Salvation is only promised to those who believe, accept, and obey Jesus Christ. Peter declared about Jesus, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus stated, “For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Also, He said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

Regardless of how honest and sincere a person may be, he must not accept a plan of salvation that has originated in the mind of man. Devising a plan of salvation to save sinful mankind is a function that belongs only to the Lord. If one wants to know what to do to be saved, he must listen to the Lord who has revealed His plan in the New Testament.

God loved man and desired his salvation so much that He allowed His only begotten Son to die on a cross on behalf of mankind (John 3:16). Jesus desired man’s salvation so much that He endured the agony of that cross to make it possible for any obedient person to be saved (Heb. 12:2). Jesus died, was buried, and then was resurrected from the dead (I Cor. 15:3-4). Before returning to heaven Jesus gave the apostles the message that they were to preach in order for people to be saved. We usually refer to this charge as the Great Commission. It is recorded in three places in the New Testament.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).

“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

“And He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

The apostles were faithful to the orders given by Jesus. Not many days after the Lord gave the Great Commission, the apostles began preaching that gospel message in Jerusalem, just as Jesus had instructed. Peter stood up with the eleven and told the people assembled on the day of Pentecost what they had to do to be saved. Three thousand of them believed the message they heard, repented of their sins, and were baptized into Christ (Acts 2:37-38). When one is saved, he becomes a Christian and the Lord adds him to the church (Acts 2:47). He does not first do one thing to be saved from his sins, and then later do something else in order to be added to the church.

Today, if one desires to be saved, become a Christian, and be added to the Lord’s church, he can do so by obeying the Lord, even as the people of the first century did. The plan of salvation remains the same as it has always been. What it did in the first century it will do in the 21st century. The Lord has given several examples to us to show how we can become Christians. Please consider these:

Acts 2:22-41

A very large crowd of people was assembled on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. They heard Peter preach the gospel. They heard him accuse them of crucifying the very Son of God. They were pierced in their hearts and asked the question “Brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37). It was in answer to this question that the people were told “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (v. 38).

When one desires to know what to do to be saved today, can we give any other answer than that which was given by Peter and the other apostles on the day of Pentecost? Of course, we cannot! Unfortunately, people who are given that same answer today do not always react in a favorable way as so many in that great audience did. They desired salvation, and when they were told what to do in order to obtain it, they responded as all sincere people should. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (v 41).

From the reaction of the three thousand to the message preached, they obviously believed in Jesus. They were “pierced to the heart” (v. 37). They “received his word” (v. 41). However, only believing was not enough for them to be saved. It yet remained for them to “repent and be baptized” in order for their sins to be removed (v. 38). These instructions were so simple that the people could not misunderstand. They gladly obeyed and were saved, and the Lord added them to the church (v. 47).

The soul saving message that the three thousand heard is still the same message of salvation that must be preached and accepted today. When one responds to that message as the three thousand did, the result will be the same, the forgiveness of sins.

If those people had refused to obey that simple plan of salvation, they would have remained in a lost condition. The same must he true today for those who refuse to obey the same plan of salvation that was presented in the first century.

Acts 8:5-12

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to the people (v. 5). “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike” (v. 12). The Samaritans heard the gospel. They believed in Jesus and were baptized.

The Samaritans received the same plan of salvation that the three thousand did on the day of Pentecost. The result was the same. Those who responded in trusting, obedient faith were saved and became Christians.

When Christ is preached fully to a lost people, baptism will always be included in that message. To be true to the Word, the purpose of that baptism must always be the same as that which was clearly taught by Peter in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”.

Acts 8:26-40

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:35-39).

From this example of a New Testament conversion we can learn that:

It should be observed that Philip “preached Jesus to him” (v. 35). In preaching “Jesus” to this lost individual, Philip taught him what he must do in order to receive Jesus. Included in preaching “Jesus” was the necessity of baptism. When they arrived at a place where there was water the eunuch saw his opportunity to obey the Lord and have his sins forgiven.

We note that this was not a sprinkling or pouring of water, for both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. There is neither command or example for sprinkling in all of the New Testament. Baptism of the New Testament was always a burial, an immersion (Romans 6:3-4).

The eunuch was a religious man, but he was still not saved. He had traveled all the way from Ethiopia to Jerusalem in order to worship under the Law of Moses. While he was traveling home, he was reading from the Old Testament Scriptures. He came upon a prophecy about Jesus (Isa. 53). However, he did not know Jesus or what Jesus required of him. He asked Philip to help him understand. It was not enough for the eunuch to be a religious man. In addition to being religious he needed to be obedient (Matt. 7:21).

The eunuch asked Philip about Jesus, and Philip seized this opportunity to tell the eunuch not only about the person of Jesus, but also what Jesus required of him to be saved. When the eunuch saw the water, he asked Philip the question “What hinders me from being baptized?” (v. 36). The only thing that now remained between him and baptism for the remission of his sins was his confession of faith. When Philip told him this, he responded by saying, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (v. 37).

