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The most important question one will ever ask is: “What must I do to be saved?”
This is a Bible question, and there is a Bible answer for it!
This question was asked by the rich young man in Mark 10:17
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and
asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”[1]
Keep in mind that this young man was born, grew up and lived under the Law of
Moses. Jesus told him Mark 10:19
19 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do
not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father
and your mother.’ ”[2]
The young man had an answer for Jesus. Mark 10:20
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from
my youth.”[3] Yet Jesus saw something amiss in the young man’s life, and He said
to him in Mark 10:21
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack:
Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”[4]
The young man was covetous. Mark 10:22
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions. [5]
The answer given to one who asked, “What shall I do?” and living under the Old
Law would NOT be the answer for us today. The old law has been taken away. Jesus
nailed it to His cross. Colossians 2:14-17
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which
was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the
cross.15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them in it.16 So let no one judge you in food or in
drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow
of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.[6]
Let’s study further and see where this question was asked again. When Paul and
Silas were imprisoned for the cause of Christ, the jailer asked them this
question. Acts 16:30
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”[7]
They replied in this way. Acts 16:31-32
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you
and your household.”32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all
who were in his house.[8]
They told him he needed to believe and they preached the gospel to him in v.32
so that he would know what to believe. Notice what happened next. Acts 16:33
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And
immediately he and all his family were baptized.[9]
He showed his repentance by washing their wounds and he was baptized without any
delay. There is no indication in the New Testament of anyone delaying for a bite
to eat, or a drink of water, before they were immersed into Christ. Now notice
this Acts 16:34
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he
rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. [10]
When did he rejoice? After he was baptized. When was he counted as a believer?
After he was baptized.
Let us continue our study and notice one other place in Scripture where this
question was asked. This was on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:37
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and
the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”[11]
After hearing the gospel preached and realizing they were sinners, these people
asked, “What shall we do?” Peter told these believers what to do Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said to them, “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.[12]
They needed to turn away from their sins (repent), and be immersed (baptized)
into Christ. When they did that they would receive forgiveness (remission) of
their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Did they argue about this, or did
they accept what Peter told them?
Take a look at Acts 2:41
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about
three thousand souls were added to them.[13]
Not everyone who heard Peter preach accepted his teaching, but 3000 did, and
those 3000 were immersed into Christ! Those who “gladly received” the gospel
were the ones who were baptized. The New Testament knows nothing about
unbaptized Christians. In every case, they people who believed the message
preached (the gospel), were immersed into Christ. Look at Acts 8:12
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the
kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were
baptized.[14]
And notice Acts 18:8
8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.[15]
How about YOU? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Then do not delay,
turn away from the world and from sin by repenting, and be immersed into Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus wants to save you! John 6:37
37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the
one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.[16]
WILL YOU COME TO JESUS NOW?
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[1]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson,
Inc.) 1982.
Notes 2-16 ibid.
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