{"id":4889,"date":"2025-09-11T08:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.middleburgchristians.com\/?page_id=4889"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:33:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T23:33:06","slug":"10-articles-what-must-i-do-to-be-saved","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.middleburgchristians.com\/?page_id=4889","title":{"rendered":"10 Articles: What Must I Do To Be Saved?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below are ten articles that provide a thorough and consistent answer from the scriptures.\u00a0Each article stands alone, but it is best to read them in order.<\/h3>\n
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  1. Intro:\u00a0 Everyone’s Predicament<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. The Great Commission: Jesus\u2019 Final Instructions<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. The Conversion of the Jews on Pentecost, Acts 2:14-41<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. When Do We Die with Christ? Romans 6:1-8<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. The Conversion of Saul, Acts 9:1-19; 22:4-16<\/a><\/li>\n
    5. The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer, Acts 16:25-34<\/a><\/li>\n
    6. \u201cBelieve\u201d Sums Up God’s Requirements for Salvation<\/a><\/li>\n
    7. Faith and Works:\u00a0 Correcting A Serious Error<\/a><\/li>\n
    8. What About the Thief on the Cross? Luke 23:39-43<\/a><\/li>\n
    9. Is Baptism Merely a Symbolic, Public Display?<\/a><\/li>\n
    10. Salvation:\u00a0 Will You Believe God or Men?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      __________________________<\/p>\n

      <\/a>Everyone’s Predicament: Sinners Condemned Before God<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      The Bible says that sin is the transgression of the law and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (1 John 3:4; Romans 3:23). Adam and Eve were removed from God’s presence when they sinned (Genesis 3:22-24). What happens as a result of our sin?\u00a0<\/p>\n

      Sin separates us from God who is “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:1-7). The Bible says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). Sin breaks our fellowship with God. Sin prevents us from being in an eternal relationship with God.<\/p>\n

      What is the punishment for sin? The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death,” an eternal separation from God in hell (Romans 6:23; Luke 12:4-5). Because of our sins we all stand condemned, “having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). There is nothing we can do on our own to bring ourselves back into fellowship with God.<\/p>\n

      Christ, The Answer To Our Sin Problem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” (Ephesians 2:4), has provided a way for us to be saved from the eternal consequences of our sin. The way is through His Son, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

      Jesus came to this earth, lived among men for about 33 years, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and then died for our sins. Jesus committed no sin, and was therefore qualified to pay the price for our sins. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus shed His blood on the cross that we might be saved from eternal separation from God in hell (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:19).<\/p>\n

      Is There Anything We Must Do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Some would have us believe that there is nothing man must do in order to be saved by the blood of Jesus. If this were true, all men would be saved. But God says there are some conditions we must meet in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and be saved.<\/p>\n

      Please do not misunderstand:\u00a0 Meeting these conditions in no way makes us deserving of salvation. Because of sin we are all unworthy. But God says we must receive His free gift. So, what must we do to receive His free gift and be saved?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

      Let’s see how the Scriptures answer our title question, “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      _____________ \u00a0\u00a0Back to top of list<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/a>1.\u00a0 The Great Commission: Jesus\u2019 Final Instructions<\/h2>\n

      Romans 1:16 (ESV) 16<\/sup> For I am not ashamed of the gospel<\/u><\/strong>, for it is the power of God for salvation<\/u><\/strong> to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.<\/em><\/p>\n

      The good news message of Jesus Christ tells us what we must do to be saved from eternal punishment. Paul warns us not to change the gospel lest we incur God\u2019s judgment (Gal 1:6-10). <\/strong>We must teach the gospel exactly the way Jesus and the apostles taught it. Our own salvation depends on it.<\/p>\n

      As we proceed in this study, if what we are teaching is true, it will be consistent with ALL the scriptures. God\u2019s word is truth (Jn 17:17). Truth does not contradict itself.<\/p>\n

      We begin with Jesus\u2019 final instructions to his apostles to preach the gospel throughout the world.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Three accounts of “The Great Commission” are found at the end of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. After his resurrection Jesus commissioned his apostles to preach the gospel and tell people what they must do to be saved.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      In Matthew<\/strong> Jesus instructs the apostles to make disciples<\/strong> of all nations by baptizing them<\/strong> and teaching them to obey<\/strong> all that Jesus commands.<\/p>\n

      Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18<\/sup>And Jesus came and said to them, \u201cAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19<\/sup>Go therefore and make disciples<\/span> of all nations, baptizing them<\/span> in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20<\/sup>teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

      In Mark<\/strong> Jesus instructs his apostles to preach the gospel everywhere. He states that those who believe<\/strong> and are baptized<\/strong> will be saved<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Mark 16:15-16 (ESV)\u00a0 15<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cGo into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16<\/sup>Whoever believes<\/span> and is baptized <\/span>will be saved<\/span>, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.<\/em><\/p>\n

      In Luke<\/strong> Jesus instructs them to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Luke 24:45-49 (ESV) 45<\/sup>Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46<\/sup>and said to them, \u201cThus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47<\/sup>and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins<\/span> should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

      The apostles were to tell people what they needed to do to be saved. People would need to believe in Jesus<\/strong> to be saved. People would need to repent of their sins<\/strong> to receive the forgiveness of sins. People would need to be baptized <\/strong>to be saved.<\/p>\n

      Peter issued these three commands in the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost.<\/strong> Those who believed were “cut to the heart”<\/em> by Peter’s sermon and asked, “What must we do?” <\/em>\u00a0Peter commanded them to “<\/em>Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:37-38). <\/em>That’s what Jesus told Peter to preach. People would need to believe, repent, and be baptized “for the forgiveness of your sins.”<\/em>\u00a0 Those three commands are the essence of God’s plan of salvation.<\/p>\n

      Note that neither Matthew, Mark, or Luke include all three commands of Jesus. But each command is part of the gospel message. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

      O<\/strong>ur job is to accept everything God says. There is no one verse of scripture that includes all of God’s commands to be saved. Yet the scriptures harmonize perfectly. <\/strong>Thus, it is a serious error to “cherry-pick” the scriptures. We don’t want to decide what to believe and then find a few scriptures that seem to support what we want to believe. We don’t want to ignore or twist scriptures that don’t fit our pre-determined belief. Truth is consistent. If we handle God’s word accurately (2 Tim 2:15), we will harmonize all the scriptures.<\/p>\n

      This principle to combine all that God has revealed about salvation holds true for how we should study every Bible subject. Jesus teaches us to live \u201cby every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God\u201d (Matthew 4:4).<\/em> The psalmist declares, \u201cThe sum of God\u2019s word is truth\u201d (Psalms 119:160).<\/em> Jesus said, \u201cIf you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free\u201d (Jn 8:31-32). <\/em>Our goal is to listen to all that God says and allow scripture to interpret scripture, rather than force what we want to believe on the scriptures.<\/p>\n

      As we continue to study \u201cWhat must I do to be saved?\u201d, consider these questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n