What must I do to be saved?

Published August 30, 2026

Short answer: Turn to God in repentance and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is not earned by good works, religious activity, baptism, church membership, or repeating certain words. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. God saves the sinner who comes to Him through Christ in genuine repentance and faith.

The question the Philippian jailer asked

One of the clearest salvation questions in the Bible was asked after an earthquake opened the prison doors in Philippi. The jailer came trembling before Paul and Silas and said:

Acts 16:30–31 (KJV)

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

The answer did not direct him to earn salvation. It directed him to a Person: the Lord Jesus Christ.

To “believe on” Christ means more than admitting that Jesus existed. It means relying upon Him—who He is, what He accomplished, and what He has promised—as the only Savior able to rescue you from sin and judgment.

Understand the gospel

The good news begins with the truth about our condition before God. We have sinned and cannot make ourselves righteous. No amount of later obedience can erase earlier guilt. We need mercy, forgiveness, and a righteousness we do not possess naturally.

God provided what sinners could never provide for themselves. Paul summarized the heart of the gospel this way:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (KJV)

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Jesus Christ did not die for sins of His own. He died for our sins. He was buried, and He bodily rose from the dead. Salvation rests upon His finished work—not ours.

Turn to God in repentance

The Bible describes the proper response to the gospel as repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ:

Acts 20:21 (KJV)

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Repentance is not an attempt to clean yourself up before God will receive you. It is a sincere turning of the heart toward God: agreeing with Him about your sin, abandoning confidence in your own way, and becoming willing to come under His truth.

Jesus warned plainly:

Luke 13:3 (KJV)

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Repentance and faith are not rival ways of salvation. The sinner turns from self-rule and false confidence and turns to Jesus Christ for mercy. The full subjects of repentance and faith deserve their own careful teaching, but neither can be replaced by empty words or outward religious performance.

Place your faith in Jesus Christ

God does not command you to place faith in your goodness, sincerity, church, baptism, feelings, or ability to keep promises. He commands you to believe on His Son.

John 3:16–18 (KJV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Biblical faith receives God’s testimony concerning Jesus and relies upon Christ Himself. It is not confidence in the strength of your faith. Even a troubled sinner may come to a strong Savior.

Jesus said:

John 6:37 (KJV)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

You do not need to wait until you feel worthy. You will never make yourself worthy of grace. Come honestly, as a guilty sinner who needs the Savior.

Confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him

Paul wrote:

Romans 10:9–10 (KJV)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

This is not teaching that a person earns salvation by pronouncing a formula. The confession flows from genuine heart-faith. The same passage directs our confidence toward the risen Lord Jesus—not toward the eloquence of a prayer.

You may call upon God in your own words, confessing your sin and asking Him to save you through Jesus Christ. But remember: a prayer does not save because its wording is perfect. Jesus saves. The question is whether you are genuinely turning to God and trusting Christ.

Salvation is by grace, not by works

Good works have an important place in the life that follows salvation, but they are not the price of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (KJV)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

“Not of works, lest any man should boast.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The order matters. We are not saved by good works. Those who are saved are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

Titus gives the same distinction:

Titus 3:5–7 (KJV)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

“Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

If salvation depended upon your record, you would have no secure hope. Salvation depends upon God’s mercy through Jesus Christ.

What cannot save you?

None of these can substitute for coming to Christ:

These things are not all wrong. Several are commanded or expected in the life of a disciple. But they cannot bear your guilt or give you eternal life. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.

Acts 4:12 (KJV)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Do not delay your response

The call of God is not merely to think about Christ someday. Scripture says:

Isaiah 45:22 (KJV)

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

If you understand that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again, and know that you cannot save yourself, then turn to God and trust the Lord Jesus Christ now.

Do not place confidence in a past emotional moment while presently refusing Christ. Do not wait for a stronger feeling. Do not attempt to make yourself acceptable first. Come to Him truthfully and completely.

What should you do after trusting Christ?

Salvation is the beginning of following Jesus—not the end. A new believer should openly confess Christ, be baptized in obedience to Him, learn Scripture, pray, gather with faithful believers, turn from known sin, and grow as a disciple.

Those acts do not purchase salvation. They are fitting responses to the Savior who has shown mercy.

Continue with our How to Be Saved guide for a fuller explanation of the gospel, and then begin the free 100-lesson discipleship course.

Conclusion

What must you do to be saved?

Recognize that you have sinned and cannot save yourself. Believe the gospel—that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. Turn to God in repentance and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do not trust your works, religion, feelings, or the wording of a prayer. Trust Christ.

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

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