WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

A Biblical study on Repentance and Baptism....

Is Baptism Necessary?  Does it Matter How I’m Baptized?

There are varying beliefs and teachings concerning what a person needs to do in order to be saved.  Some believe that all you have to do is just believe on Jesus and their saved. Some believe baptism is optional. 

Jesus Himself said in John 5:39 to “SEARCH the Scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life…”

We find in Acts 17:11 that those in Berea not only received the Word with all readiness of mind, but they also would search the Scriptures daily to confirm that what they were being taught was accurate.

Acts 17:11

These are more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind,
and SEARCHED the Scriptures DAILY,
whether those things were so.

Is Baptism really necessary?  Does a person really need to be baptized?  Does it matter HOW a person is baptized?  Can a person just believe and be saved? We’re going to look at what the Bible says concerning Salvation. 

Where do we begin?

If we want to know HOW to be saved, we look to the Book of Acts – that is where the birth of the Church is recorded and we can find evidence of how the first believers came to be saved = They believed, repented, were baptized in Jesus Name, and were filled with the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in other tongues.

Then to grow as a Believer in Christ and learn how to be a Christian and what we need to continue to do AFTER we’re saved, we look to Romans through Jude = where we find instruction, correction, admonition, and inspiration.

Nicodemus – was a Pharisee and a Religious ruler of the Jews

          The word Pharisee comes from the Hebrew and Aramaic word parush or parushi, which means “One who is separated.”

The Pharisees were considered the most expert and accurate expositors of Jewish law.

Jesus referred to Nicodemus as a “master” of Israel (John 3:10)

*Anyone called “master” was considered an expert concerning the  Jewish law

           

Nicodemus was considered an expert concerning the Jewish law

* yet he recognized there was something different, something extraordinary about Jesus. 

*There was something different about the way Jesus taught and expounded the Scriptures. 

*He recognized that Jesus spoke as one having authority - Mt 7:29

Nicodemus wanted to talk to Jesus and ask Him more questions but he knew the other Pharisees did not like Jesus and so he came to speak to him privately late at night. (Jn 3:2)

Read John 3:1-7

*Nicodemus recognized and acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher sent from God (vs 2)

*But Jesus’ words concerning being born again puzzled Nicodemus

*He was thinking of a natural birth but did not understand Jesus was speaking of a spiritual birth

*Jesus explained: unless a person is born of water (Baptism) AND of the Spirit (Holy Ghost), he/she can NOT ENTER the Kingdom of God.

*That which is born of flesh is flesh (the first birth)

*But that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (the second birth which is spiritual)

*Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye MUST be BORN AGAIN (Spiritual Birth)

*Jesus did not mince words….being born again of the spiritual birth is not optional.

*He said if you want to enter into the Kingdom of God you MUST be born again.

What does it mean to be “BORN AGAIN”?

Peter – walked with and was taught by Jesus for 3 ½ years after Jesus began His ministry plus an additional 40 days after His resurrection.

That time was not spent just casually hanging out as a friend....

That time was spent learning and being taught by Jesus daily the things concerning the Word of God, the Kingdom of God, and salvation

Not just daily but throughout the day and sometimes into the night

(Ex: Nicodemus)

Peter was there when Nicodemus came and talked with Jesus

          So he was present when Jesus said we MUST be born again

Peter was there on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was first given and 120 were filled with the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in other tongues.

The Jews who came to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost heard a loud sound and began to follow the sound to find out where the sound was coming from and what was going on. 

They came to what is called the “Upper Room” where Jesus had told His Disciples to go and wait for the Promise that would be given.  (Acts 1)

120 Disciples of Jesus gathered in the Upper Room, waiting for the Promise Jesus had told them of. 

The 120 who had been praying had just received that Promise and were speaking in other tongues. 

But the other Jews who gathered in did not know or understand what was going on. 

They thought they had been drinking too early in the morning and had all become drunk.

Peter, hearing their mocking, stood up with the other 11 Apostles and began to preach to them about Jesus and what was taking place. 

Some of them became convicted in their heart and asked “What shall we do?”

Acts 2:37-38, 41

(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

(38) Then Peter said unto them….

1.     Repent

2.     And be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

3.     And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

As Peter preached, many listened and heeded his words….

(41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls.

The first thing Peter commanded them to do was REPENT

          Means to experience sorrow and conviction over past sins

          To think differently, i.e. reconsider what you’ve done

When a person repents, they’re going to be sincere when they ask God to forgive them of their sins.

They’re not going to want to continue to do things that displease God.

Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation

2 Cor 7:10
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation
not to be repented of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

In other words, a person should never feel or think they shouldn’t cry tears before the Lord.  Godly sorrow leads to true repentance.  Those tears are showing God the sincerity and sorrow for things they’ve done to displease Him.

