Broadcast Date – February 10, 2002 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

Friends, one reason I am a member of the church of Christ is because it gives the scriptural answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" Notice the significance of this question. The word "what" indicates there is something required of man in order to be saved. The word "must" indicates it is not a question of what "should" I do or what "may" I do, but what "must" I do. Friends, it is not an option, but an absolute necessity. "I" indicates there is an individual, personal responsibility involved in salvation. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit all have a part in man’s salvation. But just as the Godhead has a part in man’s salvation, man must also do his part. The word "do" indicates salvation is not a matter of how I feel, but what I do. It suggests there is activity required on man’s part. Nowhere in the Bible can we find the words of an inspired man indicating there is nothing we must do to be saved. The words "to be saved" indicate man is lost. Because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), all are in need of salvation.

Friends, in order to be saved from his sins, a person must hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). To the church at Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). The gospel includes the truth that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day (I Corinthians 15:3-4). The gospel includes the whole word of truth, that is, the New Testament (I Corinthians 14:37, Ephesians 1:13). We will all one day be judged by the gospel (Romans 2:16). All those who do not obey the gospel will be lost (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).

The gospel must be preached to the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20). Where the gospel has not gone, Christ cannot be known. Where Christ is not known, there can be no salvation.

Friends, in order to be saved from his sins, a person must not only hear the gospel, he must believe the gospel of Christ. Faith is essential to salvation. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). We must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus said, "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).

Our belief, or faith, is the proper response to God’s grace. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is God’s part. God has given us his Son who died for our sins (II Corinthians 5:21). Faith is man’s part. We must accept God’s offer of pardon through Christ by our faith (Romans 5:1). But friends, the only faith that saves is a faith that obeys. Mere mental assent is not enough. For example, some of the Pharisees believed in Jesus but would not confess him. Consider the following from John 12:42-43: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." James wrote that even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19).

The faith that saves is a faith that expresses itself in obedience from the heart. James wrote, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:20-26). Salvation is not possible apart from obedience. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Friends, in order to be saved from his sins, a person must repent of his sins. Many people misunderstand repentance. Some people think repentance is being sorry for your sins. Notice from Acts 2:37, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Others think repentance is a change of life. Jesus said, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" (Matthew 3:8). But friends, repentance is a change of the mind. More specifically, repentance is a change of the will, which is brought about by godly sorrow, and results in a change of life. Paul wrote, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (II Corinthians 7:10). When a person with an honest heart hears the gospel, he becomes sorry that he has disobeyed God. Those who believed on the day of Pentecost were pricked in their hearts (Acts 2:37). This godly sorrow then causes a person to change his attitude toward sin. Consider the following from Matthew 21:28-29, "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went." A person who repents then changes the direction of his life and does good instead of bad.

Friends, faith comes before repentance. Those persons who hold to the false doctrine of "faith only" teach that a person must repent before he believes. But how can a person "repent toward God" if he has not heard of God and does not believe in Him? The Jews on the day of Pentecost heard and believed the gospel before they were told to repent (Acts 2:37). Repentance is essential to salvation. All men everywhere are commanded to repent because the judgment day is coming (Acts 17:30-31).

In order to be saved from his sins, a person must not only hear the gospel, believe the gospel, and repent, he must also confess his faith in Jesus Christ to others. Confession naturally follows faith. Paul wrote, "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;" (II Corinthians 4:13). Also notice Romans 10:8-10, "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

If we confess Christ before others, Christ will confess us before his Father. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).

A person must confess his faith in Christ before he is baptized. Consider the conversion of the Ethiopian, recorded in Acts 8:36-39, "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

Friends, in order for a person to be saved from his sins, he must be baptized. Baptism is both a burial and a resurrection. Paul wrote, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). To the church at Colosse Paul wrote, "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12). Baptism is to be done in the name of Jesus Christ, that is, by his authority (Acts 2:38).

Friends, in order to understand the necessity of baptism, a person must understand what baptism does. First, baptism places a person into Christ. Paul wrote, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). Friends, every time the phrase, "into Christ" appears in the Bible, it is always preceded by the word "into," without exception. A person cannot believe his way into Christ nor pray his way into Christ, but must be baptized into Christ. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Therefore, a person who has not been baptized is not in Christ and is not able to enjoy any spiritual blessings.

Second, baptism put a person in contact with the blood of Christ which washes away his sins. John wrote, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," (Revelation 1:5). To the church at Rome, Paul wrote, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3). Ananias asked Paul, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

Third, baptism saves us. "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" (I Peter 3:21). Yes friends, it’s true, the power to save is not in the water but in the blood of Christ. But Peter’s words teach that we are not saved by the blood of Christ until we obey the commandment to be baptized.

Fourth, baptism places a person in the body of Christ, that is, the church. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13). Christ’s body and Christ’s church are one and the same (Colossians 1:18). If a person is saved without being baptized, then he is saved without being in Christ’s church, thus making the church a non-essential. Friends, why would Christ die on the cross and purchase the church with his blood if a person could be saved without being in Christ’s church? Some people teach you can be saved, and thus go to heaven, without being baptized. But they won’t let you be a member of their church without being baptized. It’s difficult to understand why a person would want to be a member of a group who makes it harder to get into their group than it is to get into heaven.

Friends, when considering the subject of baptism it should be mentioned that baptism is for those persons who have heard and believed the gospel of Christ and have repented of their sins. Baptism is not for infants, because infants have no sin. Children do not inherit their parents’ sins (Ezekiel 18:20).

What must we do to be saved? We must hear and believe the gospel of Christ, repent of our sins, confess our faith in Jesus to others, and be baptized in order to receive the forgiveness of our sins.