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What must I do to be saved? Have you ever asked that question? If not, you
should! It is the most important question that you can ask! The answer to the
question, "What must I do to be saved?" is very important and the Bible is the
only place that we can find the real answer.
The Day of Pentecost
On the Day of Pentecost, after Christ ascended, Peter preached the first sermon.
He preached about Jesus Christ. He told the people that Christ had died for
their sins. After Peter finished preaching, the people said, "Men and brethren,
what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). These people had heard about Jesus Christ. They
believed what they had heard. They were convinced that they were sinners. Peter
told them to "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Here was Peter's simple answer to the people's question of
"What shall we do?" They already believed what Peter said about Christ. Peter
then told them to repent and be baptized. If they would do this, they would
receive forgiveness of their sins. We must repent of our sins and be baptized.
Then our sins are forgiven.
The Ethiopian Eunuch
In Acts 8:26-40 we are told of the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch. Philip
preached "Jesus" to the eunuch (Acts 8:35). As they were riding along, they
came to some water. The eunuch said, "See, here is water! What hinders me from
being baptized?" (Acts 8:36). Philip told him if he believed with all his
heart, he could be baptized. The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). Both Philip and the eunuch then went down into
the water. Philip baptized the eunuch. Here we see that the eunuch heard Jesus
preached to him. He believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He confessed
his faith in Christ. Then he was baptized.
Saul of Tarsus
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later called the Apostle Paul) is found in
Acts, chapters 9, 22, and 26. Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the
Christians. On the way, he was struck blind. Christ appeared to him. He told
Saul, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do "
(Acts 9:6). He did as he was told. In Damascus, Ananias, a Christian, came to
Saul. He told Saul what to do. "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts
22:16). What was Saul told to do? He was told to arise and be baptized. Why? To
wash away his sins. Saul was not forgiven of his sins until he was baptized.
Cornelius
Acts 10 and 11 tell of the conversion of Cornelius. Cornelius was the first
person to become a Christian who was not a Jew. He was a Roman soldier. The
Bible says he was a "devout man, and one who feared God with all his household
who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2).
Could such good things be said about you? Cornelius was a very good man. Yet,
he was LOST! His sins had not been forgiven. The Lord told Cornelius to send to
Joppa for Peter. Peter would "tell you words by which you and all your
household will be saved" (Acts 11:14). Peter preached Christ to them. He then
"commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). Cornelius
was a good, religious man. Yet he was a LOST SINNER! His sins had not been
forgiven. He had to call for Peter to learn what to do be saved. Peter told him
and his household to be baptized. When they were baptized, they were forgiven
of their sins.
Conclusion
What must I do to be saved? The Bible teaches that those who became Christians
first HEARD about Jesus Christ. They heard that He died to forgive them of
their sins. The people BELIEVED this. They believed that Jesus is the Son of
God. They understood they were lost in their sins. They were then told to
REPENT of their sins. They CONFESSED that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. After
confessing, they were BAPTIZED. When they were baptized, their sins were
forgiven. They were not forgiven of their sins before baptism. They were
forgiven only when they were baptized.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sins? Have you
confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Have you been baptized in order
to have your sins forgiven? If you have not, then you are still in your sins.
You are lost. Obey the Gospel today just as lost sinners did in the Bible. You
will be then be saved.
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