What Must I Do To Be Saved?

"What must I do?" is asked three times in the book of Acts. Each answer is different because the inquirer is in a different position concerning salvation. It is as if a traveler asked, "How far is it to your house?" The answer depends upon where the traveler is when he asks the question.

In Philippi the jailer asked the question before he had heard the gospel and believed. Paul told him he must believe. Paul then preached the gospel to the jailer (Acts 16:31). Faith comes by hearing evidence, so preaching was necessary (Romans 10:17; John 20:30-31). The jailer manifests repentance in washing the wounded backs of Paul and Silas. He is baptized after he believed on the Lord (Acts 16:33, 34). Several things brought about his salvation. He heard the gospel, believed, repented, and was baptized.

Saul of Tarsus asked the same question after he believed. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). He shows belief in addrfessing Jesus as "Lord." Later Saul (now called Paul) tells of his conversion (Acts 22:8-16). His three days of fasting manifest repentance (Acts 9:9). He is then commanded, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). We see a sinner saved on the condition he believes, repents, and is baptized.

Peter stood before an audience in Jerusalem when the question is asked (Acts 2:37). Peter had already preached Jesus as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:22-36). In believing Peter's message the audience asked what to do. Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . ." (Acts 2:38).

The three cases of conversion asked the same question, and they met the same conditions for salvation. They submitted to the conditions announced in the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:46-47).

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