What Must I Do to Be Saved?
The question of salvation is the most important one we can ever ask. The Bible gives us a clear and profound answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30-31). But what does this mean? Let’s explore the steps toward salvation, based on the truth of God’s Word.
The Problem: Sin Separates Us From God
Before we can understand salvation, we must understand the problem: sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world and infected all humanity. Romans 5:12 tells us sin and death spread to everyone—including you and me.We’re All Guilty
Let’s be honest. We all struggle with sin. Look at your own life:- Lying – even small deceptions
- Lust – impure thoughts, pornography
- Pride – thinking we’re better than others
- Anger – holding grudges, explosive temper
- Greed – loving money more than God
- Gossip – tearing others down
- Selfishness – putting yourself first
- Idolatry – making anything more important than God
Sin’s Deadly Consequence
Sin creates a wall between us and God. Isaiah 59:2 says our sins have separated us from God and hidden His face. God is perfectly holy—He cannot tolerate sin in His presence. The penalty? Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death”—spiritual death, eternal separation from God.It’s Not Just About Heaven
Many think salvation is just a “ticket to heaven.” But God offers so much more. He doesn’t just want to save you from hell—He wants to save you from sin itself. Matthew 1:21: Jesus “will save his people from their sins.” Not just from hell, but from sin’s power, sin’s bondage, sin’s control.Heaven Requires Holiness
Here’s the truth many miss: Hebrews 12:14 says “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” You cannot live in continuous sin and enter heaven. Not because God is harsh, but because heaven is holy and sin cannot exist there. God doesn’t just forgive—He transforms. When you’re saved, God gives you power to live holy, free from sin’s control.God Will Save You
Here’s the good news (Gospel): When you repent and trust Jesus, God:- Forgives all your sins (Psalm 103:12)
- Gives you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
- Breaks sin’s power (Romans 6:6-7)
- Gives His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
- Makes you holy (2 Corinthians 3:18)
1. Understand the Call to Faith and Obedience
Faith and obedience are inseparable in seeking God. True belief includes both trusting in Jesus and acting in obedience to Him, as “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Salvation is not a matter of merely intellectual belief or performing outward acts like raising a hand in prayer, walking to an altar, or participating in baptism. While these actions can be meaningful, they alone cannot save or transform a person into “a new creature in Christ Jesus.” Only genuine faith in the blood of Jesus, anchored in repentance and confession, has saving power.
2. The Three Essential Steps to Saving Faith
Salvation requires genuine repentance, renunciation of sin, and reliance on Christ. These three conditions are vital for a transformative, saving relationship with Jesus:
Step 1: REPENT!
Repentance is the foundation of saving faith. It involves turning away from sin with a broken and contrite heart before God. Be ashamed of the sins that nailed Jesus to the cross, sins that caused Him so much pain.
- Confess your sins fully to God (1 John 1:9) and make amends where possible, forgiving others and asking for forgiveness where needed.
- Humble yourself and beg Christ for mercy. Jesus’ first command was: “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Step 2: RENOUNCE!
Renouncing sin means turning away from every sinful habit and influence in your life. The prophet Isaiah declares: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts” (Isaiah 55:7).
- Separate yourself from sinful environments and break free from anything that keeps you trapped in sin.
- The Bible urges us: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
If you truly want Christ to receive you, you must walk away from the devil’s table and never turn back.
Step 3: RELY!
Relying on Jesus means fully committing your soul to Him. You must depend on Him to accept you just as you are and cleanse you by His atoning blood. The promise of Scripture is this: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
- Commit your life entirely to Jesus. Acknowledge, “Jesus, I have confessed and forsaken my sins. I now surrender to Thy complete control. Save me, Lord, and make me new.”
Once you do this, the Holy Spirit will bear witness within you, and the work of salvation will be complete. As Jesus promised: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
Take the Step of Faith Today
Reader, today is the day of salvation! Don’t wait until tomorrow. Commit your life to Jesus now, and begin your journey of faith. Jesus’ invitation is clear: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Are you ready to be saved? Don’t wait another moment—call out to Him in prayer right now. He is waiting with open arms, ready to receive you and transform your life. This is your moment to surrender and step into His grace!
The Sinner’s Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I come before You knowing that You have created me out of Your boundless love. Yet, in so many ways, I have turned away from You, rejecting that love. Today, I bring to You every sin I have committed. I will name each one before You now: [Take a moment to confess all your sins that you can remember specifically and honestly before God]. I know that nothing can be hidden from You, and I confess fully, holding nothing back. Please forgive me for these sins and cleanse me completely.
Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me, saving me from eternal separation from You. I accept this gift of grace and choose today to begin (or renew) my walk with You. I place Jesus at the center of my heart and surrender my life to Him as Lord over every part of it.
Lord, I ask that You fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Transform me from the inside out, giving me the strength and courage to turn away from every form of sin and to live in obedience to Your will. Help me to remain faithful as a part of Your Church and to follow You wholeheartedly for the rest of my life.
Thank You for Your mercy, love, and the promise of new life in You. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The Assurance of Salvation
True salvation is not grounded in fleeting emotions or temporary feelings but in the unchanging promises of God’s Word. When you sincerely follow these steps—repenting of your sins, renouncing sinful ways, and relying fully on Christ—you can rest assured in the certainty of your salvation. It is a gift of grace, freely given, because Jesus has already accomplished all that is necessary. Your role is to respond with faith and obedience (Matthew 7:21, Acts 5:29), dedicating yourself to Him, and seeking a sanctified heart (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) to nurture and sustain this incredible blessing.