Having made that confession of faith, the eunuch was ready for baptism. Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip immersed him for the remission of his sins. Could the Scriptures be more simple in describing what one must do in order to become a Christian? What did the eunuch do in order to have his sins forgiven and to become a member of the Lord’s church? He HEARD the gospel (Acts 8:35-39). He BELIEVED in Jesus (v. 37). He CONFESSED his faith (v. 37). He was BAPTIZED (v. 38).

In the case of the conversion of the three thousand, recorded in the second chapter of Acts, they were told to repent. Even though repentance is not specifically mentioned in the conversion of the eunuch, this does not suggest that he refused to repent. Repentance was as necessary for him as it was for the three thousand. As we study the Book of Acts, we notice that Luke does not always record all the requirements of salvation in each conversion, although they may be clearly implied.

However, it is interesting to note that in every case of conversion, baptism is specifically mentioned as a requirement for those who would be saved. We can rest assured that what was required of one to be saved was also certainly required of the others, for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

Acts 10:34-48, 11:14

“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him has receives forgiveness of sins.’ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message” (Acts 10:42-44).

“’Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?’ And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:47-48).

The conversion of Cornelius and his household is the first record of Gentiles being accepted into Christianity. This was such an important occasion that the Lord sent down the Holy Spirit upon them even as he had done earlier to the Apostles. “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15).

The Holy Spirit falling on those who heard the Word did not save them. This was a sign to the Jews that the Gentiles were no longer to be treated as those not worthy to hear and obey the gospel. It was a sign to the Jews and Gentiles alike that the Gentiles from henceforth were to be accepted into the church (Acts 11:18, Acts 15:8).

If being good morally could save an individual, surely Cornelius would have been saved for he was an excellent man morally “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually” (Acts 10:2). Cornelius was a religious man and morally excellent, but he was not saved.

At the direction of the Lord, Peter went from Joppa to Caesarea to the home of Cornelius, who was a centurion, and there he preached to him as well as those who were with him. When Peter concluded the preaching, “he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts. 10:48). When Cornelius and the others responded to the command of Peter, they were saved. “And he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:14). It was this same Peter who would years later write, “corresponding to that, baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21).

Acts 16:13-15

“And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshipper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us” (Acts 16:1315).

Lydia was a religious person, but she was religiously wrong. To her everlasting credit, when she learned that she was wrong, she did not hesitate to change religiously in order to be right. When she HEARD the gospel preached, she BELIEVED it and responded by being BAPTIZED, and was thereby saved by Jesus.

Acts 16:25-34

“And after he brought them out, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household” (Acts 16:30-34).

Before the jailer had the opportunity to hear the Word, be asked the question “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Paul and Silas told him “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (v. 31). Paul and Silas were about to introduce the jailer to the only One in all of the universe who could give him salvation.

At this point he did not believe in Jesus. Salvation always begins with believing, but the jailer could not believe in Him until he was taught about Him (Romans 10:14). Telling him to believe in Jesus was not the end of the discussion, but rather, it was the beginning. Please notice “And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house” (v. 32).

After Paul and Silas taught the jailer about Jesus, the jailer’s baptism followed, “and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household” (v. 33).

When the “Word of the Lord” was declared, the jailer BELIEVED. But, something in addition to believing in Jesus as God’s Son was required of him. He was baptized. When the “Word of the Lord” was preached, it included BAPTISM. The fact that he “took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds” certainly indicates REPENTANCE on his part. Although the record does not specifically state that he repented, it certainly implies that he did.

Since his sins were washed away in baptism, he had good reason to “rejoice greatly” (v. 34). To have his sins forgiven, as well as to become a Christian and to be added to the church, the jailer HEARD the gospel. He BELIEVED in Jesus. He REPENTED of his sins. He was BAPTIZED into Christ (Romans 6:3-4). The plan of salvation is so very simple!

Acts 18:8

“Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized” (Acts 18:8).

Here we have a very brief account of the Corinthians being converted to Christ. Paul PREACHED THE GOSPEL. They BELIEVED and were BAPTIZED. What could be more simple?

Acts 19:1-5

When Paul went to Ephesus, he found some who had been baptized under John’s baptism. The baptism of John had not been valid since the time that the gospel was preached on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 33. Prior to that time people were baptized by John’s baptism, looking forward to the coming of Christ. When Christ came and delivered the plan of salvation, it was for all men, for all time (Matt. 28:18-20).

Before these twelve men met Paul, they did not realize that their baptism was no longer valid. These disciples were religious and very sincere, but they stood in need of baptism into Christ. When Paul learned that they had been baptized into John’s baptism he said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus” (v. 4).

To the credit of the Ephesians, they did not argue with Paul that they were religious and should be left alone. What was their reaction? “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 5).

Acts 22:1-16, 9:1-18

“And a certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:12-16).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) had been a violent persecutor of Christians. When Christ appeared to him on the way to Damascus he was stricken blind. When Paul asked “What shall I do, Lord?” (v. 10), he was told by Jesus, “Go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do” (v. 10).

Those with him took him into the city where he prayed and went without food or drink for three days. Most certainly, Paul was convinced that he had been wrong religiously. He realized that the One he had denied was truly God’s Son.

