What Must I Do to be Saved?
Is being a good person enough to get you into heaven? What if I told you that the Bible gives us a clear, direct answer about what it takes to be saved?
Welcome to Word for Word, a weekly series where we’re diving into questions that people have about Christianity, faith, and the Bible. This is the first video in this series, and this question, “What must I do to be saved?” is the cornerstone of Christianity. It addresses the most pressing need for all of humanity: reconciliation with God. Whether you're skeptical, curious, a believer already who’s looking to deepen your understanding, this episode sets the foundation for discovering the heart of Christianity.
In our journey through this series, we’re going to unpack some pretty big questions about faith and the Bible, but first, we must answer the most essential one: how to enter into a relationship with God and receive eternal life.
So I just want to start by answering the question bluntly.
Salvation is a gift from God that is received through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned through good works or religious activities.
In fact, the apostle Paul makes this abundantly clear in Ephesians 2:8-9, where he writes:
“For 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.”
Let’s unpack this statement, because there’s a lot there. Paul underscores that salvation isn’t transactional; it’s relational. It’s not about what we can do for God, but about what God has already done for us. The phrase, “for by grace you have been saved…” Grace eliminates boasting and places the emphasis on God’s initiative, not our own merit, or how “good of a person” we can be. This isn’t the only place in the bible that we see this either, rather this theme is woven throughout the Bible. Even in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah says that our “righteous acts are like filthy rags” in Isaiah 64:6. No matter how much good we try to do, it will always fall short of God’s standard, which is perfection. This need for grace that Paul talks about spans both the Old and New Testament.
So if salvation is a free gift, that means, then, that we can just sit back and do nothing, right?
No.
Not only no, but absolutely not. While we are saved “by grace we have been saved through faith,” genuine saving faith is never alone. It always produces fruit. It always produces good works. As James 2:17 says,
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
True faith transforms us from the inside out. And it’s important to recognize here what James is not saying. He is not in any way whatsoever claiming that salvation requires good works. He’s not talking about following the law or being completely without sin our entire lives. He’s talking about doing good works that are consistent with loving God the father. In other words, we are saved only by faith, and this faith which saves will produce good works. According to James, those who lack works are not saved - not because they lack works, but because their lack of works proves that they are lacking faith.
Why do we need to be saved in the first place?
Before we explore the effects of salvation, let’s back up and let’s examine why we even need saving in the first place. To do that, we need a clear understanding of the problem of sin. See, the bad news is that we all have sinned. Because we have all sinned, we have all fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). See, sin isn’t just the bad things that we do; it’s a condition that we’re born with that affects every single part of us. It’s a state of rebellion against God, a desire to be our own gods and live life our own way. And the consequences of it are devastating. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” Just as a paycheck is what we earn from working, death is what we’ve earned from our sin. Not just physical death, but spiritual death - eternal separation from God.
Picture it like this: Humanity stands on side of a great chasm. On the other side is God in His perfect holiness. The gap between us seems impossible to get across. We can try to cross it by building a bridge out of our good works, religious rituals, moral behavior, but the bridge will never make it to the other side. We’ll always fall short. The chasm is too wide that we can’t make it. The fall is so far down, that there’s no way we’ll survive the fall. But here’s the good news: God didn’t and doesn’t leave us stranded on the edge of that cliff overlooking the chasm. He made a way for us to be with Him. And that way is Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 is perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, and for good reason. It’s the gospel in a sentence.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God’s love for us isn’t some sort of abstract concept; it’s a love that moved Him to action. It’s a sacrificial love. He gave His one and only Son to die in our place, to bear the punishment that we deserved. In fact, the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were foreshadowing this. The book of Leviticus is filled with detailed instructions about how the Israelites were to offer animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. The blood of bulls and goats could never fully take away sin, but it pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice to come - Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). 1 Peter 3:8 puts it like this:
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.”
On the cross, Jesus bridged that great chasm between us and God. He paid a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. And the story doesn’t end with His death. Three days later, Jesus rose again, conquering death and sin once and for all. His resurrection is the guarantee of our salvation, the proof that His sacrifice was accepted and the way to eternal life was opened.
How do we respond to this incredible gift?
Well, when the apostle Paul and Silas were in prison, their jailer asked them a question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Their answer was simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).
Belief, or faith, is at the heart of our response to the gospel. But it’s important to understand what the Bible means by “faith.” It’s not just intellectual agreement or a vague belief in some “higher power.” Saving faith is trusting in Jesus as your savior, and a commitment to follow Him as Lord. Romans 10:9-10 fleshes this out even further: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Notice that there are two components here: believing and confessing. Faith is an inward reality that leads to an outward declaration. We can’t earn our salvation, but we do have to personally receive it by trusting in Christ and acknowledging Him as Lord. And hand in hand with faith is repentance. Acts 3:19 commands us to,
“repent and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
Repentance isn’t just feeling sorry for our sins; it’s a change of mind and direction. It’s turning away from our old way of life and turning toward God.
We could visualize it like this: faith is reaching out to take hold of Christ’s hand, and repentance is letting go of everything else that we’ve been clinging to. It’s a 180-degree turn, a reorienting of our lives around Jesus as our savior.
But what does this look like practically? That brings us to the results of salvation.
