The World's Greatest Question (Shorter Version)

Printed in House To House/Heart To Heart

Many questions exist, but there is one that is the greatest. Heaven and salvation depend upon it. The men at Pentecost (Acts 2:37), the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:30) and Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:10) all asked some form of this profound question: “What must I do to be saved?” Most people would agree to this question’s seriousness, but few teach the truth regarding its answer. So, what must one do to become a Christian?

First, one must hear God’s word. God’s word produces faith (Romans 10:17). Jeremiah wrote that man cannot direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23), but he must turn to God’s word to find salvation (2 Peter 1:3). Tuning ears to God opens the pathway of faith (Matthew 13:9).

Second, one must believe in Jesus, God’s son. John penned his gospel account to create faith in Jesus (John 20:31). The Lord required faith (John 8:24) in Jesus alone (John 14:6) to access salvation. Every world religion is excluded.

Biblical faith saves (Ephesians 2:8), but one must cautiously avoid fraudulent faith that rises from mystical feelings, better-felt-than-told-experiences, “still, small voices in the night,” messages in the clouds or some writing in the grains of wood or some supposed picture on a piece of bread. Biblical faith stems from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17) and results in confession, repentance and baptism.

Third, one must confess faith before others. Faith, like light, is meant to shine (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus will confess us to God if we confess him to others (Matthew 10:32). When we believe and confess the risen Savior, we are promised salvation (Romans 10:9-10). An insignificant eunuch gave the simplest confession: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).

Fourth, one must repent of sins. Repentance is likely the most difficult step because it calls for drastic change. No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), and God does not look favorably on Christians who make friends with the world (James 4:4). We are to die to the world in order to live toward God (Galatians 2:20). When repentance has been made then Heaven’s final step is relatively simple.

Fifth, one must be baptized into water for the remission of sins. God’s power to save does not lie in water, but baptism is nonetheless vital. Baptism is not works-salvation or earned grace but is the culmination of the preceding steps wherein a person is put into God’s kingdom (Galatians 3:27) and when their name is added to the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Jesus emphasized it (Mark 16:16) even correcting misunderstandings about it (John 3:5). The apostles wrote about it (1 Peter 3:21), and crowds responded to it (Acts 2:38). If Saul were saved on the Damascus Road, then Ananias invariably was ignorant of the idea for he told Saul to wash his sins away (Acts 22:10). Scripture records the prayers of sinners but one may never find the Sinner’s Prayer. Rather, one will observe that every conversion in the books of Acts was on the heels of baptism.

Have you heard about Jesus, believed and confessed his name, repented of your sins and allowed someone to baptize you into Christ?

Dear reader, if you are challenged by what you have read, and you are convicted to obey Heaven’s plan, you may become a child of God today. Call us today, and we’ll help you obey the Lord’s plan.