What Must I Do To Be Saved?

These words were spoken by a suicidal jailer in Acts 16.  An earthquake had just opened all the cells in the prison he was guarding and loosed the bands on the prisoners (the apostle Paul and Silas were prisoners there).  Under Roman rule, a guard who let any of his prisoners escape for any reason was put to death.  The jailer, apparently certain that the prisoners would flee, drew his sword to commit suicide.  Paul tells the jailer to "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."  The jailer then, trembling, asked Paul and Silas the most important question that has ever been asked:

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Paul and Silas then teach the jailer the gospel ("good news").  The simple pattern set forth for early Christians to receive salvation is the same pattern that we must follow to receive salvation today.

Here is the simple pattern for becoming a Christian and being able to stand pure before God:
(some text italicized for emphasis)

	1.	Hear the Gospel
		Clearly, in any area, we must first hear what we must do before we can do it.  Becoming a Christian is no different.  God has revealed His plan in the Bible. Romans 10:17 - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
	2.	Believe
		We must have faith to please God Hebrews 11:6 - "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Jesus said we must believe in Him John 8:24 - "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
	3.	Repent from your previous lifestyle
		Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do is to change our mindset and start doing something new.  This is what repentance is, and it is exactly what is demanded of us.  We must stop doing the disobedient things we used to do; we must start living the way God has told us to live. Luke 13:3 - "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
	4.	Confess that Jesus is the Son of God
		We must confess, publicly acknowledge, Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." People in the 1st century did the same thing! Philip taught Jesus to a man from Ethiopia, and the man stopped his chariot and wanted to be baptized.  Philip told him (as recorded in Acts 8:37): "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he [the Ethiopian man] answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
	5.	Be baptized in water to have your sins washed away
		Perhaps one of the easiest commands to obey, baptism is simply an immersion. Baptism is the point that our sins are washed away Acts 22:16 - "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Just like we must repent to receive forgiveness of sins, we must also be baptized Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Baptism puts us into Christ Galatians 3:27 - "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Simply put, we are not saved until we are baptized in water I Peter 3:20-21 - "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 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:"
	6.	Faithfully serve the Lord the rest of your life
		The Lord promised New Testament Christians Revelation 2:10 - "... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." We are warned about returning to our old lives II Peter 2:20-22 - "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

Have you done these things?
If you have not yet, very seriously consider your situation.  Remember that "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).  Perhaps you were taught that you were saved the moment you believed, or said "the sinner's prayer" to "ask Jesus into your heart."  Most likely, you were then told to be baptized in water as "an outward sign of an inward grace," but not to have your sins forgiven (after all, your sins were forgiven the moment you believed, right?).  Perhaps you were told to be baptized into a denomination, rather than Christ.  If any of this applies to you, you haven't followed the New Testament pattern for obtaining the forgiveness of sins.  Is that really a position you want to be in?

Let us help!
If you would like further study on what is needed to have your sins washed away, do not hesitate to email us or call us at 615.356.7318.  If you're ready to obey the simple plan of salvation, contact us and we will meet with you as soon as we possibly can.  There is nothing more valuable to you than your soul!