You will notice that Jesus told Paul to go into Damascus and there he would be told what to do. In Damascus, he was told what to do by Ananias. He taught Paul about the Lord and concluded by saying, “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).

He BELIEVED in Jesus. He showed the fruits of REPENTANCE when he prayed and fasted for three days. He was then BAPTIZED (Acts 9:18). The purpose of that baptism was specifically stated by Ananias. It was to “wash away your sins” (v. 16).

Romans 10:13 states that “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” In the example of the conversion of Paul we see exactly what is meant by that expression. When Paul obeyed the gospel and was baptized, he was “calling on His name” (v. 16).

If one wants to be saved today and have his sins washed away, then he should respond to the gospel in the same way as did Paul and the others whose conversions we have read about.

In the Book of Acts the Lord has given to us nine cases of New Testament conversions. From those examples one can clearly see what the Lord required of the people of the first century in order for them to be saved. If one seeks to become a child of God today, he can do no better than to study and follow those New Testament examples. If a sincere seeker of truth does today what those first century disciples did, the result will be the same. He will be saved and become a Christian. He will not be a member of any denomination, for the Lord will add him to His church. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

In addition to these examples, the Lord has given many other passages that also instruct us in this most important matter of becoming a child of God. No one need misunderstand what the Lord requires of them in order to be saved. What is the plan of salvation?

Jesus said that we would die in our sins if we didn’t believe in Him. “For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). He also said, “He who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

In John 3:16 Jesus declared, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

This does not suggest that one is saved by believing only, for a few verses later Jesus elaborates on this by saying, “But he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).

It is necessary to believe in Jesus. This is the beginning of the conversion process. Believing moves one in the direction of salvation (John 1:12). However, only believing or “faith only” will not save anyone.

REPENTANCE is a change of mind that brings about a change of direction (Acts 26:20). The goodness of God leads one to repentance (Romans 2:4).

God wants all to REPENT. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

We must REPENT so that our sins will be blotted out (Acts 3:19). Jesus made the necessity of repentance clear when he said “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

FAITH combined with REPENTANCE moves one in the direction of salvation.

Making this good confession of faith leads one to salvation. “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:10).

Jesus promised a blessing to those who would confess Him and denial to those who denied Him. “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). When Philip confessed Jesus he said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).

FAITH combined with REPENTANCE and CONFESSION moves one in the direction of salvation.

Jesus tied belief and BAPTISM together as standing in front of salvation, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). It wasn’t necessary for Jesus to say, “He who has disbelieved and is not baptized shall be condemned” for unless one believes, he certainly would not be interested in baptism or any other act of obedience to the Lord. Salvation must begin with believing.

Jesus commanded BAPTISM in Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.

Peter preached that one not only repents but is BAPTIZED in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). That same Peter later declared “Baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21). Again, it was Peter who commanded Cornelius and his household to be BAPTIZED. “And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48).

In reading about New Testament conversions, one cannot help but be impressed with the urgency of baptism. In each case the person was baptized immediately: “And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household” (Acts 16:33). There is no justification for waiting days, weeks, or even months to baptize one who has confessed his faith in Jesus. The urgency lies in the fact that forgiveness of sins does not take place until the candidate is baptized.

Those who would make baptism an unnecessary option need to carefully look at these passages. Baptism is not optional. It is essential if one is to be saved.

When one trusts in the Lord enough to obey Him by BELIEVING in Him, REPENTING, CONFESSING him, and being BAPTIZED, that person is saved. He is saved by the love, goodness, and grace of God!

If we learned about salvation simply from the New Testament teachings and examples, and left out the innovations created by men, we would know nothing about SPRINKLING or pouring as a “mode” of baptism. There is only one baptism (Eph 4:4). The form of the one baptism is a BURIAL in water (Romans 6:3-4). Even the original Greek word for baptism (baptizo) meant to “bury” or “dip” or “plunge”. Men introduced sprinkling without any authority from the Lord. Those who have been sprinkled have not been scripturally baptized.

If we only took the New Testament as our authority, we would know nothing about INFANT BAPTISM. New Testament baptism is for those who believe (Mark 16:16). Infants are not capable of believing. Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Infants are not capable of sinning (Matthew 18:3). Infant baptism originated with men, not with the Lord.

If we took only the New Testament as our source of information and authority, we would know nothing about VOTING someone into the church. When one is baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27) he is added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). Men have interposed their will in the matter of church membership. You can search the New Testament from cover to cover and you will not find anyone who was voted into the church.

It is a wonderful thought to realize that any responsible person can become a child of God today. He can do so by accepting salvation on the simple terms that the Lord has set down.

In this booklet we have taken great care to present only those requirements for salvation that the Lord has set forth in his Word. We have refrained from including anything that man has devised, for man has no part in determining what is required in order to be saved.

You can become a Christian today just as those disciples of the first century did. In doing so, you will be saved from your sins, become a member of the Lord’s church, and heaven itself will be set before you as your eternal destination.

By V. Glenn McCoy