What must I do to be saved?
Cephas Free Presbyterian Church
"No other way
of salvation
than by Christ,
and no other
way of our
being saved by
Christ than by
believing in him"
Matthew Henry
Imagine that before you is a man frightened to die.  What would you tell him?  
If it was you, what would you need to hear?  Paul told the terrified jailer,
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31).

The Need of Salvation
These words remind us that we need saving.  Only those in trouble, those in
danger need to be saved.  A sick man needs a life saving operation.  Men
need saving from sin.  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God” (Romans 3:23), is God’s assessment.  There is no exception.  Danger is
real because sin leads to condemnation and judgement.  Our need of
salvation is that we might be “saved from wrath” (Romans 5:9).  

The Author of Salvation
Jesus’ very name indicates He is the Saviour, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus
for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).  During His life
He forgave sins, “thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2; Luke 7:48) was
spoken at various times.  His death was for the purpose of saving from sin,
“Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3).  And He is perfectly able to
save today, “Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by him” (Hebrews 7:25).  Only Jesus Christ is called Saviour; only
Christ died for sins; only Christ can save.  Therefore you must only trust in
Him and no one or nothing else.  Only Christ and Christ only is Saviour.

The Way of Salvation
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is the way.  Joining a church would not save
this man.  The water of baptism wasn’t offered as the way.  Reforming his life
and habits held no assurance of salvation.  That is because salvation is
through faith in Christ, “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” (Ephesians
2:8).  It is not merely a belief in His existence; or simply thinking He was a
good man or a great prophet.  Believing on Christ is trusting the welfare of
your soul to Him.  It is fixing all your hope for heaven in who He is and what He
has done.  Resting confidently in Him, so that you feel no need for anyone or
anything else.  Do not add anything to Christ.  It is not faith in Christ and the
Church.  It isn’t faith in the Saviour and yourself.  It is 100% faith in Christ’s
finished work – His perfect righteousness and His redeeming blood.

If the only Saviour from sin is not yours by faith alone, then He is not yours at
all.  Lose your confidence in self, sacraments, and service.  Abandon all other
hopes you entertain.  Then you can say with the hymn writer,

                                No other hope, no other plea,
                                  It is enough He died for me,
                                 O precious Lamb of Calvary,
                             He took my place and died for me.