Intermediate Bible Study
The most important question ever asked by man is, "What must I do to be saved?" It is a question that you, and all men, must find the answer to. The Bible has the answer. The book of Acts shows examples of men finding the answer. This lesson is a very important one!
The Bible affirms that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Just as Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and were separated from Him, today you, me and all men have done wrong and have been separated by our sin from God. Unless our sins are forgiven by God, we will be lost when He comes to judge the world at the end of time.
God is no respector of persons. He will judge all men according to the same standard (Acts 10:34; John 12:48). If we can find what He required of men after the church started, we will know just exactly what he requires of us today.
In other times and periods of Bible history, God has required various things of men. For example, God asked Noah to build an ark; Abraham to offer his son in sacrifice; the Jews to worship at the temple; the rich young man to sell all he had; but the answer for us will be found in His New Testament, the law under which we serve God.
The first example after Christ ascended into heaven is found in Acts 2. The Jews had killed Christ, Peter convicted them of their sins and they asked "What shall we do?" Note carefully the answer given. Remember what God required of them, He requires of us. He is not a respecter of persons. The answer was: "Repent and be baptized...for the remission of your sins. " Since these people already believed in Jesus, they were told to repent and be baptized.
Today, God requires the same things of us. Notice the chart below listing other examples of men being saved. Without exception, they all did the same things required of us today.
| Acts 2:33-38 | Repented | Baptized | ||
| Acts 8:12 | Believed | Baptized | ||
| Acts 8:26-40 | Believed | Confessed | Baptized | |
| Acts 10:34-48 | Believed | Baptized | ||
| Acts 16:14-15 | Baptized | |||
| Acts 16:30-34 | Believed | Baptized | ||
| Acts 18:8 | Believed | Baptized | ||
| Acts 22:6-16 | Baptized |
Summary: Believed Repented Confessed Baptized
Although it is not specifically mentioned that each one did all of the things in the summary, Since God is "no respecter of persons" it must be that each one did all of the things. Other verses on the subject of salvation to be studied are John 3:16; 5:24; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:31; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9,10; 1 Peter 3:21. If you have questions about salvation, write to us.
| The right subject | A believer, not an infant | Mark 16:16 |
| The right element | Water | Acts 10:47, 48 |
| The right method | Burial (not sprinkling) | Romans 6:1-4 |
| The right authority | In the name of Jesus | Acts 2:38 |
| The right purpose | For the remission of sins | Acts 2:38 |
Dear Student, may we ask you if you are saved? Have you done the same things listed above that God required of men in the early church? Have you believed, repented, confessed, and been buried in water?
Yes _____ No______