And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

This is the question of the ages. Another question like it is, "If a man die, shall he live again." Every honest person is aware of his sins. If you know your own heart, you know that you are a sinner and your greatest need is salvation.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

"There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:10-12).

We can never have the peace of God that brings true mental health until our sins are taken away.

Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2). If you die in your sins, where Jesus is you cannot go. Seek the Lord while he may be found.

Is there something for us to do to be saved?

Salvation is made available because of the amazing grace of God. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). Salvation has been brought down from heaven. It is available to all. Jesus died for all. God loves the whole world. The offer of mercy and pardon is given in Jesus and his cross. But his gift of salvation must be accepted. The grace of salvation is accepted by a living faith.

Faith, to save, must obey the commands of God. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). We are saved by faith, but not by faith only. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17). Our faith must produce works of obedience to the commands of God and only then does the water of life give us satisfaction and joy.

People in the first century, when the church had its beginning, who believed that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, were told: "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). There is something for us to do to cooperate with God in the process of salvation. The commands are not difficult.

Believers are told, "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). When a person repents and is baptized his sins are forgiven. In the water of baptism sins are removed. ". . . be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16). Jesus said, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).