“What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). There is no greater question that one could ask than this. In the religious world you will find many different answers offered to this question. However, God’s word alone is truth (John 17:17). So, to know the truth on how to be saved, we must look to the word of God.

You must first realize you are lost. One must first realize they are lost before they can be saved (Matthew 9:12). Once a person reaches the time of accountability in their life, they have sinned (Romans 3:23). If your sin is not forgiven, you will be eternally separated from God in Hell (Romans 6:23).

You must hear the words of Christ. In reference to Jesus, the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5). The words and commands of Jesus Christ are found in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 14:37). You must hear the message that Jesus died for man’s sin, resurrected from the grave, and ascended to the Father where now He reigns as King of kings. You must also hear His plan on how to be saved.

You must believe in Christ. One must be a believer. Faith alone does not make you a child of God, but it does give you the right to become a child of God (John 1:12). Faith is vital as it is necessary to be pleasing unto God (Hebrews 11:6). You must believe that Jesus came to earth, died for your sins, and that He is now the King with all authority (Acts 2:36; Matthew 28:18).

You must repent of your sins. Repentance is a change of mind that is demonstrated by a change in life. Repentance occurs when we see our sins, are sorry for them, choose to do them no longer, and determine to do better. This is commanded by God (Acts 17:30).

You must confess your faith. You must be willing to make the good confession publically that you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37).

You must be baptized. After hearing, believing, repenting, and confessing your faith, you must be baptized. The baptism of the Bible is an immersion in water which puts us into Christ and washes away our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Peter 3:21). After you are baptized for the remission of your sins, you become a Christian with the hope of an eternity in Heaven.

You must remain faithful to the Lord. Baptism is not the end of the Christian life. Rather, baptism is the beginning. Once you have been baptized you must remain faithful to the Lord all the days of your life in order, by the grace and mercy of God, to have a home in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:10; 22:14).