What must I do to be saved?
That question hit me one day like a freight train. I wasn’t in a church pew, and I wasn’t sitting with my Bible open—honestly, I was just staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of my own life and all the things I couldn’t fix. I’d heard that phrase before, but I never really asked it for myself until then: “What must I do to be saved?”
Thankfully, the Bible doesn’t leave us guessing. In Acts 16:30–31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas that exact question. They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Sounds simple, right? Believe and you’re good? Not so fast—if you keep reading, they didn’t stop at belief. Verse 33 says he was baptized the same hour of the night—he didn’t wait until morning. He didn’t go to a Bible study first. He took action immediately.
So let’s not stop short. This isn’t about quick fixes or feel-good slogans—it’s about your eternity. God’s Word gives us a clear, complete answer. Not a guess. Not a feeling. A real, step-by-step answer. And it all starts with letting go of our own way and trusting what God actually said in Scripture.
Too many people today grab one verse and build a whole belief around it. But I want to show you the full picture—and that’s where this gets real. Because when you look at the Bible as a whole, the truth becomes hard to ignore.
Is belief in Jesus enough to be saved?
Here’s where a lot of people stop. They quote John 3:16, maybe Romans 10:9, and say, “See? All you have to do is believe.” And yes, the Bible absolutely teaches that belief is essential. You cannot be saved without it. But if belief was all that mattered—then even the devil would be saved.
Let that sink in for a second.
James 2:19 (KJV) says: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
Believing alone won’t cut it. The belief God wants is obedient faith—not just mental agreement. It’s faith that moves you to do what He says, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular.
Jesus Himself made it clear: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16, KJV). That’s straight from the mouth of the Savior. So if belief is real, it’ll be followed by obedience—including baptism.
Sadly, many churches today skip right past that. But the early Christians didn’t. They heard the Gospel, believed it, repented, confessed Jesus, and were baptized. You can see that full pattern in this biblical guide to salvation.
If you’re still with me, you’re already showing signs of that obedient faith—and that means God is working on your heart. So let’s keep going and see what else He asks us to do.
What does the Bible say about baptism and salvation?
This is where the road either opens wide or hits a wall—depending on whether we’re following what God said or what tradition teaches. I’ve heard people say things like, “Baptism is just a symbol,” or “It’s just a public declaration of faith.” But honestly, I don’t see that anywhere in the Bible. What I do see are verses that say baptism saves.
Let’s go straight to it:
1 Peter 3:21 (KJV) says, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Not “represent” salvation. Not “point toward” salvation. It saves us—because we’re contacting the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s not the water that saves—it’s our obedience in faith through that act of baptism that connects us to Christ.
Now read Acts 2:38 (KJV). Peter preached to a crowd of convicted people on the day of Pentecost, and they literally asked what to do. He said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”
He didn’t say believe only. He didn’t say pray a prayer. He said repent and be baptized. Why? “For the remission of sins.” That’s as direct as it gets.
Then there’s Romans 6:3–4, which paints the picture even clearer. Paul says we’re buried with Christ in baptism—and that’s how we rise to walk in newness of life. If you haven’t been buried in that way, how can the new life begin?
Baptism is not a side issue. It’s not something we “get around to later.” It’s the line between the old life and the new one. The line between lost and saved. And just like the jailer in Acts 16, just like the people in Acts 2, when you realize the truth, you don’t wait.
If someone told you baptism wasn’t necessary, I encourage you to go back to the Bible. Not a denomination. Not a preacher. Just God’s Word. It’s all there. And it’s consistent from beginning to end.
Do we need to repent and confess too?
Absolutely. Belief and baptism are powerful, but God also calls us to turn from sin and speak boldly about who Jesus is. These aren’t works we do to earn anything—they’re part of faith in action.
In Luke 13:3 (KJV), Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” That’s not optional. Repentance means making a heart-level decision to turn away from your old life. You might still stumble, but your direction changes. You’re no longer running with sin—you’re running from it.
