What Must I Do To Be Saved?
In the Bible we read of a man in Acts 16:30 who asks this very question, “What must I do to be saved?” By this is understood that he was wondering what it would take for him to be able to escape the inevitable suffering in Hell for his sins. He desperately wanted to know what he could do to keep himself from dying without God. He wanted to be “SAVED”. He was desiring to be rescued.
You must understand that salvation has never been of works. We read in Ephesians 2:8,9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. You cannot earn your way to Heaven; but you will be involved in your salvation. If you do nothing, then you have nothing.
The first thing you must do if you are to be saved is to
RECEIVE
There are some things you must ACCEPT and ADMIT if you are to be saved.
1. You must receive the report of your SIN
Romans 3:10 – As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 – For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Psalm 53:1 – The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
2. You must see you are SEPARATED from God
If you have never been born again you are not a child of God. In fact, your sins have separated you from God. If you die in this state you will die outside of the fold of God.
Matthew 7:23 – And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated between you and your God.
3. You must realize there is a SENTENCE of death and hell awaiting you due to your sins.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death.
Matthew 25:41 – Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Revelation 21:8 – But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation 20:14,15 – And death, and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
4. You must acknowledge that Jesus was your SUBSTITUTE when he suffered, bled, and died on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 John 2:2 – And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus did not have to die for any of us. He CHOSE to die for us
John 3:16 – 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.
You must also
RESPOND
1. Respond to the INTERROGATION
Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool
John 5:6 – When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
2. Respond to the IRRITATION
This time of irritation is when God is revealing to you WHAT you are (a lost sinner) and WHERE you are headed (Hell).
This is a time of conviction, when God is trying to show you what you are, and how utterly hopeless you are without Him.
If you are to be saved, you must first see that you are not saved. You were not born saved and there is nothing you can do to save yourself.
During this time do not run from God; run to God!
John 6:44 – No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.
John 12:32 – And I, If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
3. Respond to the INVITATION God extends to you to come to Him
Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God , even to them that believe on his name.
Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Revelation 22:17 – And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say , Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Matthew 22:3 – And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Then you must
REPENT
Repentance is not just a change of mind; it is also a change in direction. It is you turning away from your sin and turning to Christ. Thereby we see it is also a change of desire.
Mark 1:15 – Repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.
Luke 13:3 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 5:32 – I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 – For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
A good example of repentance is found in the book of Jonah in chapter three. Jonah came to the city of Nineveh and pronounced God’s judgment upon them – “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown“.(Jonah 3:4)
We read further in Jonah 3 that the people of Nineveh believed God, humbled themselves, and repented of their evil doings.
When God saw the people had repented He withdrew His judgment from them and gave them mercy instead.
Jonah 3:10 – And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way: and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Lastly, you must
RELY
If you are to be saved you must put your faith, trust, and confidence in what Jesus did FOR YOU through his death, burial, and resurrection.
In and of yourself there is nothing you can do to save yourself. There is no work that can save you. There is no good deed that will gain your pardon from God. As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:7 – “Ye must be born again“.
Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1. From the HEART
Romans 10:10 – For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2. It will involve HUMILITY
Psalm 138:6 – Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Psalm 9:12 – He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 – For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
3. There is an HOUR
2 Corinthians 6:2 – For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Isaiah 55:6 – Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.
Genesis 6:3 – And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh.
There is no better time than NOW to call upon God for salvation. We are not guaranteed another breath, never mind another day.
If we can be of assistance to you, please contact us at (843) 538-2269 or you may email us at info@faithbaptistchurch.us.