knocks. Jesus did His part in providing a way for mankind to be forgiven of sin, now we must do our part. So we ask, “What must I do to be saved?”
The answer to this question must come from the Bible, because the Bible and the Bible only is our authority in religion, and by it we shall be judged. Also, in order to have the Bible’s true teaching on any question, we must gather all the verses of the Bible on that subject–without adding extra thoughts of our own, nor ignoring any verse which has something to add to the subject (Revelation 22:18-19).
What then, is the Bible’s answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved?”
First, are you convinced that Jesus is the Son of God? If yes, then listen to the words of 1 Corinthians 1:21, “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” But is that all you must do to be saved? No. Why? Because there are other verses that tell us other things that we must do to be saved, and, as we see in Revelation 22:18-19, we cannot ignore them in order to get God’s answer.
Before we look at one of those verses, consider this: Two robbers were caught. While in jail, the first man’s heart did not change. He was not sorry for being a robber. When he got out of jail, he was going right back to robbing. But the second man’s heart changed. He was sorry for being a robber. He made up his mind to never do it again. In regard to your sinning against God, which of the two robbers describes you? The first? And, therefore, you are not sorry for what you have done; nor, will you change your mind nor your ways? Or, does the second robber describe you? You are sorry for what you have done, and you have or will change your heart and you ways? If you are like the second, then hear the words of 2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.” In order to be saved, you must repent. If the second robber describes you, then you have done this, haven’t you?
Two paragraphs above, it was pointed out that, in order to be saved, you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. If you believe this, would you not be willing to state that fact? Perhaps you already have. If so, consider what Romans 10:9-10 says: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…thou shalt be saved. For…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” If you have not made this confession, it is not difficult for one who knows it is to be done.
Believe, repent, confess. If you have done all this, there is only one more thing you must do. It is stated in Mark 16:16. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” What is it that you must do in order to be saved? Be baptized.
Romans 6:4 explains what baptism is: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism….” Baptism is a burial in water. A person is to be completely put under the water–not merely sprinkled or poured upon.
Also consider the teaching of Acts 2:38. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins.” What are you to do in order to have your sins forgiven? Be baptized.
Then, in Acts 22:16, we read, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.” What washes away your sins? Baptism.
Also, 1 Peter 3:21 tells us, “Whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.” What saves you? Baptism.
We have asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?” And what does God say? As you have seen for yourself: you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God; you must repent; you must confess that you believe Jesus is the Son of God; and, you must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Gary Henson