We can ask no more important question than “What must I do to be saved?” Each of us will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and we are responsible for obeying the Lord. Salvation has two parts: God’s part, and man’s part. God, because of His great love for mankind, has done His part in sending Christ to die for the sins of men. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Paul calls this “grace,” the gift of God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Paul reminds us that we cannot save ourselves and must rely on God “through faith.” “Through faith” means that man must also do his part, because no one benefits from a gift until he receives it.
To find what man’s part in the plan of salvation involves, one must go to the right place. The book of Acts explains God’s plan of salvation through several examples of conversion. There are nine specific accounts of conversion in Acts: The conversion of the Jews on Pentecost, chapter 2; the Samaritans, chapter 8; the Ethiopian eunuch, chapter 8; Saul of Tarsus, chapters 9 and 22; Cornelius, chapter 10; Lydia, chapter 16; the Philippian jailer, chapter 16; the Corinthians, chapter 18; the Ephesians, chapter 19. In each example, certain common actions, or steps of obedience, were taken by those who became Christians.
Upon hearing the pure Gospel message, each believed in Jesus as the Son of God. Though the text does not explicitly mention belief each time, it is implied. The Jews at Pentecost, having heard the message, “were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Their question, “What shall we do?” showed that they believed, but realized that they needed to do more than have simple belief to obtain salvation. James wrote, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (2:24).
Following their confession of faith in Christ, Peter told the Jews at Pentecost, “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” (Acts 2:38), Thus we understand that repentance must accompany faith in Christ.
One must also confess faith in Christ, as the Ethiopian did (Acts 8), because Christ will not confess us unless we are willing to confess Him. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).
Baptism is the only step toward salvation explicitly mentioned in every conversion account. Each of the accounts of conversion in Acts shows that baptism is necessary for obedience to Christ. Hearing the Gospel message, believing in Christ, repenting of past sins, confessing Christ, and being baptized into Christ makes one a Christian, and brings salvation. Then one must serve the Lord faithfully (Rev. 2:10).
