Long ago the Philippian jailor asked the question: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30) The answer has not changed even though we live some 20 centuries after this question was asked. The following scriptures outline the steps necessary for a person to know God.

• Hear the Word of God - (Romans 10:17)
• Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God - (John 8:24; Matthew 16:16)
• Repent, turn from your sins - (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38)
• Confess your faith in Christ - (Matthew 10:32,33; Romans 10:9, 10)
• Be baptized, immersed in water, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for the remission of your sins - Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38; 10:48; Romans 6:3,4)
• Worship regularly - (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 10:25)
• Study the Bible - (1 Peter 1:21-2:2)
• Grow - (2 Peter 3:18)
• Teach others the good news - (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Peter 3:15)
• Continue faithful unto death - (Revelation 2:10)
  

Many denominations teach that belief is the only thing necessary to be saved. However, both scripture and history teaches us that this is not true. Early Christians did not believe or teach this heretical false doctrine. Listen to the words of some 'early Church fathers':

"Christ has redeemed us by being crucified on the tree and by purifying us with water." Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165)

"Happy is our sacrament of water, in that , by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life... We, like little fishes, after the example of our ichthus, Jesus Christ, are born in water." (Tertullian A.D. 160-230)

"It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized. Rather, this was a symbol for us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean from our transgressions by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord. We are spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, just as the Lord has declared: "Unless a man is born again through water and the Spirit, he will not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Irenaeus (A.D. 130-200)

Do not listen to the false teachers who teach 'salvation by faith only'. That phrase is not found in the scripture. To be "born again" you must obey the gospel plan of salvation. Salvation only comes from faith in Christ-which means obedience to His commands.