What Must I do, to be saved?

the plan of salvation.

A long time ago, a Roman Jailer asked of the Apostle Paul the most important question that could ever be asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

Paul’s answer was immediate, to the point, clear, and concise. He said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, and your house.” (Acts 16:30-31)

That’s how simple it actually is. A man named Nicodemus pretty much asked Jesus the same question. Jesus answered him by saying, “You must be born again” (John 3:1-8)

EVERYONE are sinners.

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and have come short of the Glory of God.” That means that everyone has sinned. We are born sinners, in desperate need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, there are no exceptions to this. That means you and me, and all others for that matter.

Paul also said in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death!”

 So that means that unless something is done about this terrible situation, that everyone will be eternally lost. However, God did not leave things there. He loves us, every one of us. It is His desire that “Not any should perish, but that all should come with repentance” (2 Peter 3:9)

what did god do about this situation?

The Scripture plainly says, “And God so loved the world (so loved sinners, and that means you) that he gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

What does that mean?

Man as a sinner could not save himself. In other words, such was and is impossible; consequently, God literally became man, came into the world born from the virgin Mary and then died on Calvary to pay the price for man’s redemption. As should be obvious, the price was high, but thanks be to God it was eternally paid by Jesus Christ, that “WHOSOEVER WILL, MAY COME AND TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY” (Revelation 22:17)

what does it mean to believe on the lord jesus christ?

Going back to the Scripture which we quoted earlier, Paul says: “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto Righteousness and with the mouth, he confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10)

To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means accepting Who he is, and what he has done, which refers to Him dying on the cross for your sin, and it means accepting him as your Saviour, resolving to make Him the Lord of your life also.

substitution and identification?

As we have already stated, man being eternally lost here on earth, God had to provide a means of Salvation whereby sinful man could be made righteous. He did that by providing His Own Son, Who gave His Life and Death on Calvary, thereby paying the terrible price which we could not pay.

Jesus became our substitute, what does that mean? It means He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. There was a terrible sin debt owing due to man’s fallen condition. As stated, that refers to every single human being, none excepted. With no way to save ourselves, God has provided a Saviour through His great love for us all. (John 3:16)

Jesus being the Saviour and substitute and our part is to identify with Him, which means to accept what He did on Calvary’s Cross on our behalf, we will be saved. It is that simple!

He became our Substitute, and upon our identification with Him, we are rewarded with Eternal Life. (Romans 6:23)

confess jesus as lord.

The moment that one confesses the Lord with one’s mouth, and believes in one’s heart that he was raised from the dead, and does so truly, at that moment and wherever you may be, you are saved. As we have stated several times, it is just that simple.

Incidentally, when the jailor asked Paul the question, “What must I do to be saved?” he was actually at the time in the jail with Paul and Silas. Every evidence is that he at that moment, in that jail was saved. (Acts 16:27-34)

it’s time now to repent. 

In fact, if you have not already given your heart and life to Jesus Christ, it is time that you do so.

I am going to ask you to read these words below, and actually say them out loud. As well I am going to ask you to believe them with all of your heart, and if you will do so, you will be instantly saved. Please say them with me as you read:

“DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A LOST SINNER”

“I AM ASKING YOU THAT YOU SAVE MY SOUL AND CLEANSE ME FROM ALL SIN”

“I REALIZE IN MY HEART MY NEED OF SALVATION, WHICH CAN ONLY COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”

“I AM ACCEPTING CHRIST INTO MY HEART AND WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE MY REDEMTION.”

“IN OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORDS, I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE REALM OF THE DEAD.”

“YOU HAVE SAID IN YOUR WORD WHICH CANNOT LIE, THAT WHOSOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED” (ROMANS 10:13)

“I HAVE CALLED UPON YOUR NAME EXACTLY AS YOU HAVE SAID, AND I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW, I AM SAVED.”

If you have sincerely prayed these words, which I have written out for you, and believed in your heart upon the Lord Jesus Christ, you are at this moment saved and your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Congratulations!