Then there’s Acts 17:30 (KJV): “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” God isn’t suggesting. He’s commanding it.
And confession? That’s where we go public. Not in a showy way, but in a humble acknowledgment of who Jesus is. Romans 10:9–10 (KJV) says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart… thou shalt be saved.”
We can’t keep quiet. We have to speak His name—not just believe silently in our hearts.
Repentance and confession are just as much a part of salvation as belief and baptism. They’re the fruit of a heart that’s surrendered, and they naturally lead into obedience. Every person in the New Testament who came to Jesus did so through these steps—not one of them was saved by belief alone.
God lays it all out. Not as hoops to jump through, but as a path to freedom.
Why do some people say baptism isn’t necessary?
This one used to trip me up too. I’d hear preachers say things like, “Just accept Jesus into your heart” or “Say the sinner’s prayer and you’re saved.” But when I opened my Bible and started reading for myself, I realized—that’s not how salvation worked in Scripture. Not once.
So where does the confusion come from? A lot of it comes from misunderstanding or isolating verses like John 3:16 or Romans 10:13. These are beautiful verses, and they absolutely have their place—but they’re part of a bigger picture. You can’t skip Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, or Mark 16:16 just because they’re less popular in church sermons today.
What’s dangerous is when people build an entire salvation doctrine around a single verse. That’s not how God intended His Word to be read. We are called to rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), not cherry-pick what feels easy or convenient.
You can explore this deeper in Does the Bible Say Baptism is Necessary?, where we break down more of these verses side-by-side and show how they all fit together perfectly when you actually let the Bible interpret itself.
Another issue? People are scared of sounding “legalistic.” But here’s the truth—obeying Jesus isn’t legalism. It’s love. “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” He said (John 14:15). Baptism isn’t a man-made ritual. It’s part of God’s planfor saving us.
Let’s stop brushing off the verses that make us uncomfortable. God gave us a full plan—and ignoring any part of it doesn’t make it go away.
What is the full plan of salvation in the Bible?
This isn’t a mystery. It’s not hidden in secret codes or found in denominational creeds. The Bible lays out a clear plan, and every single example of someone becoming a Christian in the New Testament follows the same steps.
Here’s what God’s Word says you must do:
- Hear the Gospel – “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). That’s where it all starts—you can’t follow Jesus if you don’t know what He said.
- Believe in Jesus – “Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again.
- Repent of your sins – “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Repentance is a full turnaround—a change in direction.
- Confess Jesus before others – “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). Like in this article on real Christian living, being a Christian isn’t something we hide.
- Be baptized into Christ – “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Baptism is when you’re united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. This is non-negotiable—explained further in The Path to Salvation.
- Live faithfully – “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Salvation isn’t a one-time moment. It’s a daily walk. Need help with that? Here are 7 ways to increase your faith.
You won’t find a single salvation story in the New Testament that skips these steps. Every conversion—from the Ethiopian eunuch to Paul to Cornelius—follows this pattern. Not one sinner’s prayer. Not one “just believe in your heart.” Just simple obedience to the truth.
If we want to be saved the way the early Christians were, then we have to do what they did—no more, no less.
What happens if I put it off or ignore God’s plan?
This one makes my stomach drop. Not because I want to scare anyone—but because this is serious. We’re talking about eternity here. It’s not just about “finding purpose” or “living a better life.” If we ignore what God said about salvation, we’re gambling with our soul.
The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat it either. Hebrews 10:26–27 (KJV) says, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation…”
That hits hard. Once we know the truth, we’re accountable. God isn’t looking for excuses—He’s calling for obedience. And Acts 17:30–31 says, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world…”
No one knows when that day will come. Jesus made that clear in Matthew 24:36. We don’t get a countdown clock. That’s why delayed obedience is still disobedience.
The most sobering reminder I’ve ever read was in 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9, which says Jesus will come “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Obeying the gospel is more than just saying you believe—it’s doing what He said to do.
