What Must I Do To Be Saved?

John Futrell wrote this. It is copied here from the July 27, 1975 edition of Reminders which was published by the Moundsville Church of Christ in Moundsville, West Virginia and edited by Futrell.

Let us analyze the question first. The "what" suggests that there is something required of a person in being saved. The word "must" is emphatic and points out an absolute necessity, not a matter of opinion. The personal pronoun "I" is suggestive of the individual's responsibility in saving himself. The word "do" suggest action on the part of the individual wanting to be saved. "To be saved" is the objective sought by every sincere person. The last idea suggested by the question is that the saving is done by someone else. Therefore, based on the question, man has something to do in order to save himself. What is it?

There is no better way to settle the question than to go to the Bible and read the accounts of when the question was asked and then let inspiration answer it. The question is found, substantially, four times in the Bible but one of these was asked while the law of Moses was in force.

The question was first asked by a rich, young ruler. "Good Master, what shall I do that I many inherit eternal life" (Mark 10:17)? Jesus first made a correction, saying, "Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God" (Mark 10:18). And then Jesus told him exactly what to do by naming several negatives in verse 19. The young man replied, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth." Yes, Christ referred him to the law of Moses because it had not been abrogated at that time (Colossians 2:14). But in addition to that, Jesus said, "One thing you lack; go your way, sell whatsoever you have and give to the poor..." Jesus was checking on the young man's benevolent work and he proved to be a failure. Individual benevolence is a must to inherit eternal life. The Bible says, "And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved; for he had great possessions" (Mark 10:22). He also went away lost.

The second time the question under study was asked was by the Jews on Pentecost. Peter had been preaching on the resurrection of Christ and then concludes, "let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). When the Jews heard this, "They were pricked in their heart" and asked the question under study, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" These penitent Jews were sincere and wanted a sincere answer, just as all the sincere lost desire. Peter gave them the answer by inspiration. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

Any sincere person who wishes to be saved will do what Peter told the Jews on Pentecost to do, "repent and be baptized." Have you wondered why Peter gave such an answer? Well if you have, there is an answer to it. His Savior, and ours, told him to, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature; He that believes and is baptized shall be saved but he that believes not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). This is exactly what Peter was doing. The Jews were creatures of God and Peter was preaching to them. Can you scold him for doing so? Christ said to do it. Peter did it! Can you condemn him for carrying out the "Great Commission?" Now I say to YOU in Peter's language, "REPENT and be BAPTIZED" that you might be saved. Will you do it without question or will you go away sorrowful?

The third time the question was asked was by an individual. Paul said, "Lord, what will you have me to do" (Acts 9:6)? The Lord's preacher, Ananias, told Peter to arise from fasting and prayer (get off his knees and quit begging God to save him), "and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). He did this and was saved. Can you do any less and still please God?

The fourth time the question was asked was by a jailer. The city was Philippi and the preacher was Paul. The inquirer was the Philippian jailer. He asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" He was told to, "be baptized." This he did the same hour of the night. Will you do the same and be saved today?