When we put our faith in Jesus, we’re not just given a ticket to heaven; we’re given a whole new identity. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
It’s like God hits the reset button on our lives. He wipes away our past and gives us a fresh start. We’re no longer defined by our sins or our failures, but by who we are in Christ. John 1:12 tells us that “to all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” We’re adopted into God’s family, given all the rights and privileges of being His sons and daughters.
Imagine it like this: it’s as if we’re living in complete poverty. We’re just swamped in debt. Bills are coming in that are so big that you’re never going to be able to pay them. Even if you work day after day for your entire life, you’ll still owe to the very day you die. When suddenly, a wealthy person comes along and not only pays off all your debts but also welcomes you into his family and gives you full access to his riches. That’s what God does for us in Christ.
But this new life isn’t just a one-time event; it’s an ongoing transformation. The Holy Spirit comes to live within us, empowering us to gradually become more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). We begin to desire what God desires and hate what God hates. Our priorities, our passions, our whole perspective shifts. Now, I’m not saying by any means that we become perfect overnight, or even in this lifetime. We’ll still struggle with sin and face trials, tribulations, temptations, and hardships in this life. But we’re no longer slaves to sin; we’re free to live in obedience to God. And we have the assurance that one day, when Jesus returns, our salvation will be complete and we’ll be with Him forever in a world made new.
So what does this mean for you?
Well, if you’re not a believer, if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, today is the day. Here’s how you can respond right now:
Acknowledge your need. Admit that you’re a sinner separated from God and in need of His grace.
Believe in Jesus. Put your trust in His death and resurrection as the payment for your sin. Trust that He is who He says He is - the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Repent and confess. Turn away from your old way of life and turn to God. Confess Jesus as your Lord, the new master of your life.
You might be thinking, “But I’m not good enough to do that.” None of us are. That’s the whole point of grace. It’s not about your worthiness, it’s about Christ’s worthiness.
Or maybe you’re thinking, “I’ve done way too much wrong. God could never forgive the things I’ve done.” Look at the apostle Paul. Before he met Christ, he was a violent persecutor of the Church. He stood by and approved while Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. And yet God’s grace reached even him. Paul would later say, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). God’s grace knows no bounds. No sin is too great, no past too dark that the blood of Jesus can’t cover it. All you have to do is come to Him in faith.
If this resonates with you, if the Holy Spirit is stirring in your heart right now, in just a second I’m going to invite you to pray with me. But before we do that, I want to stress that this prayer isn’t what saves you, okay? Rather this prayer is something for you to pray when you understand that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Merely just reciting the words that I’m going to pray will not accomplish anything on its own. Rather it only represents what you know, understand, and believe about your sinfulness and need for salvation. This prayer is meant to be a reflection of what is on your heart. If you want to say it in different words, then feel free to do so.
"God, I know that I'm a sinner. I've lived life my own way and rebelled against You. But today, I'm turning to You. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I put my trust in Him as my Savior and my Lord. Forgive me, cleanse me, and make me new. I surrender my life to You. In Jesus' name, amen."
If you prayed that prayer and truly understand and believe what it teaches, then you're now a child of God, a new creation in Christ! Your sins are forgiven, and your eternal destiny is secure. I encourage you to tell someone about your decision and get connected with a local church that can help you grow in your new faith. If you’re watching this video or reading this article, and you’re already a believer, I want to leave you with a couple of thoughts:
First, sharing the message of salvation with others. The gospel is too good to keep to ourselves! But sometimes we can overcomplicate it. Remember, the core message is simple: we’re sinners in need of a Savior, and Jesus is that Savior. Use the Bible as your anchor, passages like Ephesians 2:8-9 and John 3:16. And share your own story of how Christ has changed your life. Keep it authentic and personal.
Second, if you ever struggle with doubts about your salvation, remember that it rests on God’s promise, not your performance. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). If you’ve truly put your faith in Christ, nothing and no one can take that away from you.
And finally, let me encourage you to strive to live out your identity in Christ every day. To be a reflection of His love, grace, and truth in how we interact with the world around us. As Ephesians 2:10 says, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Salvation isn’t just about getting into heaven, it’s about living in the reality of being children of God here on earth by the way we live.
So let's recap: Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It's not something we earn but something we receive as a gift. When we trust in Jesus and turn from our sin, we're given a new life, a new identity as children of God. This doesn't mean we become perfect, but it does mean our eternal destiny is secure and we have the power to live in a way that honors God. If this is new to you, if you've never made this decision before, I invite you to do so today. Don't leave here without settling the most important question of your life. If you have questions or want to know more, please reach out. I'd love to talk with you further and provide some resources for your journey.
And for all of us, continue to explore these big questions of faith together. In the coming weeks, we'll dive deeper into what it means to be saved, looking at topics like what is sin, what is biblical faith, and whether Christians can lose their salvation. If you’re interested in following along in this series, then I’d like to encourage you to subscribe to this channel, because my hope is that through this series, we'll not only grow in our understanding but also in our awe and appreciation of the great salvation we have in Jesus. May we never lose the wonder of the gospel, and may it spur us on to love and good deeds.
I encourage you to share your thoughts and questions in the comments. We're in this together, and we can learn so much from each other's experiences and insights.
