What Shall I Do To Be Saved?

By Rev. Dr. Curian Kaniyamparambil

Question 48. Some people say 'When one believes in Jesus and accepts him as savior - by virtue of this act he is saved.' Is not belief enough?

The New Testament does support this view. Please refer to Mat. 28:19-20, which says that one should be baptized and that there is no other alternative.

Mark 16:16, which we discussed demands, it is not enough to believe alone, but one should also be baptized.

The book of Acts describes many instances where people accepted Jesus as savior (some of them quoted in earlier questions). In all these instances, those who believed were baptized. In Samaria, Philip preached about Messiah and the people of Samaria accepted the word of God. The apostles heard this; they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17) The Ethiopian believed in Jesus Christ. But if that was enough, why did Philip and the Ethiopian travel till they saw water in order to baptize him? Obviously just belief or proclamation is not enough. One has to be baptized by an authorized person. (Acts 8:26)

Saul (St. Paul) not only accepted Jesus Christ and believed in him, but he too was baptized. (Acts 9:18)

Lydia not only accepted Jesus in her heart, but also was baptized.

Therefore it is obvious that one should believe and should also be baptized for salvation.

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