This is a question that was asked over 2000 years ago in the first century, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).  In order to answer this question, we must not simply look at one particular passage but we must look at several passages which reveal God’s answer to this very important question.  What did people do in the first century to become Christians and thus to be added to the Kingdom of God?  Whatever “they” did is the same thing “we need to do” today.

They first HEARD the Word.  “It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:45).  (Examples:  Acts 2:36; Acts 8:35; Acts 11:14; Acts 16:32)

Upon hearing the Word, they BELIEVED in Jesus as being the Son of God, our Lord and Savior!  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).  “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins”(John 8:24).  (Examples:  Acts 4:4; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8; 1Cor.15:1-3)

Their belief in Christ motivated them to REPENT of their sins.  “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).  (Examples: Acts 2:38-41; Mt.21:28-30)

They were then willing to CONFESS their belief in Christ.  “But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:8-10).  (Example:  Acts 8:36-37 - “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”)

After confessing their faith in Christ, they were BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS.  “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 2:38)  “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).  At the point of their baptism, they PUT ON CHRIST (“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” - Galatians 3:26-27).  They were now in a saved condition; however, this was only the beginning!

After putting on Christ in the waters of baptism (for the forgiveness of their sins), they were to live a NEW LIFE, a life of FAITHFULNESS before God!   “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).  Barnabas encouraged the new converts at Antioch with the following words, “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23).  Likewise, Paul told the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord”  (1Corinthians 15:58)

This is God’s Answer to “What must I do to be saved?”