Sin leaves a person with regrets and leads to eternal death away from God but when a person truly repents, those sins are forgiven which is the start of a change of life and walk toward God.

When a person truly repents – they will not walk the same way they used to walk, they won’t talk the same way they used to talk, they won’t go to the places they used to go that were not pleasing to the Lord.  There will be a change!

Second thing Peter instructed was to…

Be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ

For the Remission of sins = freedom from, pardon, deliverance,

forgiveness, liberty

So by repentance we gain forgiveness but the stain of the sin is still there

Baptism washes away all of our sins. (ACTS 22:16)

                    And now why tarriest thou? (what are you waiting for????)

                   Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,

                   Calling on the name of the Lord.

When a person repents and then is baptized, they will feel so clean inside

Notice Peter said to be baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ.

Yet many like to quote Mt 28:19 as the formula for baptizing….

Does it really matter HOW a person is baptized?

Jesus was getting ready to ascend up into heaven and was giving his disciples final instructions. 

In Matthew 28:19 He instructed….

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus said in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Yet Peter said to be baptized in the name of Jesus in Acts 2:38

So, does it really matter how you’re baptized as long as you’re baptized?

Let’s examine the Scriptures to see what God’s Word says.

John 5:39

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:

and they are they which testify of me.

Peter was there when Jesus spoke those words recorded in Mt 28:19 and yet on the Day of Pentecost and every time after, he baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ.

WHY did he use the name of Jesus to baptize and not merely say “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?

Did you know  Jesus taught Peter and the rest of Apostles HOW to baptize?

John 4:1-2 says…

Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

(though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)

There were 120 Disciples in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was first poured out, yet not one of the Apostles or disciples argued when Peter stood up and told everyone to be baptized in the NAME of Jesus.  Why?  Because Jesus had already taught them HOW to Baptize.

They realized and knew that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are merely titles - they are the roles Jesus was filling, but they are not His name.

Everywhere we look, throughout the Book of Acts, we see they baptized using the NAME of JESUS

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is NONE OTHER NAME under heaven given among men,
whereby we MUST BE SAVED.

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth AND is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Some people teach and believe that all you have to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and they’ll be saved.  

Believing is only the first step!  Jesus taught them that once they believe, they need to be baptized.

Acts 8:12

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,

both men and women.

Acts 8:16 shows how they were baptized….

….. only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 10

God sent Peter to preach the Gospel to a Gentile named Cornelius.

While Peter was preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on everyone in that house.

Peter knew they had the Holy Ghost because he heard them speak in tongues (a language unfamiliar to them and one they didn’t know how to speak)

As soon as they received the gift of the Holy Ghost, Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

Acts 10:48

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

**Peter didn’t leave it as optional!  He didn’t say they could be baptized IF they wanted to.  He didn’t ask HOW they wanted to be baptized.  NO!  He COMMANDED them to be baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS.  Because he knew that is the only name by which we can be saved and that’s how Jesus taught him to baptize others.

Acts 19

As Paul was traveling, he found certain disciples in Ephesus.

These disciples had been taught about Jesus by John the Baptist but their understanding was limited because John had been beheaded.

So Paul began to ask them questions to see what they’d been taught.

Acts 19:2
 And he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

(***Again, shows us there is more to salvation then just believing***)

And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Paul then asked:

3 And he said unto them, unto what they were ye baptized? And they said unto John’s baptism.   (***These disciples had been baptized by John the Baptist***)

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

If it doesn’t matter how a person is baptized, Paul and these ‘disciples’ would not have felt it necessary to be rebaptized using the name of Jesus.

WHY DO I NEED TO BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS?

Not only have we just seen several Scriptures showing and exampling to us that the Apostles baptized in the name of Jesus, but we also see that is how we ‘put on Christ’…through baptism in His name.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The Reason we completely Immerse in water instead of sprinkle:

Some Churches sprinkle a person with water.  Why don’t we?

Romans 6:4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:

that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism is symbolic of being buried with Christ.

When a person is buried, we don’t just sprinkle a handful of dirt on them and say they’re buried.  No, we completely cover the body

In the same way, a person who is being baptized should be completely covered (immersed) in water as a representation of being buried with Christ.

We’re burying the old man, the old sinful nature in that watery grave.

When we come up out of the water, we’re clean and feel new inside. 

**No where in Scripture do we find any reference to anyone being sprinkled with water.

THIRD   The 3^rd thing Peter told them was that the Promise of the Holy Ghost was available for everyone. (Acts 2:38-39)

There were 3,000 that day that gladly received Peter’s words and followed his instructions to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, then they prayed for and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When you receive the Holy Ghost, you will speak with new tongues just as the Disciples did in the book of Acts.  That is the evidence God gave that shows a person has received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:1-4, 16-18, 38-41 + Acts 10:44-46 + Acts 19:2-6 + Mk 16:17)