For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

There is no doubt that God desires all of creation to be saved. He has given the world all the knowledge needed to answer the question of salvation. When the early church began, the first question was what needed to be done. Devout men gathered for Pentecost heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and how they had killed the promised Messiah. Their hearts were pricked, and they responded by seeking the answer to salvation. Peter told them to repent and that everyone should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Three thousand responded and were baptized.

Peter and John went to the temple to pray and met a lame man at the temple gate. After healing the man, Peter spoke to the people reminding them once again they had denied the Holy One and the Just, and killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead. He tells them to repent and be converted so that their sins may be blotted out. Many of those who heard the word believed. When Saul of Tarsus began persecuting the church, faithful saints went everywhere preaching the word. Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. The multitudes heeded the gospel of Christ, and there was great joy in the city. Simon, a notable sorcerer, also heard the teaching of Philip, and he believed and was baptized.

The Holy Spirit directed Philip to find a man traveling from Jerusalem to his home in Ethiopia. Philip approached the Ethiopian and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The man was reading from the prophet Isaiah. Invited to join him, Philip began where the man was reading and preached Jesus to him. As they went down the road, the Ethiopian asked Philip why he could not be baptized. Philip told him if he believed with all his heart, he could. The man confessed he believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They stopped the chariot, and both Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Saul had begun to persecute all the disciples of the Way, disciples of Jesus Christ, with fierce persecution. He made plans to go to Damascus and arrest all the followers of Christ he could find. As he approached the city, the Lord appeared to him and told him to go into the city, and he would be told what to do. Blinded, Saul entered the city and stayed with a man named Judas, who lived on a street called Straight. Three days later, Ananias comes to where Saul is and heals him of his blindness. Ananias then tells Saul to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins. Saul obeys.

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman army. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household, giving alms generously to the people and always praying to God. He was not a Christian, and none of his household were Christians. An angel appears to Cornelius and tells him to send to Joppa for a man called Peter. This man would tell Cornelius and his household words whereby they would be saved. Cornelius obeys, and when Peter comes, the family of Cornelius is baptized in water.

Paul and Barnabas go throughout the regions of the Roman Empire, preaching the gospel of Christ. Multitudes believe and are baptized. People from Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, and Derbe believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lydia and her household were baptized in Philippi. The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized. Many in the city of Thessalonica believed, including a great multitude of devout Greeks and not a few of the city’s leading women. The Bereans believed. Converts were made in the city of Athens. Many in the city of Corinth would believe as Paul spent a year and six months teaching. Paul found twelve men in the city of Ephesus who knew only the baptism of John. The apostle baptized the men into the name of Jesus Christ.

There are many untold stories of those who heard the word of God, repented of their sins, confessed that Jesus Christ was Lord and Savior, and were baptized for the remission of their sins. Luke offers the story of the early church, and every conversion story is the same pattern. Jesus had told the apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Luke testifies this is what the apostles did. There are no stories of people being saved because they were good people. The apostles never taught salvation by faith only or grace alone. If you are a good person, that will not save you. Believing faith alone will save you is a lie. Thinking God’s grace alone will save you is a false hope. The book of Acts contains a little over 24,000 words. Read the book of Acts and see what you must do to be saved. Stop believing men and believe the word of God.