I know this is heavy. But maybe you need to read this right now because you’ve been putting it off. If that’s you, I encourage you to check out this powerful reminder that hell is real. Not because I want to scare you—but because I don’t want you to go there. None of us have to.
God’s plan isn’t burdensome. It’s not complicated. But it is urgent.
Can I know for sure that I’m saved?
Yes—you can. But only if you’ve followed God’s way, not man’s version of it.
Some people base their assurance on a feeling or an emotional experience they had during a church service. But emotions fade. And feelings can lie. What doesn’t lie? The Word of God. And that’s where true assurance is found.
1 John 5:13 (KJV) says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”
You can know. Not guess. Not hope. Know. But John doesn’t say this to people who just believed—he wrote it to obedient Christians, people who had been baptized and were walking in the light (1 John 1:7).
There’s also Romans 8:1 (KJV): “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” That’s key—in Christ. And how do we get into Christ? Galatians 3:27 (KJV) says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
You can’t be “in Christ” without being baptized into Him. It’s not about earning anything. It’s about stepping into the safe place God has provided.
And if you’ve been baptized for the right reason—for the remission of sins, as the Bible says—you don’t have to walk in fear. You can live with joy and confidence. Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re covered by the blood of Christ.
If you’re not sure you’re truly saved, take the time to walk through this Bible-centered article about God’s plan. Let the Bible guide your next step—not tradition, not emotion, not assumptions.
There’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve done exactly what God asked—His way.
What if I’ve already been baptized—does it matter how or why?
Yes. It matters more than people realize. A lot of folks today say, “Well, I was baptized as a baby,” or “I got baptized to join a church,” or even, “I just did it because everyone else was doing it.” But here’s the truth: if it wasn’t done for the biblical reason, it wasn’t the biblical baptism.
That’s not just my opinion—it’s backed by Scripture. In Acts 19, Paul runs into a group of believers who had been baptized already. But once he realized they hadn’t been baptized into Christ for the right purpose, he told them to be baptized again—this time in the name of the Lord Jesus. And they did it, immediately.
That passage wrecked me when I first read it. I had gone through all the motions before—believed, went to church, even got dunked once. But I hadn’t done it with the understanding that baptism is where my sins are washed away (Acts 22:16), where I’m buried with Christ (Romans 6:3–4), and where I’m raised to walk a new life.
It matters that you know why you’re being baptized. If it wasn’t done for the remission of sins, in obedient response to the gospel—it needs to be done again, the right way.
If you want a deeper look into this topic, check out Surprising Facts About Church of Christ Baptism. It might challenge what you’ve always been taught—but that’s what the Bible tends to do when we let it speak louder than tradition.
I had to humble myself and start fresh. Maybe you do too. And let me tell you, there’s no shame in that. In fact, there’s nothing more freeing.
How should I respond now that I know the truth?
That’s the most important question of all. Because once you know the truth, you’re no longer in the dark. You can’t unsee what God’s Word says. And He’s not calling us to wait until we “feel ready”—He’s calling us to obey now.
Just like those in Acts 2, who were “pricked in their heart” and asked, “What shall we do?” — the right response is immediate action. Peter told them to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). And they didn’t wait for a church service, or until their family could come watch. They did it that same day—about three thousand of them.
If your heart is stirring right now, it’s not random. God is working. He’s calling you to respond. Don’t brush it off.
And don’t let fear or pride stop you. This article on coming back to God after falling away speaks volumes—not just to people who’ve wandered, but also to anyone who’s been stuck in confusion or unsure of what’s true.
God doesn’t ask you to be perfect before coming to Him. He asks you to come humbly, obediently, and honestly. If you’re ready to hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized into Christ, then you’re ready to be saved—just like the Bible says.
And if you’ve already done those things, keep living faithfully. Because Jesus is coming back. And when He does, you’ll want to be found in Him.
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