What must I do to be saved?

August 15, 2024

“What must I do to be saved?” This urgent question cuts to the heart of our most profound spiritual need—reconciliation with God.

I once conducted an informal survey, asking friends and family, “If you could learn more about any subject from the Bible, what would it be?” To my shame, a gentleman I knew for five years and spoke with almost daily quickly replied, “What must I do to be saved?”

His question has haunted me since. I’ve thought, How could I have failed to communicate the gospel in those five years? Granted, this man heard many versions of the so-called gospel throughout his life, which may be why he asked his question. Regardless, I’m glad he did. This is the most urgent question anyone can ask. It cuts to the heart of our most profound spiritual need—reconciliation with God.

The problem: Our sin and separation from God

Before I can answer the question, we first need to understand the problem. From what do we need saving? We need to grasp the seriousness of our condition before God.

The apostle Paul writes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Ro 3:23). We are all sinners by nature and by choice. To be clear, sin is not merely a list of immoral behaviors. More to the point, it is rebellion against the Holy and Righteous God who created us. It corrupted our very nature, alienated us from God, and subjected us to the Lord’s just judgment.

God is holy and just in every way, so he cannot overlook sin or sweep it under the rug. Habakkuk says of God, “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Hab 1:13). He must punish sin, which demands death. “The wages of sin is death,” says Paul (Ro 6:23). This is physical death, of course, but it is also spiritual death—eternal separation from God in hell.

The solution: God’s grace in Jesus Christ

The good news—that is, the gospel—is that God, in his great love and mercy, provided a way of salvation through Jesus Christ. We were helpless and condemned in our sins, but God chose to save us. More than that, he acted to save us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

The eternal Son of God became fully human while remaining fully God. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to his Father, though he was often physically weak and tempted, just as we are. Then, despite his innocence, he willingly went to the cross, where he took upon himself the punishment that we deserve (i.e., the wrath of God) for our sins. Just as Isaiah foretold, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isa 53:5). Christ bore the wrath of God in our place, making himself a substitionary atonement on behalf of sinners.

Thankfully, the story doesn’t end with Jesus’s death. Three days later, he rose again, demonstrating his victory over sin and death. His resurrection serves as a guarantee of salvation and promise of eternal life for all who believe in him.

The response: Repentance and faith

What must we do to be saved? According to Scripture, we must repent and believe.

Repentance

Repentance is turning away from sin and toward God. It is deep sorrow for our sin, recognition of our guilt, and a radical change of heart. To repent is to acknowledge our rebellion against God, forsake our sinful ways, and submit to God’s word and authority. Jesus began his public ministry by telling the people of Israel, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17).

Please understand that repentance is not merely a fleeting emotional response. It is an act of the will that involves a genuine hatred of sin and an adamant pursuit of obedience to God. Furthermore, repentance is not a one-time event. It becomes the very posture of one’s heart and mind.

Faith

Faith is God’s ordained means of receiving the salvation he offers in Christ. Paul writes, “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8, 9).

More than mere mental assent to facts about Jesus, faith is trust in and utter reliance upon him and him alone as Savior and Lord. It involves believing that Jesus is who says he is and trusting that his finished work on the cross is the only basis for God’s forgiveness and acceptance of us. To have faith is to cast oneself entirely on Christ, renouncing all self-reliance and placing all hope in him alone.

What must we do to be saved? When the Philippian jailer asked Paul this very question, Paul answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Ac 16:31).

The result: Assurance and transformation

Assuming a person’s repentance and faith in Christ is genuine, he or she is immediately justified before God. Justification is a legal declaration by which God credits a sinner with Jesus’s righteousness. Just as God imputed our sins to Christ on the cross, he imputes Christ’s righteousness to us when we believe. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro 5:1).

Jesus promises, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (Jn 5:24). This is the assurance our justification brings. Salvation is not fleeting or uncertain. A believer’s hope is not wishful thinking. Eternal life is a certain reality for all who are in Christ.

I should also note that salvation involves a radical transformation of our persons. When we are saved, we are born again into an altogether new life by God’s Spirit (see John 3:3-8). New birth comes with a new heart, new desires, and a new way of living. We might say that God saves us to change us. God predestined his people to be conformed to the image of his Son, which begins when we are born again (Ro 8:29). The Spirit sanctifies us, making us more and more like Christ.

A Christian’s initial repentance and saving faith are only the beginning of lifelong growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our love for God will swell larger. Our hatred of sin will deepen. Our commitment to follow Jesus will strengthen. Consequently, our assurance of salvation will become increasingly confident.

Conclusion

“What must I do to be saved?” This is not a theoretical question. It is intensely personal and positively practical. And the answer is this: Repent of your sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. This is the gospel. This is the good news of God’s grace in Christ.

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Co 6:2). God has not promised us tomorrow. The call to repent and believe is urgent. If you’ve not trusted in Christ and Christ alone for your salvation, I implore you to do so right now. Turn from your sins. Trust in Jesus. Receive the gracious gift of eternal life.

If you are a believer, I say rejoice. Live in light of the gospel. Bear fruit for the glory of God. Continue to grow in his grace. Amen.